Browsing Tag

Latin Pop

Tom Waits Meets Ricky Martin in THE Astrolabe’s pop mood elevator,  Lovers

Posted on 13 October 2024

THE Astrolabe became the superlative king of cosmic pop sex appeal with his latest single, Lovers. If you thought Ricky Martin’s Livin la vida loca was sonically seductive, brace yourself for the affectingly aphrodisiacal energy of Lovers, which alchemises Latino rhythms with Bowie-esque space dust and jazzy grooves, creating a genre-fluid tour de force that sweeps through the soul with maximum volition.

Following a prelude that nods to Kraftwerk, the Athens-hailing innovator’s vocals croon into the mix, allowing you to imagine how Waits’ discography would have unfolded if he was just as adept at wrapping his gruff timbres around pop hooks. In the choruses, the peerless singer-songwriter proves he’s equally comfortable in a more harmonic register as his vocal notes soar with the brass section.

We are officially obsessed with THE Astrolabe and his endlessly uplifting cultivated sound that goes beyond setting a tone; his ability to command your entire mood is second to none. For your own sake, get him on your radar.

Lovers started serenading the airwaves on October 3rd; get hot under the collar with it by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

EmiTQM has made an ethereal debut with his installation of Latin indietronic pop, IGUAL Y ME PENSASTE

Posted on 5 July 2024

Latin pop sensation in the making, EmiTQM, has made an indelible mark on the Latin pop scene with his dreamy indietronica debut single, IGUAL Y ME PENSASTE, which arrests with ethereal melodic waves in the same vein as Cigarettes After Sex, and originates via tenderly warm and exploratively 8bit-adjacent sequences which envelop you in a sonic world of kaleidoscopic colour and soul.

Translating to ‘maybe you thought of me’, IGUAL Y ME PENSASTE is a reticently sweet embodiment of hope and yearning to reverberate around the mind of the person who ceaselessly occupies every waking thought.

The single is an affectingly unforgettable introduction to the Mexican pop singer-songwriter and producer’s unique style which has already seen him amass a loyal army of fans who relish in his ability to visualise universally resonant facets of the human condition.

The emotions that will flood through you as you follow EmiTQM’s lead through this future-forward earworm reach the pinnacle of visceralism. The hazy love-drunk hues translate with perfect articulation as the lines between reality and imagination blur.

One of the only things with more promise than his music career is that the sun will rise tomorrow. We are already stoked to hear what he has in store for his sophomore release.

IGUAL Y ME PENSASTE was officially released on June 27; stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Teff exhibited the exhilaration of being inside of love in her Latin Pop triumph, Suerte

Posted on 7 June 2024
Teff

Teff, the Latin Grammy-nominated sensation, has returned with a rhythmic explosion in her latest single, Suerte, which attests to the bliss of finding love in an ocean of 8 billion souls. Suerte, meaning ‘luck’, is a celebration of serendipitous romance that has the capacity to transform every moment into a fervent exhilaration.

The song’s production, co-helmed by the illustrious Bernardo Arzola, is a masterclass in blending quality and innovation. Martha Paredes’ percussion, Camilo Rodriguez’s guitar work, and Danny Thomas Gonzales’ bass provide a rich, soulful backdrop that captures the essence of Teff’s upbeat Latin pop style. The synergy between these artists creates a dynamic and infectious sound that radiates positivity and gratitude.

Teff, born in Caracas and raised in the United States, pours her heart into every beat and lyric of Suerte. Her voice, filled with a fiery passion, navigates the listener through the highs and lows of love, ultimately landing on the sweet realisation that true connection makes every bad moment fade into insignificance. The track’s upbeat tempo and quirky lyrics encapsulate this duality of luck, delivering an authentically heartfelt experience.

Every progression in Suerte is laid down with flourishing finesse, while the effervescence of the crystalline production attests to the transformative power of love. It’s a timeless piece that teaches the ultimate lesson in gratitude and showcases Teff at her most candid and uninhibited. For fans of Latin music, Suerte is an essential listen, capturing the vibrant, soul-rich colour that defines Teff’s unique musical journey.

Suerte will reach all major streaming platforms on June 7th.

Discover Teff on her official website, Facebook, and Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Mia Laren navigates passion and fatal dysfunction in her Latin Dance Pop track, My Heart

Posted on 2 May 2024

Since 2019, the Baltimore-born, Cali-based singer-songwriter, dancer and producer, Mia Laren, has rhythmically and emotionally moved her international fanbase; her latest Latin Dance Pop track, My Heart (can’t live or live or without you), captures Laren at her most infectious, intimate and powerful.

After an intro which nods to Gaga’s Alejandro, Laren opens her single up to a sensually electrifying, moodily hypnotic groove which constructs an exotically rich platform for her arcane harmonies to ascend from. The monocultural mould disintegrates around her infusion of folky Eastern mysticism and Latin guitars in the electro-pop mix which explores the tormenting nature of your heart beating for someone that will ultimately be the death of you if you keep clinging to the dysfunction in the name of passion.

It’s a rare feat to discover a release that is organically rooted in the heritage of Latin and folk yet transcends contemporary pop trends with a stylish flair that embodies couture pop, yet, five years after learning how to produce music on her laptop, Mia Laren achieved it with plenty of sincerity and authenticity to spare.

My Heart was officially released on April 24; stream the official music video on YouTube now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Paloma Amaya became the ultimate advocate of embolened independence in her world music single, Mejor

Posted on 4 July 2023

The sensually superlative singer-songwriter, Paloma Amaya, blended her dualistic Mexican and Austrian heritage in her latest monocultural mould-smashing single, Mejor.

If rhythm is a dancer, it would want to move to the beat of Amaya’s fiery hit, which blends classic Latin pop with a pinch of reggaeton flavour and other elements of world music to effortlessly transcend genre and geographical boundaries. Just try telling us this isn’t the most vibrant single of the summer.

If you needed any proof that music is a universal language, slip right into the empowering hit, which celebrates freedom away from the toxicity of a relationship better left in the rear-view mirror. Amaya became the ultimate advocate of emboldened independence in Mejor. Stepping into your power never sounded sweeter thanks to the arrestive nature of Amaya’s pitch-perfect harmonies.

Mejor hit the airwaves on June 23; stream it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Ozzie Aguilera gave the ultimate lesson in reformation in their 2023 reworking of ‘Yo Quiero Saber’

Posted on 18 June 2023

The Mexican-American singer-songwriter, makeup enthusiast and entrepreneur, Ozzie Aguilera, revisited the past by reworking their 2022 Alt Latino Pop debut single, Yo Quiero Saber, to prove that life is a journey of progress, and even though you have to be accepting of your flaws, if there is the opportunity for growth, grab it with two hands and don’t let go.

The 2022 version was a melodic dream. The 2023 reinvention carries the same dream-like colourful mesmerism with swathes more conviction in the harmonies, which exemplifies the message in the single, that we are all constantly evolving.

It was a highly conceptual move from the mindfully captivating innovator. One that shows how willing they are to right wrongs and how capable they are of spreading a resolving message of inspiration to all of their listeners on their own paths.

Yo Quiero Saber was released on June 9th; stream it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Ozzie Aguilera is fresh from his seductively unapologetic Latin Jazz-Pop single, Nasty Boy

Posted on 15 August 2022

Here to prove there is little more awe-inspiring than someone completely embracing their autonomy is the Mexican American singer-songwriter, MUA and entrepreneur Ozzie Aguilera and his latest Latin Jazz-Pop single, Nasty Boy.

The soulfully unapologetic single delivers the eloquent reminder that everyone you meet will have their own narrative of you, but yours is the only one that is true and that carries any weight. The light year colour-seeped melodies give Nasty Boy an almost dream-like feel, while Ozzie Aguilera wraps his sultry vocal dynamism around the well-metered swoon-some canter of the lyrics.

Nasty Boy was officially released on August 12th. Check it out on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Jspino has released the ultimate you-will-see-me single with his latest RnB-Latin-Pop earworm, Noticing

Posted on 22 April 2022

Indie RnB artist, Jspino, laid it out all on the line in his latest Latin pop-spliced hit, Noticing. The track sinks its teeth into the frustration that manifests when there is that soul-obliterating feeling of knowing that the person you want to see you the most have their blinkers on to your autonomy.

As the perfect contrast to the fiery RnB pop vocals, there’s a deep sense of melodicism that cushions the blow of the hard-hitting beats which match the progressively intense vocal momentum. It is hardly a stretch to say that Noticing is easily one of the rawest RnB tracks we’ve heard this year. We hope Jspino follows his own trend.

Noticing officially dropped on April 15th; you can check it out via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Latino fusionist, ROLF has released his most seductive track to date with OTRA NOCHE DE AMANTES

Posted on 14 February 2022

To follow on from his 2021 debut single, Soltera, the Latino alt-pop artist, ROLF unleashed his vibe-packed 6-track EP, ILUSIONES. For new fans to his seductively soulful style, OTRA NOCHE DE AMANTES is the ultimate introduction.

With the Spanish lyricism, for English monolingual minds, there’s an air of mystery. When the lyrics are translated, ROLF keeps his enigmatic allure which also resonates in his fusion of spacey ambient electronica, Latin pop, and RnB.

To amplify the demure energy, ROLF brought in jazz and rock nuances to ensure that you are well and truly transfixed by the outro. OTRA NOCHE DE AMANTES may be a short and sweet track, but considering that it delivers 2-minutes of aural bliss, it leaves nothing to be desired.

OTRA NOCHE DE AMANTES is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

ANGELICA LOPEZ energetically embraces multiculturalism in her new single, ‘New Gold’.

Posted on 5 July 2021

Columbian-born, London-based singer-songwriter ANGELICA LOPEZ has unleashed her latest single, New Gold, and reminded the world why she was accoladed as one of the best Latin artists in Europe.

With her vibrant vocal timbre and the progressively eclectic feel to the instrumentals, New Gold is an explosion of colour, culture and unadulterated talent that almost speaks to you on a primal level as you realise that, depressingly, music from different regions can coalesce far better than some of the people in the UK. With so much tension arising as a result of Brexit, New Gold feels like a soulful act of rebellion as it energetically embraces multiculturism.

New Gold carries the infectious pop appeal of ABBA, arrestingly authentic Latin rhythms and a few sonic elements of funk and rock to give the enlivening soundscape even more energy.

New Gold is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast