This week, Billboard’s New Music Latin roundup and playlist — curated by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors — features fresh new music, including Silvana Estrada’s “Dime,” Chino Pacas’ ultra-personal album Cristian and Rauw Alejandro’s “Buenos Términos,” to name a few. “Dime” is the latest single that […]
New Music Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs and albums recommended by Billboard and Billboard Español editors. Check out this week’s picks below.
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Xavi & Kapo, “Bien Pedos” (Interscope Records)
Afrobeat and regional Mexican music collide in the voices of Xavi and Kapo on the single “Bien Pedos.” This unexpected fusion is built on a reggaetón-pop foundation, enriched with elements of Afrobeat and instruments like the trombone, a nod to regional Mexican music. The song narrates a romantic, festive and fleeting adventure, while the vocals alternate between Xavi’s melodic softness and Kapo’s rhythmic ease. The track opens up new possibilities for the fusion of genres that, although they have evolved separately until now, are beginning to intertwine in the Latin music scene. Ideal for a refreshing summer playlist. — LUISA CALLE
Banda MS & Silvestre Dangond, “Regalo De La Vida” (Lizos Music)
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Mexican and Colombian music have more in common than one might think, including heavy use of organic instruments in their signature sounds. Banda MS and Silvestre Dangond join forces to showcase just that in “Regalo De La Vida,” a fusion of vallenato and banda powered by the signature accordion that defines vallenato music, and brass and horn instruments that give banda that punchy sound. The song’s romantic lyrics, the fine writing that is very much at the core of Banda MS’ essence, narrate a blooming love story. “I’m going to come closer to you to whisper in your ear that it’s a gift from life that we’ve met,” Banda MS frontmen and Dangond sing evocatively. — GRISELDA FLORES
La Arrolladora Banda El Limón de René Camacho, “¿Qué Fue Lo Que Me Diste?” (Fono)
La Arrolladora Banda El Limón de René Camacho continues its tradition of singing about love, but this time in a unique way. The modern language they use in “¿Qué Fue Lo Que Me Diste?” — with lines like “Anesthetized, lazy, crazy, a f–king lover/ Well-nailed with your kisses, you have me screwed” — is a hook that definitely works. The voices of singers Julio Haro and Esaúl García combine perfectly in this song, giving it the bold and intense touch required by the lyrics, which speak of an attraction that could lead to a relationship. Musically, it’s an authentic Sinaloa banda piece, with the essential tuba, trumpets, clarinets, and all the instruments that have made the genre representative of Mexican culture. – TERE AGUILERA
Javiera Electra, “del campo a Mar” (SurPop Records)
The moon hangs low, and the air thick with desire and destiny, this is the world of “del campo a Mar” by Chilean singer-songwriter Javiera Electra. A moody bolero steeped in witchy allure, the song aches with the tension of love and loss as the artist’s mesmerizing vibrato weaves its spell. Melancholic nylon guitars, murmuring bongos, and the distant cry of a trumpet create a vibe that sounds timeless — the magic is undeniable. It’s a swirling, cinematic haze of romance and heartbreak, where the sea and the countryside become metaphors for souls drifting apart. — ISABELA RAYGOZA
Silvana Estrada, “Dime” (Glassnote Records/Altafonte)
Mexican singer-songwriter Silvana Estrada transforms rage into hope and freedom through a soft and emotional melody, sealed by vibrant guitars, the warmth of wind instruments, and the almost cinematic orchestral arrangements of Owen Pallett (collaborator of Frank Ocean and The National). All of this is accompanied by the heartbreaking and unparalleled voice of the Latin Grammy winner, which makes her music sincere, nostalgic, and atmospheric. Written and produced by the artist herself — and with a title inspired by Sara Teasdale’s 1918 poem “Tell Me” — “Dime” was born out of a tumultuous period “marked by anguish, anger, and profound loss,” Estrada has said. As the third preview of her upcoming album Vendrán Suaves Lluvias, it brings the listener closer to what is expected to be a luminous, healing, hopeful set full of creative freedom. — NATALIA CANO
Corina Smith & Lasso, “mi ex no quiere a nadie” (Rimas Entertainment)
Corina Smith and Lasso come together for a collaboration that beautifully merges their unique styles within the pop genre. “Mi Ex No Quiere A Nadie” showcases the enchanting quality of Smith’s ethereal vocals, while Lasso’s rich exploration of deeper tones add depth and nuance to the track, creating a dynamic interplay that simulates an engaging conversation between the two artists. The phrase “my ex doesn’t love anyone” emerges as a powerful declaration, capturing a sense of frustration and resignation. It offers a raw and honest portrayal of how the echoes of former loves can linger, making it difficult to fully move on. — INGRID FAJARDO
Chino Pacas, Cristian (Street Mob Records)
Cristian is where Chino Pacas expands his música mexicana palette beyond nylon-string guitar, punchy brass, and a voice that grips you with raw, gut-wrenching power. Across 13 tracks, the Street Mob wunderkind turns his unmistakable vocal chops into the driving force behind his most adventurous album yet, stepping confidently into banda, rap, and trap without losing sight of his roots.
Anchored in his signature corridos tumbados, the album opens with “Chamaquito,” a gritty self-portrait framed by gripping fretwork. Tracks like “Zumbado” and “La Cima” showcase his knack for earworm compositions, telling stories of staying true to oneself while overcoming the odds. Alongside these solo pieces, Pacas partners with heavyweight collaborators for a series of genre-hopping explorations: Banda Otro Pedo joins him on the brass-soaked banda epic “No Es Un Juego,” Netón Vega adds norteña swagger to the accordion-driven “Flota,” and Santa Fe Klan matches Pacas bar for bar on “GTO,” a fiery rap brimming with Guanajuato pride. The romantic “Llevarte,” featuring La Santa Grifa, veers into moodier territory, blending echoing electric guitars with a hypnotic trap beat.
Titled for his birth name, Cristian Humberto Ávila Vega, the album feels both personal and exploratory. It captures Pacas as a storyteller rooted in the traditions of his genre and an artist eager to push the boundaries of what música mexicana can be. — I.R.
Juanes, “Cuando Estamos Tú y Yo” (Universal Music Latino)
Juanes gifts us a fresh declaration of love, with a poppier sound than he’s gotten us used to and a catchy chorus that repeats the title and first verse of the song. “When it’s you and me/ Oh, oh, oh, oh/ I want you to be mine, mine, only mine/ Waking up with you for the rest of my days,” the Colombian rocker sings over a rousing guitar riff. “I was inspired by how the Beatles would often begin songwriting with the chorus and the song title in the first verse,” the artist explained in a press release. “With that idea, I went home and had a session with some friends known as Majestik; [a Colombian production/composition trio made up by Ily Wonder + Los Jaycobz]. Four hours later, we had this song and it was magical.” After a dozen albums and almost three times as many Grammy and Latin Grammy awards, Juanes still has the ability to surprise us. – SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS
Check out more Latin recommendations this week below:
Flaco Jiménez, the Tejano music icon whose virtuosic accordion playing and pioneering contributions to conjunto and Tex-Mex music brought global acclaim to a cherished South Texas tradition, has died at 86. His family confirmed his passing on Thursday night (July 31) via a statement shared on his official social media pages.
“It is with great sadness that we share tonight the loss of our father, Flaco Jimenez. He was surrounded by his loved ones and will be missed immensely,” family members Arturo and Lisa Jimenez, Gilbert and Cynthia Jimenez, and Javier and Raquel Fernandez, wrote on his Facebook page. “His legacy will live on through his music and all of his fans.”
The family added a request for privacy during this time, and expressed gratitude to fans who followed his music.
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The the Grammy-award winning artist was in the hospital after “facing a medical hurdle,” according to a message posted to his Facebook account on Jan. 12.
Born Leonardo Jiménez in San Antonio, Texas, in 1939, he emerged from a lineage of accordionists. His father, Santiago Jiménez Sr., and grandfather, Patricio Jiménez, were stewards of traditional conjunto music. But Flaco took the accordion beyond its roots, marrying the borderland sounds of polkas, waltzes and rancheras with genres such as country, rock and blues.
In doing so, he became the genre’s most visible ambassador, collaborating with international artists such as Willie Nelson, Ry Cooder, Bob Dylan and The Rolling Stones. Some of these team-ups were with his Tex-Mex supergroup Texas Tornados, alongside Freddy Fender, Augie Meyers and Doug Sahm.
Jiménez’s storied career spanned more than six decades and brought him countless accolades, including six Grammy Awards. His 1992 album, Partners, was added to the U.S. Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry in 2020, which hailed him as a “champion of traditional conjunto music and Tex-Mex culture.”
In 2015, the Recording Academy honored Jiménez with its Lifetime Achievement Award.
Shakira achieves another milestone with her successful Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour, reaching one million tickets sold in Mexico, promoter OCESA reported on Thursday (July 31).
“This is an unprecedented figure and a statement of impact as powerful as the historic record of her 12 sold-out dates at Estadio GNP Seguros in Mexico City,” OCESA said in a press release. “One million tickets… in a country of 129 million inhabitants!”
The historic figure is the result of the 26 concerts that the Colombian superstar has included in total in the Latin American country, divided in two phases.
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After making history in March with seven consecutive sold-out shows at Estadio GNP Seguros, the Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour will return to the Mexican capital for another series of five concerts on August 26, 27, 29, and 30, and on September 18, for a total of 12. This will make Shakira the first artist to achieve such a number of dates in this major venue (formerly known as Foro Sol).
The singer and songwriter, who has been adding dates to the tour as tickets continue to sell out, will soon surpass the nine shows at Estadio GNP Seguros by Grupo Firme, which so far is the group with the highest number of performances already held there.
Before that, Shakira will perform on August 11 at Estadio Caliente in Tijuana, Baja California; on August 14 at Estadio Héroes de Nacozari in Hermosillo, Sonora; on August 17 at Estadio UACH in Chihuahua; and on August 20 at Estadio Corona in Torreón, Coahuila.
The success of her monumental stadium tour has led the “Hips Don’t Lie” singer to top Billboard Boxscore’s mid-year ranking, grossing $130 million as of June. With the Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour, Shakira has left an indelible mark on Latin America, bringing together more than one million spectators, according to OCESA.
The Barranquilla-born artist was also named the No. 1 star among Billboard’s Best 50 Female Latin Pop Artists of All Time in March.
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