New Music Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs and albums recommended by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors. Check out this week’s picks below.
Edén Muñoz, Como En Los Viejos Tiempos (Sony Music México)
Singer-songwriter and producer Edén Muñoz has little left to prove at this point of his fruitful career, both as former frontman of Calibre 50 and now as a soloist. But Muñoz isn’t the type to be complacent, and is always looking to one-upping his previous releases. His latest album, Como En Los Viejos Tiempo, is no exception. As a producer, Muñoz is known for being meticulous about his sound — and the first song on the set, “Bye Bye,” is a testament to Muñoz’s broad production skills, melding his signature norteño sound with hints of cumbia, backed by big band instrumentals.
Accompanied by heavy hitters in the música mexicana realm, including Gerardo Ortiz, El Fantasma and Los Dos Carnales, Muñoz zigzags across styles such as quebradita (“La Nena”), corrido (“Alias Jabón”), cumbia (“Que La Dejen Ir al Baile Sola”), huapango (“Peca de Bonita”) and norteño (“El Que Quiere Puede”). Offering a wide-ranging palate of Mexican music sounds, Como En Los Viejos Tiempos is Muñoz’s most eclectic and experimental set to date. The 18-track is the Mexican artist’s first album under Sony Music México, with whom he signed in October as a partnership with Sony Music Latin. — GRISELDA FLORES
Carin Leon & Grupo Frontera, “Alch Si” (Socios Music/ADA Latin)
A year after their first collaborative effort, “Que Vuelvas“ — which hit the top half of the Hot 100 in January — Carin Leon and Grupo Frontera join forces again on “Alch Si.” On their new track, penned by Leon, Edgar Barrera, Horacio Palencia and Diego Bollela, and produced by Barrera, the two Mexican acts sing about getting over an ex, but not really. “I’m not crying, her memory got in my eye,” chants Frontera’s Payo Solis at the start of the country-tinged norteño track. ”I don’t drink to forget her, nor do I take advice/ To stop loving her, what number do I have to call?/ In a masochistic way, I check her Instagram/ Looking at her stories and how another guy takes her away from me/ I’m not crying, just a little tear came out,” part of the chorus goes. — JESSICA ROIZ
Thalia & Estilo Sin Límite, “Choro” (Sony Music Latin)
Thalia ventures into the world of corridos tumbados in this fun song with Estilo Sin Límite, which encourages women to free themselves from chatty, arrogant men who seek to woo them. Powered by a tololoche, requinto and brassy instruments, the second single from her upcoming album A Mucha Honra (which the Mexican star previewed exclusively in October at Billboard Latin Music Week,) “Choro” was produced by Edgar Rodríguez from Yellow Room and executive produced by Jimmy Humilde. (It was co-written by Thalia and Dania of Estilo Sin Límite.) Its title, in Mexican slang, refers to an over-the-top person who uses his words to make people fall in love. “Choro, I know he has a very good choro/ But I don’t cry for him anymore/ I’m not like his ex-girlfriend, I do improve,” goes part of the chorus. The colorful music video, directed by Lalo González (a.k.a. Lalo the Giant,) shows both singers in suburban and rural sets alongside mariachis, partying with many, many women. It is, in the best Thalia fashion, pure feminine power. – SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS
Carlos Vives & Ryan Castro, “Los Sabanales 3.0” (Sony Music Latin)
Carlos Vives and Ryan Castro have released their first collaboration, “Los Sabanales 3.0,” to kick off December and welcome the holiday season. The track features an updated sound and new lyrics, with both artists adding their own spin: Vives’ accordion and Castro’s thumping reggaetón beats. Bringing together two generations, the song celebrates the most popular and beloved song of the great Calixto Ochoa, preserving the original song’s essence and its most memorable verses. Vives aims to put the spotlight on iconic composers of Colombia and breathe new life to their work, making it accessible to new generations. The song is featured on Vives’ remastered and expanded album Clásicos De La Provincia. — INGRID FAJARDO
Miguel Campello, “El Sentir de los Sentimientos” (Chatarrero Records)
This week, Miguel Campello unveils the introspective ballad, “El Sentir de los Sentimientos.” Adorned with exquisite nylon strings and trumpet riffs, and enveloped in the fervor of rumba guitar strums and his resounding flamenco vocals, the song navigates the ebbs and flows of personal contemplation. In its purest form, the composition exalts our innate human capacity to experience emotions. “[It’s] a song with rumba soul that tells the passing of the days, full of stories that make us laugh and cry because singing is feeling that you feel, ‘the feeling of feelings’“, the singer-composer wrote on his Instagram. The single is part of his upcoming release Amanecer y Anochecer, which will consist of five songs, and is a continuation of 2023’s Noche y Día. — ISABELA RAYGOZA
Milo J, 111 (Dale Play Records)
Following the EP En Dormir Sin Madrid, in collaboration with popular Argentine producer Bizarrap, Milo J showcases his musical prowess on his debut album 111. Infused with a South American bohemian essence reminiscent of tango and bolero, the album seamlessly combines traditional tones with a contemporary flair. The 16-year-old rapper delivers songs like an old soul weaving through the complexities and youth of angst.
The nine-track album highlights a masterful blend of acoustic and electric guitar arrangements, often intertwining the two in unexpected ways that both surprise and captivate the listener. Milo J’s lyrics are medicinal, deep and vulnerable. At strategic moments, the instrumental backdrop fades momentarily, allowing his tenor voice to take center stage and carry the emotional weight of the song. The album boasts diverse collaborations, such as “Carencias de Cordura” with Yami Sadfie, where Milo J ventures into the Andes with a pasillo that resonates across generations. In “Una Bala,” featuring Peso Pluma, he effortlessly delves into regional Mexican sounds, while he opens Pandora’s musical box with “Alumbre” with Nicki Nicole, unveiling a cinematic theme, and joins in unison with Yahritza y Su Esencia on “Te Fui a Seguir.” Romantic songs like “M.A.I” and “Deseo siempre” stand out for their lyrical sensuality, delivered with an elegance rarely found in today’s popular music. 111 demands to be listened to with undivided attention. — LUISA CALLE
Indee, “ORO”
Immersed in the vibrant, sultry sounds of Afrobeats, Barcelona artist Indee unveils her self-released first single of the year, “Oro,” marked by golden-piano stabs and her seductive vocal delivery. Produced by Jay Kalo, the track is an ode to life and companionship, as Indee explores the quest for genuine friendships that are as valuable as gold. “In these crazy times, where everyone is chasing the spotlight/ Where is the soul of the body I touch?” she croons. The accompanying music video captures the star’s flawless dance moves and takes audiences on a journey through various iconic spots in Barcelona, showcasing the city’s dynamic backdrop. “When I speak about Gold I wanted to convey the idea of the mineral in its purest, unrefined state,” she wrote on her socials. “This song is an acknowledgement of the truly important things in life, for not all that glitters is gold.” — I.R.
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