Welcome to LATINA’s weekly roundup of the best new music. This week’s list includes Shakira’s sultry collaboration with Manuel Turizo, Becky G’s corrido with Gabito Ballesteros, and the new album from Jenni Rivera.
Also on the list: BRATTY’s alternative rock anthem, Letón Pé’s futuristic take on tropical music, and Juan Ingaramo’s charming song with Zoe Gotusso. Plus, Tainy’s stellar debut album and the viral hit from gay reggaetonero La Cruz.
Shakira and Manuel Turizo, “Copa Vacía”
Shakira is quenching her fans’ thirst for new music. The Colombian icon teamed up with her compatriot, rising star Manuel Turizo, for her new single “Copa Vacía.” In the reggaeton-pop bop, Shakira and Turizo trade verses about being in love with someone who needs to put more time into a relationship. “Let go of your telephone and use your hands with me,” she sings in Spanish. With his sultry vocals, Turizo makes their collaboration even more alluring. In the cinematic music video, Shakira is a woman of the sea like The Little Mermaid. After she is captured by Turizo, they find it difficult to connect with the glass from Shakira’s fish tank between them.
Becky G & Gabito Ballesteros, “La Nena”
Becky G continues to tease more of her upcoming regional Mexican music album. The Mexican-American singer dabbles in corridos tumbados again alongside Gabito Ballesteros. The rising Mexican artist joins Becky G for her new single “La Nena.” In the magical collaboration, Becky G and Ballesteros trade verses about a woman hitting the dance floor to get over an ex. “You’re better off alone than with bad company, nenita,” she says in Spanish. Earlier this year, Becky G teamed up with Peso Pluma for her recent corridos tumbados hit “Chanel.” She worked on her upcoming album with other regional Mexican acts like Yahritza y Su Esencia, Ivan Cornejo, and Conexión Divina.
Jenni Rivera, Chiquis, and Jacqie Rivera, “Pedacito de Mí”
Jenni Rivera’s family is honoring her memory with a new album by the late singer. Misión Cumplida includes never-heard-before songs by the Mexican-American legend. Rivera’s daughters Chiquis and Jacqie Rivera join her on the heartfelt ballad “Pedacito de Mí” where they sing about the unbreakable bond between a mother and child. “‘Misión Cumplida’ means so much to us for so many reasons,” Chiquis told LATINA. “It has been an honor to help our mother, who sacrificed so much for us. We finally got to finish this project that her fans have been waiting so patiently for.” Another standout track on the album is the banda anthem “Q.T.M.L. (EL Corrido de la Diva).”
BRATTY, “Estos Días”
BRATTY is a promising young voice in the Latin alternative music scene. The Mexican singer-songwriter released her new single “Estos Días” where she blends her rock angst with a psychedelic edge. BRATTY sings about how monotonous life can become and wanting to break out of a cycle. “It’s a song I made thinking about the passage of time,” she told LATINA. “Feeling trapped in a day-to-day loop, the inability to make decisions, and the fear of being left alone.” She channels her emotions into another cathartic gem following the release of Es Mi Fiesta Y Si Quiero Hago Un EP earlier this year.
Letón Pé, “Rojo Rubí (Rompiendo La Cadera)”
Letón Pé reclaims a genre of the Dominican Republic while putting her own spin on it. The Dominican singer-songwriter released her new single “Rojo Rubí (Rompiendo La Cadera),” which includes elements of merengue merged with house music beats. In the tropical romp, Letón Pé sings about a hot-and-heavy encounter on the dancefloor. “[It’s] a song that exhilarates and that like a spell invokes pleasure, subtlety and rudeness at the same time,” she told LATINA. Letón Pé is pushing pop from the Carribean into the mainstream with refreshing fusions. The entrancing track will be included on her EP Rojo Rubí, which she will release later this summer.
Tainy, Young Miko, and The Marías, “Mañana”
After creating hits for artists like Bad Bunny, J Balvin, Selena Gomez, and Kali Uchis, Tainy is stepping out as an artist with debut album Data. The Puerto Rican hit-maker assembled many of his past collaborators for this LP where he takes reggaeton to infinity and beyond. “There’s no standard on how Latin music is supposed to sound,” Tainy told LATINA. “Music is art, so we should create anything that feels amazing to us and connects with the listener.” Bad Bunny regroups with Tainy on funky “Mojabi Ghost” and the trap beast “Pasiempre” alongside Arcángel, Myke Towers, Jhayco, Omar Courtz, and Arca. Another standout track is the dreamy “Mañana” with The Marías and Young Miko.
Juan Ingaramo and Zoe Gotusso, “Dos Extraños”
There’s no limits to Juan Ingaramo’s pop nacional sound. The Argentine singer-songwriter joined forces with his compatriot Zoe Gotusso for his new single “Dos Extraños.” Earlier this year, Ingaramo returned with the colorful “Anímate,” which was inspired by the cuartetos from his native Córdoba. Now he is blending his Latin pop music with elements of house music in the charming “Dos Extraños.” Ingaramo sings with Gotusso about two ex-lovers moving on from each other with a bit of hope for new romances in their futures. “Thanks so much for the love and affection!” he wrote on Instagram about the response to the song. “We love you! Zoe & Juan. From Córdoba to the world.”
La Cruz, “Quítate La Ropa”
Alfonso La Cruz, who is known solely by La Cruz, is proudly queering the reggaeton music scene. The Venezuelan singer-songwriter went viral on social media during LGBTQ+ Pride Month with his latest single “Quítate La Ropa.” In the sexy reggaeton banger, La Cruz sings about having the hots for another man. He is paving the way for gay voices in a genre that has a homophobic history. “They told me that I couldn’t dedicate a reggaeton song to another guy,” La Cruz wrote on Twitter with a laughing emoji. He first opened up about being gay in his music with his debut album Hawaira, which was released last November.
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.