Welcome to LATINA’s weekly roundup of the best new music. This week’s list features Sofia Reyes’ epic duet with Danna Paola, the explosive debut EP from J Noa, and Corina Smith’s heartfelt album.
Also on the list: Ana Macho’s playful ode to excess, Kany García’s healing ballad, and Monogem’s feel-good anthem. Plus, Mariposa’s cathartic song “Mentiras” and Cabra’s final album.
Sofia Reyes and Danna Paola, “TQUM”
Two of Mexico’s top pop stars have teamed up. Sofia Reyes joined forces with Danna Paola for her new single “TQUM.” The title is shorthand for “Te Quiero Un Montón.” Reyes experiments with a hyperpop sound for the first time while putting a Latin twist on the genre. She trades verses with Paola about missing their exes. “Sharing this song with Danna Paola is very powerful, obviously because we’re both Mexicans and friends, but also because the song is very much a pop song, and it’s important for both of us to make music that celebrates this kind of music,” Reyes told LATINA. The hypnotic love song will be included on Reyes’ upcoming third studio album.
J Noa, “Autodidacta”
After creating buzz in the Latin music scene with her fearless flow, J Noa has finally dropped her debut EP Autodidacta. The Dominican rapper previewed the EP with the socially-conscious “Betty” and the empowering “No Me Pueden Parar.” Across the 7-track release, J Noa drops unleashes her fierce bars and speaks truth to power and injustice. The most explosive song on the EP is “Autodidacta” where she flexes her mind-blowing rap skills while solidifying her place as one to watch in global hip-hop. “This song is the first chapter of my career as a professional artist and it conveys strength, maturity and intelligence. It represents the vision I had when I started working with Sony.”
Corina Smith, “Triste Pero Siempre Mami”
Corina Smith is processing heartbreak with her new album Triste Pero Siempre Mami. The personal LP appears to be inspired by the Venezuelan singer’s split from Mora. Smith previewed the album before with the angelic “X100” and the feel-good “Como Te Va?” Throughout the 13 tracks, she explores all the feelings that a breakup can bring up while learning to love herself more. In the swaggering song “Triste Pero Siempre Mami,” Smith sings about not letting a bit of sadness take away from her fierce woman that she is. “As an artist, there is nothing that matters more to me than being transparent with my fans and giving people who are going through a situation like this, something that can accompany them, and that they know that they are not the only ones experiencing that,” she told LATINA.
Ana Macho, “Exclusive”
Ana Macho is continuing to push music from the Caribbean to new places. The Puerto Rican artist released their new single “Exclusive” where they experiment with elements of jersey club music while putting their futuristic touch on the genre. Macho sings about all the excess in the world while coming through with one of their most extra anthems. “I was inspired by urban music’s obsession with consumerism,” they told LATINA. “It’s a whole genre popularized around wealth and unattainable lifestyles, which I find very interesting and entertaining. I’m obsessed with pretentiousness. It’s so funny to me. I really wanted this lead single to represent my observations on my island’s popular music while also 100 percent giving into it.” The song will be included on Macho’s debut album that they’re currently working on.
Kany García, “Fuera De Servicio”
Kany García blends elements of regional Mexican music with her Latin pop sound in “Fuera De Servicio.” Backed the strumming of a guitar, the Puerto Rican artist sings about the process of overcoming a breakup. García digs deep and gives a powerfully emotional performance that’s filled with heartbreak. “When the routine you knew and the life plans you had go down the drain, you do feel out of order for a while,” García told LATINA. “[It’s a] song to feel, to sing with soul, but that also has hope that everything passes and in the end it will be okay again.” García’s tour will touch down in the U.S. this fall.
Monogem, “Feeling Myself”
Monogem is proving that there’s no language barrier when it comes to R&B. The Mexican-American singer beautifully brings her worlds together in the new single “Feeling Myself.” She sings in English and Spanish with soul about embracing the woman that she is today. “I want to celebrate the feeling of loving yourself again in a way that feels like a homecoming or an arrival into one’s self,” she told LATINA. “This song is my homecoming. I’ve never felt more like myself and at home in my own body. I want my listeners to feel confident and comfortable with who they are.” On May 31, Monogem will headline an intimate concert at The Sun Rose in L.A.
Mariposa, “Mentiras”
Mariposa uniquely blends her multicultural upbringing in her hip-hop songs. The rapper of Colombian and Italian descent released her new single “Mentiras.” In the Latin trap banger, Mariposa unleashes her feelings about those people who wanted to dim her light. She seamlessly switches between singing and rapping while putting her naysayers in check. “‘Mentiras’ is my most personal song, in which I talk about the scars that were created by people that I trusted,” she told LATINA. “These are so-called friends or family who lowkey don’t want to see you succeed, and that affected my ability to trust people, leaving me a bit paranoid and damaged.” She channels those strong emotions into a fiery kiss-off anthem.
Cabra, Seba Otero and Ambar Lucid, “Toco Madera”
Cabra remains a visionary in Latin music. The Puerto Rican singer-songwriter is bowing out from his career as an artist on a high with his final album Martinez. Cabra previewed the LP with the frenetic “No Eres Tu Soy Yo” featuring Elsa y Elmar and the funky “Lloripari” with Letón Pé. A standout song on the immaculate album is “Toco Madera” featuring Seba Otero and Ambar Lucid. Cabra fuses influences of reggaeton and flamenco music with an 8-bit video game sound. He sings with Otero and Lucid about embracing a carpe diem philosophy. “The song’s lyrics are an examination of life and the value of appreciating the present,” Cabra shared in a statement. “‘Knock on wood’ is a saying that expresses a wish for good fortune and a celebration of contentment with one’s lot in life.”
LATINA’s New Music Picks are published every Monday.
Lucas Villa is a freelance music contributor for LATINA. His work is also featured in Rolling Stone, Billboard, Teen Vogue, MTV News, and W Magazine.
