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This week, Billboard’s New Music Latin roundup and playlist — curated by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors — features fresh new music, including new albums by Eslabon Armado (Vibras de Noche II), Ovy on the Drums (Cassette 02 Chile), and newcomer Joyce Santana (Nada Persona).
Staying true to its sad sierreño roots, Eslabon Armado delivered a 15-songs moody set that navigates different emotions from love, loss, nostalgia, and moving on. The only collaboration on the album is “Esa Noche” with Macario Martinez, the viral folk singer from Mexico who went from street cleaner to hitmaker earlier this year. Vibras de Noche II, is the follow-up to the group’s Vibras de Noche LP from five years ago, which spent 11 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Albums chart.
Meanwhile, Anitta dropped an interesting blend of British electronic music with punk and reggaetón melodies in “Larissa,” a song from her recently released documentary Larissa: The Other Side of Anitta. “My music has always been about strength, right? Mainly feminine strength. But, talking about this track and also the film, I feel like I discovered a new type of strength by allowing myself to be fragile, to fail and to make mistakes,” the Brazilian superstar expressed in a press statement.
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FloyyMenor and J Balvin, on the other hand, unleashed “BANSHEE,” a song named after one of the popular sports cars in Grand Theft Auto, and which has the similar catchy synth melodies that made Floyy’s No. 1 Billboard hit “Gata Only” a contagious track. Lyrically, the full-fledged reggaetón song is about flirting and desiring a girl. The Chilean breakthrough star first teased a team-up with Balvin at the 2024 Billboard Latin Music Awards, where he won Global 200 Latin song of the year for “Gata Only,” his collaboration with Cris MJ.
Other new releases this week include Aitana and Myke Tower’s “Sentimiento Natural,” Majo Aguilar’s “Piel Azteca,” and Peso Pluma’s “RARI,” among others. Who should win this week? Give these new releases a spin and vote for your favorite new Latin music release below.
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New Music Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs and albums recommended by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors. Check out this week’s picks below.
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Eslabon Armado, Vibras de Noche II (Armado Records/Interscope Capital)
Eslabon Armado is so back. Staying true to its sad sierreño roots, the moody tracks that put the group at the forefront of música mexicana, Vibras de Noche II further solidifies its mainstay. As is tradition, since having a major breakthrough in 2020, Eslabon — led by frontman and songwriter Pedro Tovar — released its yearly album, and this one is extra special. It’s a follow up to the Vibras de Noche LP from five years ago, which spent 11 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Albums chart. Part two is just as emotional, as Tovar navigates love, heartbreak and solitude — themes that have powered most of his songs.
The 15-song set (plus an intro and outro) opens with “Sad Intro,” setting the mood for what’s to come. “How’s your situation now, Pedro?” a woman’s voice asks. “Honestly, it hasn’t gotten better/ I still think about her and I don’t know what to do,” Tovar responds. The 22-year-old then wounds through songs — powered by prickly guitars — like “Te Odio,” unleashing stirring emotions about love and loss, and “Otras 24 Horas,” where he gets nostalgic about the past. “Why don’t you look at me like before?/ At the beginning you wanted my kisses and laid on my chest,” he wails. In “El Alegre,” Tovar changes the tune, going from complete heartbreak to realizing it’s time to move on. Surprisingly, the only collaboration on this album is with Macario Martinez (“Esa Noche”), the viral folk singer from Mexico who went from street cleaner to hitmaker earlier this year. — GRISELDA FLORES
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Anitta, “Larissa” (Republic Records/Universal Music Latino)
Throughout her career, Anitta has distinguished herself in the music world as a strong, determined woman. But in “Larissa” – a song from her recently released documentary Larissa: The Other Side of Anitta – the Brazilian superstar allows herself to show a more vulnerable side while singing about a relationship between two people who aren’t afraid to be themselves in front of each other. “We’re polar opposites, but I’m betting on this between us/ That we’re both here, that’s no coincidence,” the trilingual artist sings in Spanish.
“My music has always been about strength, right? Mainly feminine strength. But, talking about this track and also the film, I feel like I discovered a new type of strength by allowing myself to be fragile, to fail and to make mistakes,” Anitta says in a press release. Written by the artist herself alongside Essa Gante, Daniel Sobrino, and producer Caleb Calloway, “Larissa” incorporates elements of drum and bass and reggaetón. The music video, featuring footage of Anitta au naturel in various settings and stages of her life, creates a refreshing and lively collage. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS
FloyyMenor feat. J Balvin, “BANSHEE” (FloyyMenor/United Masters)
At the Billboard Latin Music Awards last October, where he won Global 200 Latin song of the year for “Gata Only,” FloyyMenor revealed that a collaboration with J Balvin was in the works. Five months later, the pair drop “BANSHEE” — named after one of the popular sports cars in Grand Theft Auto. Produced by the Chilean breakthrough star and co-written with the Colombian global sensation, the full-fledged reggaetón song is backed by similar catchy synth melodies that made “Gata Only” such a contagious track. Lyrically, and also following the same formula of Floyy’s No. 1 Billboard hit with Cris MJ, “BANSHEE” is about flirting and desiring a girl. “Everything she uploads, I give it a like/ You’re beautiful,” sings Balvin in the opening verse. Meanwhile Floyy chants in the chorus: “Call me at night to show up where you are / Tell your boyfriend, bye.” — JESSICA ROIZ
Joyce Santana, Nada Personal (Rimas Entertainment)
A masterclass in defiance and vulnerability, Nada Personal sees Joyce Santana turning wounds into weaponry and introspection into potential anthems. The album opens with “El Gigante de Carolina” and trembles with ancestral echoes. Produced by Nostra, it feels stripped to its emotional core, evoking Puerto Rico’s tribal essence while he raps unflinching personal truths — painting himself as a mythic figure, borrowing from the giant Felipe Birriel. “Esto es hecho en Puerto Rico pero pa’l mundo entero,” he spits. “Omertá” follows, a Tainy-produced composition that thrives on reggaetón’s pulse and shifts into an eerily whimsical synth melody.
Collaborations abound throughout the record — Feid brings seduction to the reggaetón-steeped “Ferxxoko,” while Yandel joins for “Crisis,” a guitar-laden lament of emotional wreckage, wrapped in tropical warmth. Yet Joyce’s poetic grit always takes center stage, especially on “De la Casa,” where he lunges confidently into rap reggaetón, unearthing his hometown ethos, or the menacing trap song “MJM,” alongside Álvaro Díaz. It’s the self-produced outro track “Nada Personal,” though, that feels like the peak: “Yo no rapeo, yo lo que hago es manifestar,” he declares, as the production morphs mid-beat, mirroring his unpredictable essence. With 17 tracks, the album burns with fire, ambition and a refusal to look away from life’s darker corners. — ISABELA RAYGOZA
Majo Aguilar, “Piel Azteca” (Fonovisa/Universal Music México)
Singer-songwriter Majo Aguilar delivers an anthem of Mexican pride for all her paisanos, offering a message of resilience at a time when the immigrant community in the U.S. has been directly impacted by the Trump administration’s callous policies. In the joyous norteña, rooted in the traditional sounds of mariachi, Aguilar sings about a community and culture that, while it has endured hardships, remains unbreakable. She honors the beauty of her heritage, standing against those who aim to diminish its value. The music video includes a poignant contribution by the Ballet de Monterrey. — G.F.
Caifanes, “Y Caíste” (Caifanes)
Marking the legendary Mexican rock band’s fourth single since returning to the stage in 2011 after a 16-year hiatus, “Y Caíste” is a powerful, dark, and timeless track that tells the story of a character who has seen better days, and must now find a way back on track. With electrifying guitars, the rock track becomes a very personal dialogue about the passage of time and graciously accepting life’s consequences. Written by singer-songwriter Saúl Hernández, the song was recorded in January at London Bridge Studios in Seattle and produced by Howard Willing. The single’s artwork was created by renowned Mexican designer Alejandro Magallanes. — NATALIA CANO
Check out more Latin recommendations this week below:
Vive Latino celebrates its 25th edition March 15 and 16, cementing its status as “the father of all festivals in Mexico” and one of the capital city’s favorites. For the second year in a row, and thanks to an agreement with Amazon Music, the shows will be streamed for free on the digital platform in a nonstop broadcast lasting over 10 hours, the company announced on Thursday (March 13).
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With an eclectic lineup and multiple activities, Mexico’s longest running festival returns to its original venue, the Estadio GNP Seguros (formerly Foro Sol), after hosting its annual edition in 2024 at the Curva 4 of the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez — which annually hosts the Formula 1 and festivals such as Corona Capital and Arre — due to renovations.
Since its inception in 1998, the Festival Iberoamericano de Cultura Musical, better known as Vive Latino, has maintained a rebellious personality that breaks stigmas: It was the first to include pop, reggaeton, cumbia and regional Mexican artists in its lineup; it once expanded to a four-day event; it incorporated Anglo bands while remaining the ultimate celebration of Spanish-language rock; and it became the first Latin American festival to launch an edition in Spain.
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“El Vive,” as its fans lovingly call it, debuted on Nov. 28-29, 1998, at the Foro Sol, located in eastern Mexico City. Since then, it has been held annually, except in 1999, 2002, and 2021 — the last due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year, the festival will introduce a new offering called “Música para mandar a volar” (Music to let go), described as “an unprecedented act of heartbreak.” It will feature prominent figures from Mexican rock such as Saúl Hernández (Caifanes) and Leonardo de Lozane (Fobia), alongside pop stars from yesterday and today including Belinda, Yuri, Daniela Romo and Napoleón.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Vive Latino 2025, including who’s performing, where to get tickets and how to watch the festival remotely.
When and Where
In its 25th anniversary, the Vive Latino festival will take place on Saturday (March 15) and Sunday (March 16) at the GNP Seguros Stadium in Mexico City.
Who’s Performing
This year’s eclectic lineup is headlined by major acts including Caifanes, Scorpions, Aterciopelados, Keane, Molotov, Mon Laferte, Edén Muñoz, Los Ángeles Azules, Zoé and Duncan Dhu, among others. Below is the full list of artists and bands announced, sorted alphabetically, by day.
Saturday, March 15:
Alto Grado
Arde Bogotá
Caifanes
Ckovi
Caloncho
Clubz
Daniel Me Estás Matando
Dillom
Drims
Duncan Dhu
El Gran Silencio
Él Mató a Un Policía Motorizado
Foster The People
Ginebras
Happy-Fi
Iseo & Dodosound
Jesse Baez
León Benavente
Little Jesus
Los Ángeles Azules
Lospetitfellas
Macario Martínez
Molotov
Meme Del Real
Nortec: Bostich + Fussible
Pressive
Royal Republic
The Guapos
Robot95
Scorpions
Usted Señálemelo
Sunday, March 16:
Astropical
Aterciopelados
Cuarteto De Nos
División Minúscula
Draco Rosa
Easykid
Edén Muñoz
Efecto Pasillo
El Haragán y Cia
El Kuelgue
Jay de la Cueva
Kany García
Los K’comxtles
Kikuo
Keane
La Delio Valdez
La Lupita
La Santísima Voladora
Los Concorde
Los Esquizitos
Los Planetas
Motel
Midnight Generation
Mon Laferte
Mikel Izal
Porter
Rüfüs Du Sol
Sepultura
Vilma Palma e Vampiros
Víctimas del Dr. Cerebro
Zoé
Where to Buy Tickets
Tickets for the Vive Latino 2025 are still available, starting at 2,950 Mexican pesos (around $150) per day. You can purchase them via Ticketmaster.
How to Watch Online
Can’t attend the Vive Latino festival in person? This year, audiences worldwide can stream the performances on the AmazonMusicEnVivo channel on Twitch and Prime Video exclusively — and without a subscription. The broadcast starts at 2 p.m. local time, 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT in the U.S.
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Ramón Ayala has revealed the date for his final concert, marking the end of a successful career that began in the 1960s. The final show of the norteño music legend will take place on Sept. 13 at the Arena Ciudad de México, as announced on his social media.
“After 60 years of career, the King of the Accordion is bidding farewell to his audience in style with two concerts on the ‘Historia de un Final’ tour,” the post reads, also referencing his show scheduled one day earlier at the Arena Monterrey. It was in that city where the musician began his journey alongside Cornelio Reyna, with whom he formed Los Relámpagos del Norte, before continuing with his own group, Ramón Ayala y los Bravos del Norte.
In February 2024, Ayala announced the tour El Principio de un Final, which was not completed due to differences with the promoter. Instead, he began that March the ‘Historia de un Final’ trek, with which he has toured dozens of cities in Mexico and the U.S.
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In an exclusive interview with Billboard Español ahead of the tour, Ayala conveyed last May the excitement he felt about going on with his career after more than half a century on the road. “Knowing that there’s a large audience that follows us both in Mexico and in the United States, that fills our concerts and is awaiting our new music, motivates me,” he said.
Ayala’s musical journey began when he was just five years old and he accompanied his father playing the accordion to bring money home in his native Monterrey, Nuevo León, cradle of one of the three strands on which regional Mexican music is based: norteño, mariachi and banda sinaloense.
Throughout his long-lasting career, he has recorded over 100 albums, two of which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Regional Mexican Albums chart: Arriba El Norte (1991) and Antología De Un Rey (2004). He’s also placed 12 songs on Hot Latin Songs, including “Del Otro Lado del Portón”, at No. 12, and “Quémame los Ojos”, at No. 19. And he’s received two Grammy Awards and two Latin Grammys, among other accolades.
An undisputed icon of regional Mexican music, many contemporary artists of the genre often include Ayala classics, like “Tragos de Amargo Licor,” in their concerts — among them Edén Muñoz and Alfredo Olivas, whom the veteran musician has cited among his favorites of the new generation.
Sebastián Yatra surprised his nearly 30 million fans on social media when he appeared in a video with Tom Hanks.
The short clip, published on Wednesday (March 12) and captioned “hey @tomhanks,” shows Yatra and the Hollywood actor having a conversation. “Hey, Tom. What song do you think would go good on these videos?” Yatra asks him.
“That’s not even a question … ‘La Pelirroja,’” Hanks replies, cuing a snippet of Yatra’s upcoming single of the same name.
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The promo video features some of the Oscar-winning actor’s timeless movie clips, including Forrest Gump, Apollo 13, Toy Story, Cast Away, The Terminal, Saving Private Ryan and A Man Called Otto, to name a few, as a preview of Yatra’s heartfelt ballad about an unattainable love plays in the background.
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“It’s a story that took me a long time to finish,” Yatra previously told Billboard. “The song never mentions ‘the redhead,’ but it has a bit in common with ‘Tacones Rojos’ in terms of the lyrics, which is that romanticism with a bit of naughty lyrics.”
Noting that no specific lady inspired the song, the Colombian singer shared that it’s very sentimental. “It’s one of those songs you put on and it sets the soundtrack to your life,” he said. “It’s one of those songs you literally play and you feel like your life is flashing before your eyes. The redhead represents that person we’ve all had in life, the one we like, but she’s with someone else.”
“La Pelirroja,” out on March 20, is part of Yatra’s upcoming studio album, which he confirmed to Billboard will be very pop and a “celestial experience.”
Watch the teaser with Hanks below:
In the words of its members, Los K’comxtles is “a living tribute” to the evolution of rock in Mexico. Led by Rubén Albarrán of Café Tacvba, the rockabilly supergroup is a multigenerational project that “bridges the past and the present to project it into the future,” the sextet’s vocalist tells Billboard Español.
In addition to Albarrán, Los K’comxtles is comprised of veteran musicians Rafael Acosta (Los Locos del Ritmo) and Rafael Miranda (Los Sleepers), both of whom were part of the famed Mexican rock scene of the 1950s and ’60s; Gato Rockabilly and Christian K’comxtle (Los Gatos) from the ’80s; and Choco Cizaña (La Cizaña) from the ’90s.
“It started with the idea of creating a rock n’ roll group, perhaps as an antidote to all the music we hear on the radio nowadays, which is basically the same and sounds identical — pasteurized, digitized, everything driven by an electronic click,” explains Albarrán. “Our approach leans more toward something organic, more natural, something that moves and vibrates the way only rock n’ roll can. That was the core idea.”
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The band emerged in 2022, during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has since released four singles on digital platforms. Among them is a reimagined version of a classic by Los Sleepers written 64 years ago, “Ojos de Araña,” as well as original songs — the most recent being “Mar de Amor,” whose music video premieres Friday (March 14). The video was filmed in Acapulco, in the Mexican state of Guerrero, which was devastated by the powerful Hurricane Otis in October 2023. “Mar de Amor” is described by the sextet as “a tribute to its beaches, sunrises, sunsets, human warmth, courage and a recognition of its people who fight and persevere.”
These and other songs can be heard live Sunday (March 16), when Los K’comxtles makes its debut at the Vive Latino festival, where the group will perform on the Carpa Intolerante stage. “Vive Latino is a huge showcase, and it’s a great opportunity for us to show off our rock n’ roll heart,” says Miranda.
For Albarrán, this musical project also represents an opportunity to honor the work of musicians such as Acosta and Miranda, who, alongside their bands Los Locos del Ritmo and Los Sleepers, confronted a conservative, “authoritarian and repressive” Mexican society. In their youth, these “martyrs of rock n’ roll,” as he calls them, endured criticism for the way they dressed, the type of songs they wrote and the rebellious spirit with which they chose to live, despite all obstacles.
“They confronted that society with great freedom and determination, committed to making music and living in a way they believed was transforming society — and they truly did transform it with their art and their way of being, to the point where we now enjoy many freedoms that we sometimes take for granted,” says the vocalist.
For Miranda, rock n’ roll has always been an act of resistance and a musical genre that has accompanied youth in their social struggles and artistic expressions.
“When we started out (in the ’60s), we were chased by the police for having long hair, wearing leather jackets, or playing this style of music,” he recalls. “We overcame those adversities, and others that came our way, but we were always convinced that rock n’ roll was our life. And here we are, still going strong.”
Bad Bunny’s sports agency, Rimas Sports, and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) reached an agreement this month (March 6) to settle a lawsuit over penalties tied to improper inducements, according to Associated Press. The parties filed a stipulation with U.S. District Judge Jennifer H. Rearden in Manhattan, confirming that they had resolved the […]
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