New Music Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs and albums recommended by Billboard and Billboard Español editors. Check out this week’s picks below.
Wampi, El Rey de la Habana (Awaken Music Corp/Virgin Music Latin)
Wampi has dropped his highly-awaited debut studio album, El Rey de la Habana — featuring songs he composed, produced and played on. Spearheading a new wave of Reparto music stars, the Cuban artist born Dasiel Mustelier Oruña delivers 13 tracks that go beyond his signature and progressive Reparto sound. “Chacha” with Los Van Van is a soft salsa-cha-cha fusion; “Nostalgia” is a reflective ballad; “2000s” is a sensual R&B tune; “Que Bola” is a groovy funk assisted by Cimafunk; and “La Última” is a heartfelt love song joined by Leoni Torres. But on his new set, Wampi — a studied musician — passionately hones in on the Cuban urban genre that made him a household name: “Veni,” “Rica y To,’” “Tinguili” with pioneers Harryson and Adonis MC, and “Talentosa” with Maffio, all of which attest to his rich Reparto sound. — JESSICA ROIZ
Young Miko, “Meiomi” (Wave Music Group)
There’s a dichotomy that often powers Young Miko’s artistry: soft, vulnerable and at the same time hard-hitting and bold. The Puerto Rican hitmaker’s “Meiomi” is no exception. Powered by a mellow-yet rhythmic Afrobeats tune, the cheeky track finds Miko lusting over a stripper in this seductive narrative that captures an undeniable connection between the two. Produced by Mauro, Miko’s go-to collaborator, “Meiomi” serves as the beginning of a “new era” for Miko, according to a press release, as she’s also announced her upcoming sophomore album, which will follow her 2024 LP att. Young Miko is also set to join Billie Eilish for eight of her Hit Me Hard & Soft Tour dates in the U.S. See the dates here. — GRISELDA FLORES
Camila Fernández, El Mimoso Luis Antonio López, “Culpa Mía” (Universal Music Group México)
Camila Fernández continues to affirm her place as a rising star in Mexican music with the extended version of her third album, La Fernández, which includes four new songs. The focus track, “Culpa Mía,” a duet with El Mimoso Luis Antonio López, is a melancholic ranchera that continues to solidify the album’s original theme of loss and heartbreak. With gloomy-yet-gorgeous accordion melodies driven against acoustic guitars and a tololoche, the song showcases the vulnerability of a crumbling relationship through an emotional dialogue between two lovers. But above all, Fernández and El Mimoso’s voices shine extraordinarily beautifully, delivering a performance that lingers even after its final note. — ISABELA RAYGOZA
Ricky Martin, Carín León, “A Medio Vivir” (Sony Music Latin)
Three decades after its original release, Ricky Martin teamed up with Carín León for a new version of his 1995 hit “A Medio Vivir.” Joined by León’s rich, raspy vocals, the poignant lyrics (penned by Franco De Vita) resonate with the deep-seated grief that often accompanies heartbreak and the bittersweet experience of lost love. Each verse is a heartfelt exploration of sorrow, capturing the complexity of human emotions in the face of separation. Accompanying this powerful musical revival is a music video directed by Carlos Pérez, creative director at Elastic People, encapsulating the essence of emotional tempestuousness that one might envision as an “internal madhouse.” — INGRID FAJARDO
Natalia Lafourcade, “La Cometierra” (Sony Music México)
The Mexican singer-songwriter pleasantly surprises with her foray into rap and spoken word in “La Cometierra,” a powerful urban-tinged song that tells the story of a girl with the gift of finding the missing. The piece is the theme song of the new Prime Video original series, inspired by the acclaimed novel of the same name by Dolores Reyes, which portrays gender-based violence and disappearances in Mexico. Co-produced by Cheche Alara and mixed by Michael H. Brauer, the track is more than a musical piece; it becomes a social manifesto about the land and roots that joins the necessary call to action in the face of the serious problem of violence in the country. — NATALIA CANO
Dale Pututi & Nesty, “Imaginando” (Plus Media)
In what seems to be a musical journey to the future, Cuban breakout artists Dale Pututi and Nesty wrap their joint EP 2049 with the release of “Imaginando.” Coined as the fourth chapter of this sonic saga—following “Luna,” “Pa La Pin Pin” with L Kimii, and “Fan de mi Caracter” with Wow Poppy — “Imaginando,” co-produced by RoMn Beatz and Dale Pututi (real name: Alejandro Arce), is a ultra-sensual Reparto tune powered by mellow ukulele chords and a hard-hitting clave sound. Lyrically, the two Miami-based artists join their honey-like melodious vocals to narrate a song that describes a sultry and lustful relationship: “Estaba aqui pensando/ imaginandote en mi nota/ Con ganas de verte y besarte la boca” (“I was here thinking/ imagining you in my mood/ With the desire to see you and kiss your lips”), Pututi starts off singing. — J.R.
Los Rieleros del Norte, “Maldito Corazón” (FONO/UMG Recordings)
Los Rieleros del Norte take us through different emotions in “Maldito Corazón,” from heartbreak to disappointment, and even overcoming a complicated relationship in this song written by renowned composer Luciano Luna. The band’s distinctive sax adds a melancholic yet dramatic touch that, combined with the lyrics, invites us not to fall in love again without caution, avoiding hurt. “God save me from you coming back into my life one more time/ It was the worst stone I could have stumbled on/ I had almost no regrets/ And after being with you, I’ll never fall in love again,” says chorus. “Maldito Corazón” is the preview of Los Rieleros del Norte’s upcoming album due in November. — TERE AGUILERA
Check out more Latin recommendations this week below:
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