Meet the Best New Artist Nominees at the 2023 Latin Grammys

BORJA began his music career behind-the-scenes, composing songs for the likes of Reik, Lasso and Lola Indigo. After seeing how his lyrics resonated with artists and their fans, the Barcelona-born artist decided to be at the forefront of his heartfelt compositions. In 2023, he released his debut studio album, rimas del verbo amar (“rhymes of the verb love”), where his emotionally charged lyrics are backed by his soulful and dulcet-yet-raspy vocals, soothing piano and acoustic guitar melodies. The Spanish singer’s music is distributed by Virgin Music México.

This year, Conexión Divina released their debut studio album, Tres Mundos (“Three Worlds”), perfectly summing up how three distinct artists can come together in a group. Made up of Liz Trujillo, Ashlee Valenzuela, and Sandra Calixto — who were doing their own covers, met on social media and formed a group — Conexión Divina is known as the first all-female sierreño act, touching topics of love, heartbreak and female empowerment, all backed with captivating requintos. The Gen Z trio signed to Sony Music Latin and made its debut at the 2023 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.  

On social media, Ana del Castillo’s content often veers into eye candy,  with sexy photos in the forefront. But when it comes to her music, she keeps things traditional, singing vallenato, the popular folk music genre from Colombia. Known as “La Bomba Sexi del Vallenato” (Vallenato’s Sexy Bomb), Del Castillo is shaking things up with her contemporary looks, revealing outfits and female point of view. She sings about love and heartbreak but from a woman’s perspective, connecting with a new female audience. Del Castillo has performed all over Colombia, including at the prestigious Festival de la Leyenda Vallenata. In 2022, she released her debut album, El Favor de Dios, and is a two-time nominee at the 2023 Latin Grammys, up for best new artist and best cumbia/vallenato album. 

The only Brazilian act nominated for best new artist this year, Falcão is a singer-songwriter from Pernambuco, located in northeastern Brazil. The rising act pays tribute to the rich musical styles from her region, such as forró, samba and ciranda, singing in her Pernambuco accent. Her debut studio album, Ave Mulher, was produced independently and brings to the forefront her origins, history, and “the poetry of what I believe in and the music that I like to sing,” as she expressed in an Instagram post.  

Part of a musical and theatrical family, GALE first found her way into the music industry as a songwriter and has become a go-to for names like Christina Aguilera, Selena Gomez, Anitta, Ludmilla and Jhayco, to name a few. In fact, she won her first Latin Grammy in 2022, thanks to songwriting credits on Aguilera’s Spanish-language set Aguilera, which won in the traditional pop vocal album category. As a performer, the Puerto Rican newcomer is signed to Sony Music Latin. Her debut album, Lo Que No Te Dije (What I didn’t Tell You), has no collaborations, but features GALE’s fine songwriting and finds her navigating pop, punk and reggaeton rhythms that power heartbreak ballads and new feminist anthems. The set is home to notable singles “Problemas” and “Nuestra Canción.” The former earned GALE her first entry on any Billboard chart when it peaked at No. 15 on the Latin Pop Airplay in Sept. 2022, and the latter peaked at No. 7 on the same chart in May 2023.

Guanche’s musical style reflects her culturally charged background: born in Mexico, raised in Miami and with Afro-Cuban roots. A multifaceted artist, the rising star uses her powerful vocals to sing soulful R&B, rhythmic pop and edgy electronic music in both Spanish and English. Guanche — who is the niece of award-winning Cuban artist Aymee Nuviola — kicked off her singing career at a very young age, participating in Univision’s “Sabado Gigante” and winning Telemundo’s “La Voz Kids” in 2013. In 2023, she launched her five-track EP titled Reencuentro (“Reunion”). 

Joaquina was part of the first “graduating” class at producer Julio Reyes Copello’s Art House Academy before scoring a recording deal with Universal Music Latin. A well-rounded artist, the Venezuelan-born, Miami-raised act composes her own music, singing mainly about teenage angst and often backed by indie pop-rock melodies, and has already opened up for renowned stars such as Alejandro Sanz and Fonseca. In addition to her best new artist nomination, Joaquina is nominated for best singer-songwriter album with Los Mejores Años (“The Best Years”), released in 2023. 

Leiden explores his creativity to the max when it comes to his music, using unusual objects as instruments and involving his social media fans in his creative process. This was the case for his singles “Gitana,” where he invited his then-3 million TikTok fans to contribute ideas, and “Manzana,” where he used an apple to produce it. Both are part of his 2022 debut album El Morro Que Hace Música (“The Boy Who Does Music”). Leiden, known for his edgy indie-pop sound that laces urban and other rhythmic beats, launched his label Laila Records in a joint venture with Warner Music Mexico, and has collaborated with acts such as Thalia, Bacilos and Adriel Favela, to name a few.

Maréh’s debut studio album, Amuleto, released independently, arrived in 2018 with 12 songs that best flaunt the modern-day troubadour he is. Born Federico Galvis in Cali, Colombia, the singer-songwriter and musician gives a refreshing touch to genres such as cha-cha-chá, big band music, bolero and jazz, to name a few. On his social media profiles, he describes himself as an “anthropologist in training and a lover of life.” Maréh is also nominated for best singer-songwriter album with his 2022 set, Tierra de Promesas (“Land of Promises”). 

Timø is a pop-rock trio from Colombia comprised of university friends Andrés Vásquez, Felipe Galat, and Alejandro Ochoa Cuello. The three artists compose and produce their own music, often delivering feel-good melodies and lyrics. After going viral on TikTok with tracks such as “Espejito, Espejito,” Timø signed a recording deal with Universal Music Latin, under Colombian production duo Mauricio Rengifo and Andres Torres. Timø released its debut album, Estamos Donde Estamos, in 2023, and has collaborated with Andres Cepeda and Bacilos, among others.