Welcome to LATINA’s weekly roundup of the best new music. This week’s list features the emergence of Mexican singer Mariangela, Shakira’s hopeful anthem, and Cardi B’s latest banger.
Also on the list, Zion y Lennox take on club beats with María Becerra, and Rebecca Black embraces her Latina roots in “Cafe Racer.” Additionally, we highlight J Balvin and Ryan Castro joining forces, Bad Bunny releasing a music video for monster hit, “Me Porto Bonito,” and Ambar Lucid’s mighty new single, “La Torre.”
Mariangela, “Soñarte”
Meet Mariangela, the Mexican singer who brings an alternative edge to Latin music. She was born in Monterrey and later grew up in Texas. Her music reflects her bicultural upbringing. That’s evident in her inspirations, which include Joan Jett, Hayley Williams, Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift, Selena, and Kany García. “[My music] is all that thanks to the way I grew up and the places I am from and now stand,” she tells LATINA. Mariangela’s new single “Soñarte” pulls inspiration from both tragedies her family has experienced and Depeche Mode’s “Never Let Me Down Again.” Backed by sparkling synths with an indie rock kick, she sings about missing a friend who has passed away. That grief and loss also are present in the dark music video. “Even though people may pass unto another life, a part of them will always live in our hearts,” she says. About her upcoming music, Mariangela adds, “[It’s] alternative pop rock in music terms, but I just like to call it ‘Mariangela’ because it is truly just my mind and heart. Everything I love fused together.”
Cardi B, Kanye West & Lil Durk, “Hot S**t”
Cardi B is back! The Dominican-American superstar released her new single, “Hot S**t.” She teamed up with rap star Kanye West and rising rapper Lil Durk. On the heavy-hitting track, Cardi unleashes her swaggering flow over a trap beat. She’s got bars for days, including, “I don’t know what’s longer, man, my blocklist or my checklist.” She translates her infamous Twitter fingers into one fiery line. Lil Durk swoops in at the halfway point, and West closes out the collaboration, but Cardi is the one that packs the heat on this bravado banger. The song previews her hotly-anticipated second album, which will include “WAP” with Megan Thee Stallion and “Up.”
Black Eyed Peas, Shakira & David Guetta, “Don’t You Worry”
Coinciding with her recent separation from Gerard Piqué, the popularity of Shakira’s music is surging up the charts. The Colombian icon has one of the biggest hits of the year with “Te Felicito,” her collaboration with Rauw Alejandro. Now that fans see the kiss-off track as a possible response to Piqué, the music video has surpassed over 201 million views on YouTube. Shakira is sending her music career into overdrive with “Don’t You Worry,” her collaboration with the Black Eyed Peas and David Guetta. As the world continues to go through trying times, she assures, “Don’t you worry about a thing / Everything is going be alright.” The electronic dance track shines like a beautiful beacon of hope.
DAGR, Rebecca Black & LVL1, “Cafe Racer”
Rebecca Black of “Friday” fame is leaning into her Latina roots in “Cafe Racer.” She is of Mexican descent on her mother’s side. Black teamed up with DAGR — comprised of openly queer producers Ceci and Veronika — and Spanish rapper LVL1. As the song’s title suggests, “Cafe Racer” is a hell of a ride. The track opens with a fiery verse in Spanish by LVL1, and Black later serves fierce rhythms of her own. Both acts are backed by DAGR’s frenetic and freaky beats. The music video is just as much of a trip, with various L.A. locals shown living their best lives. “This song and working with DAGR to create it is and has been the fastest, sexiest wild ride,” Black told LATINA. “I won’t get in the bed of a truck for just anybody, but it’s been the best time to live in DAGR’s world and get to be just a little bit in the chaos!”
J Balvin & Ryan Castro, “Nivel De Perreo”
J Balvin is tapping into his Colombian roots with the help of Ryan Castro. The Medellín natives team up for the aptly-titled banger “Nivel De Perreo.” In the past year, Castro has emerged as one of the most promising new voices from Medellín. He has scored global hits such as “Jordan” and “Monastery” with Feid. In “Nivel De Perreo,” J Balvin and Castro trade verses about getting the party started. Their goal is to turn the club into an all-out perreo affair, and they achieve that with this sexy reggaeton anthem. Castro’s first tour of the U.S. will kick off on August 11 in L.A. Earlier this year, J Balvin joined forces with Ed Sheeran for the songs “Forever My Love” and “Sigue.”
Ambar Lucid, “La Torre”
Ambar Lucid is continuing to embrace her alter-ego, Estrella. The singer of Mexican and Dominican descent first introduced Estrella to the world with the release of “Girl Ur So Pretty” in May. Whereas she sang “Girl” in Spanglish, she sings her new single “La Torre” primarily in Spanish. Backed by flamenco beats with an R&B edge, Lucid sings about struggling to let go of her difficult past. Through the power of Estrella, she channels the pain into a powerful manifesto about moving on. “’La Torre’ was inspired by my chaotic childhood and becoming conscious of how cycles from the past manifest into the present,” Lucid told LATINA. “It’s based on the ‘The Tower’ tarot card, which resembles dramatic and necessary change. For me, ‘La Torre’ was the song I needed to write, the things I needed to process and come to terms with, so that I could become Estrella.”
Zion y Lennox & María Becerra, “Berlin”
Zion y Lennox are coming through with a Song of the Summer contender. The Puerto Rican icons team up with Argentine pop star María Becerra for “Berlin.” Zion y Lennox embrace deep house music with a brassy Latin edge. Like Pitbull, the reggaeton duo has gone worldwide as they search for their lover around the globe, including places like L.A., New York, and Berlin. Becerra, who has become a go-to collaborator for artists like J Balvin and Camila Cabello, shines among the electronic beats. She adds a fierce and flirty touch to the refreshing dance track. Zion y Lennox carry their legacy well into the future with this alluring club banger.
Bad Bunny & Chencho Corleone, “Me Porto Bonito”
Bad Bunny is continuing the rollout of music videos from his blockbuster “Un Verano Sin Ti” album. After recently dropping the video for his Billboard Hot 100 top-ten smash “Tití Me Preguntó,” he finally released the visual for his other top-ten hit “Me Porto Bonito.” The spellbinding track has captivated the world, thanks to alluring vocals from Puerto Rican icon Chencho Corleone. Corleone is on a hot streak right now with features on songs by Rauw Alejandro, Anitta, and Maluma. In the music video for “Me Porto Bonito,” Bad Bunny gets wet and wild with many women at a pool party. Summer 2022 truly belongs to El Conejo Malo.
