Photo by Stephanie Segarra. Courtesy of Los Wálters
Every week, we highlight some of our favorite releases in a handy list. Although we try to cover as much new music as possible, there are so many stellar releases to talk about. Consider this our genre-diverse guide to songs we have on repeat.
Follow our playlist featuring these tracks and more on Spotify or Apple Music.
https://soundcloud.com/ghe20g0th1kradio/venus-x-asma-putaria-maxima-vol-2-trouble-in-paradise
Venus X and Nguzunguzu’s Asmara are following their 2017 Putaria Maxima mix with a second volume. In its celebration of marginalized sounds from around the world, the mix makes political commentary about social classes, sex, and ethnicity. From baile funk to U.S. rap and reggaeton, they give us 45 minutes of party music we can all connect with. –Cheky
C. Tangana has had to hold the weight of the crown recently as the Spanish rapper with the most major label backing. Apparently it hurts his head, as he’s feeling the need to dig at beefs with both Bad Gyal and Yung Beef in this new track about general antipathy towards his work. The tiradera resulted in Yung Beef’s subsequently released “Yes Indeed/I Feel Like Kim K,” on which Fernando tears into Tangana’s whole life, from his hiring of former PXXR GVNG producer Steve Lean to his regrettable 2010 preppy stylings. –Caitlin Donohue
Vigo singer Elecesar got together with frequent Arufe collaborator Judah to make a still-untitled joint EP coming out later this year, and now we’ve got a preview with “No Talk.” Elecesar lets opportunists have it, singing in his thick Galician accent over Judah’s pristine trap and R&B instrumental. Let them do the talking. –Cheky
We love an all-star team-up, and Costa Rica’s Javier Arce and Argentina’s Lagartijeando have joined forces to deliver a dreamy beat-driven trip through the South American plains. The track is a stand-alone release, loaded with gauzy production and hypnotic vocals perfect to soundtrack a breezy summer stroll. –Richard Villegas
You know “Ñao É Ñao” is a great song even before you press play. It’s less than two minutes long; the band has badass minimal cover art, and their lyrics are straight, to the point, and catchy as fuck. Then you press play and you find out the São Paulo quartet play as bouncily, angrily, desperately, and melodically as you expected. –Marcos Hassan
England’s Chilean-born Bala Club co-founder erects a spear-studded metal fortress around a reggaeton dancefloor dialogue, warping it beyond recognition to outside observers and effectively communicating his reigning status when it comes to who’s who among Europe’s late-night perreo club alchemists. Let this track serve as warning that his King Kami EP will be out on July 13. –Caitlin Donohue
El Alfa’s 2016 track “Abuso” was cold enough to slice any dance floor to shreds, but Alpha S’ rework takes it to the edge of insanity. The Chilean producer flipped the dembow hit, with amped-up percussion that crawls into our skin and takes control of our bodies. The vocal samples positively force us into a trance-like state. It’s useless to resist. –Cheky
It happens at the stroke of midnight. You have a Transylvanian hunger for a bad time. Your pitch-black and evil soul is summoning you, but your heart is also calling out and really wants to dance. Buenos Aires duo Balvanera have your back, as the darkness of the night gives way to a neon sheen and a masterful use of synths and drum pads. –Marcos Hassan
In the first minute of “Triple S,” ambient synths and a melancholy piano soar through your headphones, an indication that the Venezuelan producer might be expanding the language of instrumental hip-hop. Just after the minute mark, the beat drops, revealing new abstractions. Trip through the brain of Doppelgänger and fall into a hole made of your own emotions. –Marcos Hassan
Producer ZIMT teams up with Spanish synth pop artist Niña Índigo to deconstruct and reinterpret Andalusian flamenco, a genre ZIMT writes on SoundCloud that he loves for its dramatic and majestic sounds. While a baroque vibe is inextricable from the track, florid guitar arpeggios and shadowy vocals from Niña Índigo are vamped up with ZIMT’s woozy production. Suddenly, as Niña Índigo beckons listeners to open their hearts to an unexpected journey, the track takes a surprising and refreshing U-turn into contemporary downtempo territory. –Julyssa Lopez
Puerto Rico’s beloved indie pop wizards Los Wálters just surprise-dropped the follow-up to 2016’s Isla Disco, and it finds the group taking an introspective turn. As a reflection on the aftermath of Hurricane María, “Distracción” shows a gloomier side of the group, but it retains their penchant for crisp production. –Isabelia Herrera