We are living through an era where more music is available to us than ever – whether it be via social media, streaming, or apps. But despite this wealth of options, it can be difficult to cut through the industry hype, the homogenizing algorithms, and find something new and exciting.
In our weekly Nuevo Noise playlist, you’ll find some of our favorite releases of the week – from the most exciting new names in urbano to the burgeoning SoCal neo-Chicano soul wave and everything in between.
Consider this your genre-diverse guide to the most exciting releases from rising Latinx artists each week. Follow our Nuevo Noise playlist featuring these tracks and more on Spotify or Apple Music.
1
Twin Shadow - “Crushed”
While we still wait for Twin Shadow’s previously announced follow-up to his 2018 album, Caer, George Lewis Jr. has given us his third single this year, the slow-burning ballad “Crushed.” The track finds the Dominican singer drowning in his post-breakup feelings, as he whispers his thoughts and lets them run wild over a minimalistic beat, making us think of all we could have done differently to salvage a lost relationship. -Cheky
2
Foliage - "To Tell You: I Love You"
On his latest single, Manuel Joseph Walker explores a more hectic pace than his songs usually possess. “To Tell You: I Love You” still features the heartfelt vocals, ‘80s production and bouncy guitar work that have been his calling card, but this time, the song goes a bit more upbeat, making the track a cousin of garage-pop stalwarts like Los Nastys and Los Blenders if they were into treasuring their relationships rather than partying. “To Tell You…” proves you can still be emotional while dancing erratically at a show. -Marcos Hassan
3
Y La Bamba - “Entre Los Dos”
Y La Bamba is on a roll. Since the release of the band’s latest album, Mujeres, back in February, Luz Elena Mendoza is back with a new 10” EP named Entre Los Dos, and she has just shared the title track. She sings about unconditional love on this quirky acoustic pop song, and she embraces it fully, despite the pain and heartache that undoubtedly comes with it. -Cheky
4
Wet Baes - “Despierto”
Mexican space cowboy Wet Baes is at it again, delivering the second maxi-single in his five-part Cosmovidencias series leading up to the release of his highly anticipated sophomore album. In this transmission, Wet Baes presents us with two bossa nova-flavored tracks, “Asteroides” and “Despierto,” the latter of which continues to draw inspiration from late 1970s jazz-rock and modern psych, concocting a sonic cocktail that is out of this world. -Richard Villegas
5
Nadrán - "Anhedonia"
Chilean singer-songwriter Rocío Contreras’ music sounds homemade but exactly as if made with a computer and modern tools. As heard on “Anhedonia,” her music as Nadrán displays a nostalgic quality, as if it was made with toy instruments; however, her choice of sparse sounds and jazzy harmonies amps up the melancholic aura of her melodies, showcasing her mixture of simplicity and complexity that will hook anyone who has ever been heartbroken. -Marcos Hassan
6
Peach Tree Rascals - "Mariposa"
This five-sweetie collective met at their Bay Area high school and have been steadily racked up more than 10 million streams on nine singles over a year and change. If you’re unacquainted, “Mariposa” and its video filmed in Yosemite, is a fine place to jump off with the group’s sunny tales of perseverance in love. – Caitlin Donohue
7
Mi$$il - "Animala" (prod. by Chaboi)
Fresh off starting Xapiadoras, her new women-focused perreo in Mexico City’s Zona Rosa neighborhood, Mi$$il teams up with LA producer CHABOI for this snake charmer of a mid-tempo reggaeton jam. The mid-track slows down her vocals one-third of the way, through the song takes Mi$$il’s coo into a decided baritone territory, a flip on traditional notions of woman vocalist allure. – Caitlin Donohue
8
Noa Sainz + Cruz Cafuné - “Sudor y Frío”
“Sudor y Frío” is a driving R&B/pop jam product of a new partnership between Noa Sainz and Cruz Cafuné. While Sainz’s voice flutters, Cafuné’s rap pounds, but the message is the same: The mind-altering substances have kicked in and, although the ride is starting to feel confusing, they’re all down for it. -Cheky
9
Techno Para Dos - "Deudas"
Although the Mexican label has been around for a few short years, VAA has become a name associated with great music by artists working on the margins of the national electronic scene. A prime example of the talent displayed by the label is Mexico City’s Techno Para Dos, a.k.a. producer Raúl Villamil, whose Detroit-infused track “Deudas” appears on the label’s latest compilation. “Deudas” amps up the adrenaline on the dance floor with sounds both vintage and new, but Villamil’s secret weapon is his melodicism that makes his music related to everything from synthpop to post-rock. -Marcos Hassan
10
Exnovias - "Sambego"
Cult Mexican synthpop duo Exnovias has returned after a three-year slumber, this time with a charismatic new vocalist in Alexis Chavarría of Chihuahua folk-pop outfit Sr. Trigger and glossier-than-ever production work from synth wizard Magiobus. The opening salvo of this new chapter is “Sambego,” a syrupy, slow burning breakup bop dripping with deceptively adorable fuckboi vibes and unexpected tinges of Japanese pop. -Richard Villegas
11
Regal86 - "Turbo"
I don’t know a lot about this Monterrey producer, but I give props to this capable patchwork off his Navaja Sucia EP, which involved taking the seams out of hip hop cut, reassembling the panels, and coming out on the other side with a chiming footwork mashup that fits nicely into Mexico’s thriving juke movement. – Caitlin Donohue
12
El Dusty, Chali 2na & Ozomatli - "Nueva Generación" (feat. Mr. Vallenato)
Mr. Vallenato contributed some ripping horns and accordion to this track, which veteran producer El Dusty and his longtime collaborators in the socially-minded hip hop crew designed to pay homage to inter-generational activist lineage. “It feels as though we are at the tipping point and not since the 1960s have we seen such a groundswell from youth movements, ready to organize and tackle many issues afflicting underserved communities in the United States,” Ozomatli says in the press release. – Caitlin Donohue