Latin
Page: 205
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.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
J Balvin, Quevedo, Omar Courtz & YOVNGCHIMI, “En Alta” (Universal Music Latino/Sueños Globales)
J Balvin made a surprising comeback this week when he uploaded a video to his Instagram drinking his morning coffee and repeating “buenos dias.” In the clip, he hinted at the title of his new single, “En Alta.” It was the first time Balvin appeared after taking a nearly 10-month social media break. For his grand musical return, the Colombian artist reeled in newcomers Quevedo, Omart Courtz and YOVNGCHIMI, further proving that he will always support new talent — as he once did with a then-rising Bad Bunny, Feid, Rosalía, Karol G, Maria Becerra, and more.
Produced by Hear This Music (also featuring Mambo Kingz & DJ Luian), “En Alta” is an infectious electro-trap fusion about manifesting nothing but good vibes and being surrounded by positive-minded people. “We continue at the top/Everyone in the middle, I don’t want fake people/We are better than yesterday, thank God/Today there is a party on the terrace, we are chillin,” goes the chorus. — JESSICA ROIZ
María José Llergo, “Rueda, Rueda” (Sony Music España)
“Rueda, Rueda” is the enchanting new single of Spanish singer María José Llergo, and the lead track of her upcoming album, set to drop this fall. “First preview of the album that is not going to change my life, it is directly giving it to me” she shared on her Instagram. The song starts as an enrapturing flamenco chant, and develops into a flamenco-pop tune, with her voice as the protagonist. Llergo knows how to deliver a powerful interpretation that connects with and captivates the listener. “I don’t even know what day it is/ For me all days are holidays/ I travel the world singing about what I write/ Oslo, Paris, Montreal, and the United Kingdom” she sings at the opening of the track. The video shows a lot of — you guessed it — wheels, and people of all ages in an open field. — LUISA CALLE
Maria Becerra, “Corazón Vacío” (Warner Music Latin)
More so than most other rising Latin female stars, Maria Becerra has eschewed the tropes of sexy vamping and imagery in favor of songs that are commercial, but point to deeper meaning and substance. “Corazón Vacío,” produced by longtime collaborator XRoss, kicks off with a moody, slow intro, with Becerra singing practically a cappella over pads, before the reggaetón beat kicks in almost a full minute later. That Becerra can keep our attention with that ploy is notable, and speaks to her singing and to lyrics that are memorable and well crafted (we love “Yo quería hablar con vos, pero otra voz me dijo que, ‘No te ilusiones más con él.’”) The video, where Becerra plays a single mom raising her daughter after her boyfriend leaves her, is really resonating with fans. — LEILA COBO
Peso Pluma, Génesis (Double P Records/Prajin Parlay)
Peso Pluma’s global takeover has just begun — and, to keep the momentum going, the corridos singer-songwriter has delivered Génesis, his new album, which cements Mexican music’s stronghold. The 14-track set thrives on Peso’s core sound, powered by a trombone and tololoche, and includes previously released songs such as the swaggy “77” featuring Eladio Carrión, “Rosa Pastel” with up-and-comer Jasiel Nuñez and the closing heartbreak anthem “Bye.” Among the new cuts, there’s the provocative “Carnal,” with corridos tumbados pioneer Natanael Cano, plus the blunt, attitude-heavy “Rubicon.”
My personal favorite is “Luna,” a collaboration with another música mexicana powerhouse, Junior H. It’s a gorgeous love song that showcases Peso’s romantic side: “Moon you tell her, that you’re the only one that can see her/ Take care of her, my moon, you’ll always see her/ Tell her that she won’t see me anymore, but that you’ll always be there,” the pair sing over a nostalgic trombone riff. But please also listen to “Lagunas” with Nuñez — while it’s led by masterful requinto lines, it’s a dreamy pop song at its core. — GRISELDA FLORES
Bad Gyal, Young Miko, Tokischa, “Chulo pt.2” (Universal Music Latino/Interscope)
Powered by a hard-hitting reggaetón thump, “Chulo pt.2” sees Spanish artist Bad Gyal pursuing risqué, sex-positive ventures with no lyrical filter. Unlike the solo route of “Chulo,” its second iteration brings Puerto Rican rapper Young Miko and Dominican dembow singer Tokischa along for the ride. “I love how natural this project came to be,” says Bad Gyal in a press release. “Both Tokischa and Young Miko gave this song a new meaning, and transformed it into a very original and perfect continuation, straying away from the typical remix.” Produced by Mag and Mauro, the single witnesses the freaky trio hone their carnal-seeking antics as they gamble with (arguably) bad decisions and a lust for life. — ISABELA RAYGOZA
Marshmello & Tiago PZK, “Como Yo :(” (Joytime Collective/Sony Music Latin)
In only 2:30 minutes, Marshmello and Tiago PZK will capture your attention and leave you wanting more with this dreamy pop song filled with wistful melodies and upbeat drum patterns. Co-written by the American DJ and music producer and the Argentine singer and rapper, “Como Yo :(” finds a lovesick Tiago reminiscing on a past lover, as he croons lyrics like, “No one is going to love you like I loved you/ They may tell you what I told you, but not feel it like I did,” in Spanish. The music video, directed by Justice Silvera, is a captivating dreamscape that shows Tiago singing among clouds in the sky. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS
Listen to the New Music Latin playlist below:
If there’s one thing that has transformed Camilo’s life—besides fatherhood—it’s touring.
While on the road last year with his De Adentro Pa’ Afuera Tour, the Colombian singer-songwriter experienced a life-changing show that took place in Spain’s Puerta de Alcalá and ultimately led him to release the deluxe edition of his De Adentro Pa’ Afuera album.
“When we did the concert in Spain, we were so focused on the event as such that we weren’t thinking about it being a deluxe part of the album,” Camilo tells Billboard. “It was when we later saw the results with the cameras and the drones that we said, ‘This has to be kept forever, immortalized’. Now that I listen to it [the album], I realize that it would have been very strange if it hadn’t been like that.”
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
The deluxe album includes six singles that were recorded live at the free street concert in Spain in October of 2022: “KESI”; “Por Primera Vez” with his wife, singer and actress Evaluna; “5:24”; “De Adentro Pa Afuera”; “Tutu”; and “Vida De Rico.” The recordings also feature videos of the “surreal” and “magical” encounter that Camilo had with the nearly 100,000 fans in attendance.
“It was surreal. It was so magical and so cinematic that it couldn’t be something from reality,” he recalls. “It was like impossible, improbable, to achieve a concert like that. Even for a Spanish artist to achieve that is very difficult, so it is privileged, it is immense and impossible to forget.”
But the main reason the dreamlike concert was stapled into an album is because of the Grammy-winning and Latin Grammy-winning artist’s beloved fanbase “La Tribu” (the tribe).
“The voices of the tribu changed and impacted me,” he notes. “It was necessary to listen to these songs with their voices there, hearing people scream with me. I can’t believe how loud they are. It’s incredible how they sing the songs and how their voices sound harder than the speakers outside. Love is very loud and very beautiful.”
De Adentro Pa’ Afuera (Sony Music Latin/Hecho A Mano) navigates from urban pop to banda and cumbia villera, and includes powerful collaborations such as Alejandro Sanz, Camila Cabello, Grupo Firme and Nicki Nicole, to name a few. The set debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard Latin Pop Albums chart in September 2022.
Listen to the deluxe edition below.
Peso Pluma‘s Génesis is here, just a week after he announced a new album was coming. The 14-track set features collaborations with música Mexicana stars such as Natanael Cano, Junior H and Luis R Conriquez. It also includes previously released songs such as “Rosa Pastel” with Jasiel Nuñez, the Eladio Carrión-assisted “77” and “Bye.” Explore […]
Bizarrap has reeled in his latest collaborator for “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 56.” Just three weeks after dropping Vol. 55 with Peso Pluma, the Argentine hitmaker teamed up with Rauw Alejandro. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “What a joy it gives me to finally release music together […]
The first day of summer officially kicked off Wednesday (June 21), and to set the tone for a sunny and beachy season, Billboard is asking readers to vote for their favorite Latin song of summer 2023 (so far). Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The fan-related poll includes […]
Every month, Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors feature a small group of new, or relatively unknown, artists whose music we love. Think “diamantes en bruto,” or “diamonds in the rough.” These are newcomers who have yet to impact the mainstream — but whose music excites us, and who we believe our readers should make a point to discover.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Our latest edition of On the Radar Latin includes a half-dozen emerging artists, who we might’ve found anywhere from a Spotify playlist to a music showcase. See our recommendations below.
Artist: Damian
Country: Colombia
Why They Should Be On Your Radar: I saw Damian live for the first time last year during a “Noche Vallenata” night at a local restaurant in Miami, where he always performs. Navigating all the vallenato, salsa, and merengue classics, the Colombian artist’s stage presence, accompanied by his live band, set the vibe for a high-energetic fiesta. His sweet vocal ranges bring to life all Colombian Caribbean flavors by fusing cumbia, reggae, champeta, and vallenato. Earlier this year, the Barranquilla-born artist released “El Amor No Es Amor,” the first single from his upcoming studio album. If this single is any indication, his music is not only feel-good but a reflection of a grateful lifestyle. — INGRID FAJARDO
Song For Your Playlist: “El Amor No Es Amor”
Artist: Joaquina
Country: Venezuela
Why They Should Be on Your Radar: Exactly a year ago, singer/songwriter Joaquina was part of the first “graduating” class at producer Julio Reyes Copello’s Art House Academy. Last week, the Venezuelan-born, Miami-raised 18-year-old opened Fonseca’s arena show at Kaseya Center in Miami. Many eyes are on Joaquina, who writes her own material and talks about teenage angst in her indie pop/rock in Spanish. With an assertive on-stage presence, 275,000 Instagram followers, and at least three singles that have over one million streams each on Spotify, Joaquina already snagged a recording deal with Universal Music Latin. — LEILA COBO
Song For Your Playlist: “Los Mejores Años”
Artist: Juan Wauters
Country: Uruguay
Why They Should Be on Your Radar: Juan Wauters has a modest way of making three-minute joyous folk ditties that observe the simple beauties of existence. That’s what the bilingual Wandering Rebel is: a free-spirited journey with a huge South American heart. Propelled by acoustic guitar strumming, “Milanesa al Pan,” featuring Córdoba singer Zoe Gotusso, is a kitsch romantic duet about enjoying an Argentinian sandwich together. Portland-based Y La Bamba’s voice never sounded sweeter than as a guest in “Nube Negra,” where listeners hear the Queens, New York-based, Uruguay-born singer dreaming of sweeping the black clouds in his mind away. His 12-track album is a dolce, melancholic jaunt with idiosyncratic moments that might too inspire one to reflect on the ordinary pleasures of life. — ISABELA RAYGOZA
Song For Your Playlist: “Nube Negra” feat. Y La Bamba
Artist: Kendar
Country: The Dominican Republic
Why They Should Be on Your Radar: Kendar caught my attention at a showcase I attended earlier this month. Off the bat, he’s a young-but-old-souled Dominican artist, whose stage presence and potent vocal range ooze passion and maturity. As he grows his social media following, Kendar has stepped into the spotlight with his romantic pop covers, including Ricardo Arjona’s “Hongos,” Sebastian Yatra’s “Como Mirarte,” and Vicente García’s “Dulcito e Coco,” to name a few. The jazz-infused salsa “Se Llevó Mi Alma” is his first original single, which you can enjoy below: — JESSICA ROIZ
Song For Your Playlist: “Se Llevó Mi Alma”
Artist: Lion Dr
Country: The Dominican Republic
Why They Should Be On Your Radar: Puerto Rico has Jay Wheeler, but over in The Dominican Republic, they have their very own “romantic voice” dubbed Lion Dr. His debut single arrived in 2021 called “La Nena,” a sultry trap song, followed by his infectious reggaetón single “La Nave” in 2022. But the aspiring artist didn’t stop there: He then brought his somewhat sugary, raspy vocals and flirtatious lyrics to a five-track EP called En Un Viaje, where he delivers some soulful acoustic and R&B tracks as well. — J.R.
Song For Your Playlist: “La Nave”
Artist: Lowis Ye
Country: The Dominican Republic
Why They Should Be On Your Radar: With his purple dreadlocks-meet-fade haircut, laidback fashion style, and charming personality, Lowis Ye is bringing a fresh personality to the Latin music industry. The up-and-coming artist got on my radar after he personally introduced himself to me after a Billboard Mujeres panel at the 2023 Premios Heat conferences this month. His voice later captivated me on the award show’s red carpet, where he sang to me in a cappella. Lowis, like Kendar, Lion DR, and Scarlet Evan, are winners of the La Nueva Cepa initiative, which discovers and develops emerging artists across Latin America. With singles such as “Tu Carita,” “KDAV,” and “Un Rato,” Lowis delivers feel-good Afrobeats and urban-pop fusions backed by sweet love lyrics. — J.R.
Song For Your Playlist: “Un Rato”
Artist: Scarlet Evang
Country: The Dominican Republic
Why They Should Be On Your Radar: While many rising Dominican female artists, such as Tokischa and Yailin La Mas Viral, are dropping dembow or bachata bangers, Scarlet Evan is opting for an R&B vibe. The newcomer, who was a promising contestant on The Voice Domincana, will lure you in with her soulful and powerful vocals and elegant aura. In her latest single, “Game Over,” her musical qualities shine in a bilingual track where she chants about discovering her self-worth and moving away from a failed relationship. — J.R.
Song For Your Playlist: “Game Over”
Artist: YADAM
Country: Venezuela
Why They Should Be On Your Radar: There are countless emails that come through my inbox suggesting I should “listen to artist’s new song now,” and while it’s hard to actually listen to ALL that come through, I’m happy I clicked on YADAM’s new song “Beso.” Part of the Venezuelan singer-songwriter’s new EP titled after its focus track, “Beso” is a palate-cleanser with its energetic 80s-inspired vibe where he sings about taking control over his strong emotions ignited by a beso (kiss). Add “Beso” to your playlist but also check out the EP’s other songs, which he’d previously released, such as “Ojalá,” a stripped-down ballad, and the pop, flamenco-tinged “Otras Mujeres,” to really appreciate the artist’s versatility and his ability to blend styles. Up next? The Paris-based artist is set to release his debut album in September. — GRISELDA FLORES
Song For Your Playlist: “Beso”
Artist: Yeisy Rojas
Country: Cuba
Why They Should Be On Your Radar: Yeisy Rojas came onto my radar just a few weeks ago, when she introduced herself in an Instagram DM ahead of the release of her song “Mama Ines” — the first single of her upcoming debut album, produced by Gastón Joya (Chucho Valdés’ former bass player) and featuring Julito Padrón. A jazz violinist, singer and composer classically trained in her native Cuba, Rojas played with the National Opera orchestra in Havana before moving to Norway in 2016 to get her master’s degree in jazz violin. Now, as a newcomer performer, she beautifully blends Cuban music, Latin jazz, and some funk while speaking up against racism in her country.
“My message is specifically for my land Cuba, where I hope there will be more equality and rights for our Afro community,” she wrote me about “Mama Ines,” in which Rojas musicalizes a poem from 1930 by the late Nicolás Guillén that is still relevant today: “Ayer Me Dijeron Negro” (“Yesterday I was called a negro”). I am looking forward to hearing the rest of her songs. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS
Song For Your Playlist: “Mama Ines” feat. Julito Padrón
After dominating the past year with his blockbuster Un Verano Sin Ti album and a handful of subsequent singles and collaborations, Bad Bunny is already shifting his attention to new music. In an interview with Rolling Stone, published on Wednesday (June 21), the Grammy-winning reggaeton phenomenon revealed that a collaboration with Travis Scott is on […]
Yng Lvcas and Peso Pluma achieve their first No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Rhythm Airplay chart as “La Bebe” advances from No. 2 to lead the list dated June 24. It’s the first team-up where both artists secure their first champ in 2023, and the first since Bizarrap and Quevedo led with “Bzrp Music Sessions, […]
Chinese pop star G.E.M. is looking to grow her Latin American fan base — and break the mold for Chinese artists — by putting out a full-length Spanish version of her latest album, Revelation. And the idea to do it didn’t come from an executive or carefully plotted strategy by her new label, Warner Music China, which released the original Mandarin version in September.
“It wasn’t necessarily something we sat down with her and sort of guided her towards,” Simon Robson, Warner Music Group’s president, international, for recorded music, tells Billboard. “It was more that she wanted to do this, and we wanted to support her.”
Robson says G.E.M.’s Revelación, which Warner Music plans to release on July 10, will be the first Spanish-language album by a major Chinese music artist at any label (as far as WMG is aware). The experiment, the executive says, is “quite indicative of what’s happening with music at the moment and just how impactful Spanish music is becoming.”
Like her Chinese original, the Spanish album — which G.E.M. says she wrote on her own, after essentially teaching herself the language — will feature 14 songs. After debuting in 2008 with her self-titled EP G.E.M, the Shanghai born, Hong Kong-raised singer, whose real name is Gloria Tang Sze-wing (G.E.M. stands for Get Everybody Moving), became one of the top-selling female artists in Asia. Often dubbed China’s Taylor Swift, she holds the record for most-viewed music video on YouTube among all Chinese artists with “Light Years Away” (267 million views), the Chinese theme song for the sci-fi movie “Passengers.”
“It has been an incredible journey working on this project as I do not speak Spanish, but I was determined to fulfill a prophecy that was made to me 10 years ago that one day I would sing in the language,” G.E.M. says in a press release announcing Revelación. “After receiving support from South America for my Chinese album Revelation, I taught myself Spanish and wrote the entire album by myself.”
[embedded content]
A devout Christian, the singer rose to fame in 2014 after appearing on the TV competition show, “I Am A Singer 2.” Her second-place finish boosted her popularity in mainland China. She also received a nomination for an MTV Europe Music Award for Best Mainland China & Hong Kong Act and in 2016 Forbes named her to its 30 Under 30, the only Asian artist featured on the list. She composes songs in Cantonese and Mandarin, and also speaks English.
G.E.M. signed with Warner Music China last July, after a sticky separation from her Hong Kong-based label, Hummingbird Music, which sued her in 2019 to enforce their 2014 contract, which the label said was valid until 2022. Hummingbird was seeking HK $120 million ($15.3 million) in damages, according to Chinese media reports. G.E.M. filed a countersuit for unspecified damages, claiming Hummingbird had failed to fulfill its contractual duties. Both parties were seeking exclusive rights to her copyrighted works, including her stage name. (It is unclear if the suits have been resolved. A WMG spokesperson says he does not have any information about the situation.)
Revelation, G.E.M.’s seventh studio album, is named after the New Testaments’s Book of Revelation. In the wake of the pandemic last summer, the artist found herself prone to melancholy and other negative emotions, and developed the habit of praying, she told Billboard China. Her album was a “direct dialogue between me and heaven,” she said. “I write letters to heaven, and they write back. This is what gradually gave shape to the concept behind Revelation.”
Warner Music released two songs from the album every week — accompanied by videos — for seven weeks leading up to Sept. 22. G.E.M. began noticing that user-generated content and remakes of the song in local languages by Spanish-speaking content creators were appearing on social media platforms, particularly in South America. “Whether it was due to the album’s themes or its vibes, it was evident that it was connecting strongly with Spanish speakers globally,” a WMG spokesperson says. So, she decided to learn Spanish and convert the songs into Spanish “to better share her message and music with this fanbase.”
While the plan is still in its preliminary stages, G.E.M. is planning to perform the Spanish version of the song throughout the next year, with live performances in Latin America, the spokesperson tells Billboard.
Robson says WMG currently has no plans to release any other Chinese artists’ albums in Spanish. “But I think that obviously there is an element of seeing how successful this album is,” he says. “It’s something I wouldn’t be surprised if we see more of just because Spanish music, in the broadest terms, is becoming increasingly influential around the world.”
The Warner Music executive acknowledged that there is an element of risk for G.E.M. and the label with the Spanish project but declined to define what success would look like for the artist. “It’s more about building her fan base in Latin America,” he says. “It’s step by step, really.”
WMG continues to lean into Latin music, at a time when the genre is exploding globally. Between 2020 and 2022, Latin music grew 55.29% in album consumption in the U.S., according to Luminate, more than double the overall industry’s 21.61%.
Robson points to recent tracks like Peso Pluma’s remix of Yng Lvcas’ “La Bebe,” which is holding at No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 this week, and the upcoming album or EP from Mexican rapper Natanael Cano, which is scheduled to drop at the end of June, as signs of Warner Music’s efforts on the Latin front. (Yng Lvcas performed last week at a songwriting camp in Madrid organized by Warner Music Spain and Warner Chappell Music Spain, part of an effort by the company, Robson says, to host more joint writing camps for both publishing and recorded music.)
Two years ago, the label named former Universal Music Group executive Alejandro Duque as president of Warner Music Latin America. Duque helped oversee the release of Anitta’s Versions of Me, whose signature single, “Envolver,” reached No. 2 on the Billboard Global 200. But now the Brazilian pop star is gone, after separating with the label in April and signing with UMG’s Republic Records, a definite blow to WMG.
“We’re already starting to build up our roster [in Brazil],” Robson says, noting the recent signing of Brazilian urban funk artist Kayblack.
More broadly, “when you look back two years prior, although we were sort of active, [it is] nothing like to the degree we are now, and are not having the success we have,” Robson says. “Alejandro is an incredibly strong executive and we’re trying to support him as much as possible.”
Don Omar‘s Forever King tops this week’s new music poll. Music fans voted in a poll published Friday (June 16) on Billboard, choosing Omar’s new album as their favorite new music release of the past week. Forever King brought in more than 57% of the vote, beating out new music from Doja Cat, Queens of the Stone […]