Welcome to LATINA’s weekly round-up of the best new music. This week’s list features the latest albums from Brazilian superstar Anitta and Cuban-Mexican pop princess Camila Cabello. Colombian rapper Farina delivers a perfect weekend anthem with “Fiesta” and Puerto Rican singer Rauw Alejandro continues to shine with the alluring “Museo.” “Drag Race España” star Diamante Merybrown serves the colorful anthem “Chocolate” and Lupita Infante carries on the Infante legacy with “Hazme Tuya.” Plus, Keityn and Kris Floyd, both hit songwriters and emerging artists to watch. Check out the list below.
Anitta, “Versions of Me” Album
Anitta has released her new album “Versions of Me,” her first since she signed with Warner Records in 2020. Throughout most of the 15 songs, the Brazilian superstar weaves the music of Brazil into her pop, hip-hop, and reggaeton-infused songs. “This album represents myself in so many levels, so many layers,” Anitta said in a statement. “Yes, there are the sounds of Brazil, like funk and pagodão, which are part of my origins. But there are also references that formed my musical taste, sounds that are global. I have fun, I let go and I feel very inspired by all these ‘versions’ of me.’” In “Gimme Your Number” with Ty Dolla $ign, Anitta interpolates Ritchie Valens’ “La Bamba” into trap beats. In “Gata,” Anitta puts a fresh spin on Plan B’s reggaeton classic “Guatauba” with Chencho Corleone. With the electro-pop anthem “Versions of Me,” she embraces and unloads her emotional baggage onto her lover. Last Friday, Anitta made history as the first Brazilian artist to perform on the mainstage at the Coachella music festival.
Lupita Infante, “Hazme Tuya”
Lupita Infante, the granddaughter of Pedro Infante, an icon of Mexican cinema and music, is stepping out with her first major release and following in her grandfather’s footsteps. In 2021, Infante was nominated for a Grammy Award for her indie album “La Serenata.” Last month, she signed a record deal with Sony Music Latin. “I’m looking forward to showing Sony what I can do,” she tells LATINA. “When I hear the name Sony, I think of really big artists, artists I look up to. It gives me a sense that we’re in the big leagues and we’re going places.” For her first single with the label, she dabbles in Ranchera music with the colorful “Hazme Tuya.” Infante channels the charm of Pedro as she showers her onscreen love interest with loving lyrics. “I like to implement pop techniques into my songwriting,” she adds. “Songwriting is another avenue to express who you are. Audiences will get to know me better from the music I write and how I can connect to them through that.”
Farina and Ryan Castro, “Fiesta”
Farina has reached the best moment in her career. The Colombian rapper is one of the stars in the new movie “Flow Calle” alongside Marta Gonzalez Rodin and Celines Toribio. For her new single, “Fiesta,” she teams up with fellow Colombian artist Ryan Castro. In “Fiesta,” Farina beautifully blends reggaeton beats with a sexy R&B vibe. She trades flirty verses with Castro, though there’s some extra fierceness in her lines: “Perra recognizes perra and I’m the madam,” she spits in Spanish. “I feel tremendously blessed for all of the exciting career opportunities this year has afforded me and will continue to bring,” Farina told LATINA. “Working with Ryan Castro was more than I could have hoped for. We’re both proud Colombians and we both shared the same vision for the song.” After premiering in the Caribbean in March,, “Flow Calle” will be released in U.S. theaters later this spring.
Diamante Merybrown, “Chocolate”
Dominican drag star Diamante Merybrown has released one of the catchiest songs of the year. Merybrown is currently competing on the second season of “Drag Race España,” a Spanish spin-off of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” She was born and raised in Santiago de los Caballeros, but now she lives in Zaragoza. Merybrown is proud to be representing Afro-Latinas in the cast of Spanish drag queens. “Adjust your antennas because here comes color TV,” she said winkingly during the first episode. The second episode of “Drag Race España” was hailed as one of the best ever among RuPaul’s entire franchise. The drag queens put on an incredible talent show that the fans held in high regard. A highlight was Merybrown’s performance of her original song “Chocolate.” She embraces her Caribbean roots with the reggaeton beat and playfully celebrates her Black beauty. “My Latino people want chocolate!” Merybrown sings in Spanish. She serves an addictive and empowering club banger. More please!
Rauw Alejandro, “Museo”
Rauw Alejandro continues to shine as one of the brightest pop stars in Latin music right now. The Puerto Rican singer recently released the music video for his latest hit “Museo,” a song is from his EP “Trap Cake Vol. 2.” With “Museo” he returns to his R&B roots, adding the electronic touch that has defined his recent hits. Alejandro channels his inner smooth operator and details the sexy night ahead that he has planned for his lover: “Like if I were her motorcycle, she climbs on,” he sings in Spanish. The lyric could be an innuendo to his girlfriend Rosalía’s album “Motomami.” Alejandro turns his irresistible bedroom banger into a work of art in the music video. In colorful visuals, he walks through a museum that features powerful images of love as sculptures and paintings come to life. He also gets to flex his impressive dance skills. Alejandro is currently on his Vice Versa Tour in the U.S. This Friday, he will appear on Shakira’s new single “Te Felicito.”
Camila Cabello, “Familia”
Camila Cabello embraces her Cuban and Mexican roots on her new album “Familia.” More than on her debut album “Camila,” she consistently sings in both English and Spanish throughout the 12 tracks on this LP. In the soulful ballad “Celia,” Cabello pays homage to Cuban icon Celia Cruz, a.k.a. the queen of salsa music. She even references Cruz’s signature “¡Azúcar!” line in the lyrics. “Lola” is the most powerful song on the album, and Cabello’s collaboration with Cuban rapper Yotuel. Yotuel won Song of the Year at last year’s Latin Grammy Awards for his Cuban protest anthem “Patria y Vida.” “Lola” is a jazz-infused love letter to the women of Cuba. One of the most fun songs on the album is “Hasta Los Dientes,” Cabello’s collaboration with Argentine singer María Becerra. The women trade verses about their lovers who are driving them wild. It’s a dreamy, Latin disco-pop fantasy. Cabello also teamed up with Willow Smith for the hypnotic “psychofreak.”
Keityn, “Anoche”
The hit songwriter for superstars like Karol G, Maluma, and J Balvin is breaking out on his own. Meet Colombian singer-songwriter Keityn who has co-written global hits like “Tusa,” “Hawái,” and “Anaranjado.” Last October, he signed with Warner Music Latina to start releasing music under his own name. Later that month, he made his debut with his first single “Nuevo Versión.” He is keeping the momentum up with his new single “Anoche.” This is his most refreshing song yet, showcasing Keityn finding his reggaeton footing in Afrobeats music. He turns up the heat with his sensual lyrics, promising his lover a red-hot romance. “As the song itself shows, it is an Afrobeat and the day I composed it I was on an island near Cartagena,” Keityn tells LATINA. “It inspired me. I was in front of the sea with the tropical atmosphere and all of that lent itself to this song coming out with these sounds and influences.”
Kris Floyd, “Cuentas Claras”
Kris Floyd is another artist who is writing for all the big stars in Latin music. The Puerto Rican singer-songwriter has co-written hits like Selena Gomez and Rauw Alejandro’s “Baila Conmigo,” J Balvin’s “Tu Veneno,” and Thalía’s “La Luz.” Floyd is a protégé of Boricua hit-maker Tainy and he’s part of his NEON16 collective. Floyd has dropped a few singles in the past, but he solidified his debut as an artist with last year’s “La Última Vez Que Me Viste” EP. Floyd flexes his irresistible swagger in his new single “Cuentas Claras.” He knows how to switch his rap flow between sensual and acerbic with ease, which he does throughout this cool-as-ice cut. He keeps the heat coming in a few freestyles that he uploaded to his YouTube page. As you get to know him, check out the knockout tracks that he self-released like “Khabib” and “Todo Va y Viene.”
