New Music Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs and albums recommended by Billboard’s Latin and Spanish Billboard editors. Check out this week’s picks below.
Frontera Group, Playing Nothing Happens (Frontier Group)
Grupo Frontera has unleashed its sophomore studio album, Playing Nothing Happens, which loosely translates to “pretending that nothing’s wrong.” The 12-track set remains faithful to Frontera’s signature stamp — both lyrically and sonically — heartbreak songs backed by captivating cumbia, tejano, and Norteño melodies, and even dabbling in country music in “Echzando de Menos.” Most notable, however, are his star-studded collaborations: In “Por Qué Sera” with Maluma, the artists open up about rejection and unrequited love; in the Nicki Nicole-assisted “Desquite,” they bring back the tribal guarachero sound; then there’s the highly anticipated “Los Dos,” in collaboration with Morat, which first garnered buzz on social media. On the set, we also find the previously released singles “Quédate Bebe” and the Christian Nodal-assisted “Ya Pedo Quien Sabe.” The latter reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay chart this week, marking the Texas-based group’s eighth No. 1 on the chart. — JESSICA ROIZ
Camilo, Three (Sony Music Latin/Hecho A Mano)
Singer-songwriter Camilo continues to display his musicality with a new release from his studio, El Taller Creativo: the most recent in the One two Three series of EPs. In the most recent installment, Camilo delves into different genres, from the cumbia “Misión Imposible” (where he plays the accordion while wishing his partner good luck in his search for someone better than him: “But you’re not going to find yourself / What do you have with me”) to the fusion of merengue with African rhythms “Amor de Extranjeros.” He also presents a new version of his 2018 song, “Corazón de Hojalata”, transforming it into a tropical ballad. (Regarding this last song, he shared on his social media: “It is a song that I wrote at a time when I was unable to find God. I felt like my heart was made of tin, until I let myself be found and it creaked.”)
Each song is accompanied by a music video recorded at Camilo’s studio in Miami. The Colombian artist is preparing for his Nuestro Lugar Feliz tour through several cities in the United States, such as Los Angeles and Miami, as well as in Europe, including Madrid and Paris. — LUISA CALLE
Featherweight, Junior H, & Eslabon Armado, “La Durango” (Double P Records)
In “La Durango,” the powerhouse alliance of Peso Pluma, Junior H and Eslabon Armado meld their talents with ease, crafting a rich song with a laid-back-yet-assertive tumbado vibe. The track features blaring horns that intertwine with nonchalantly delivered verses, portraying the artists’ journey to success and the celebratory lifestyle that follows. “Loyalty is what I seek/ And easy money I accumulate,” Eslabon frontman Pedro Tovar boasts. The title itself hints at the rugged Dodge Durango, perhaps symbolizing the artists’ robust ascent in the regional Mexican music scene. This Mexican music Trinity demonstrates that their combined force is not just a fleeting alignment, but a formidable fusion of talent that sets the bar high for genre contemporaries. — ISABELA RAYGOZA
Joss Favela, My Compas Vol. 1 (Sony Music Latin)
The Regional Mexican singer-songwriter delivers an eclectic six-song EP where he masterfully fuses his signature norteño and mariachi with hip-hop (“When Llegue El Día” ft. Gera MX), sierreño (“Somos” with Los Plebes del Rancho de Ariel Camacho) and banda (“Con Todo Respetillo” with Luis R. Conriquez). In essence, My Compas Vol. 1 is a celebration of Mexican music’s rich culture, one that thrives on the different sounds, subgenres and generations that make up regional Mexican today.
The A-list roster of collaborators, which also includes Yuridia, Banda MS and Codiciado, allows Favela to exist in multiple worlds at once, while still staying true to the basics of regional Mexican and the good lyricism that has defined his career. “This is a project with pure friends with whom I’ve had the opportunity to work previously, whether composing songs for them, producing for them, or doing something together,” Favela says in a statement. “And now coming together to do duets is something that I personally treasure a lot.” — GRISELDA FLORES
Ryan Castro THE Ghetto Singer (Ryan Castro/Sony Music Colombia)
Castro’s highly anticipated debut album, The Ghetto Singer, is not only a reflection of the qualities that have catapulted the Colombian artist to the top of the charts, but also serves to showcase the culture of his Pedregal neighborhood in Medellín. The 18-track collection includes the previously released “Quema” with Peso Pluma, “Ghetto Star,” “Rich Rappers” with Rich the Kid, and most recently, “El Cantante Del Ghetto” with Coque and La Eterna. The latter is a salsa track that pays tribute to Puerto Rican legend Héctor Lavoe with a heartfelt tribute to his roots, modest upbringing and the vibrant community of his hometown.
The set also includes collaborations with Arcangel, Ñengo Flow, Yandel, Jowell y Randy, Zion, Myke Towers, Totoy el Frio and Blessid. The Ghetto Singer portrays a testament to the transformative journey of the artist, from his humble beginnings of street searching to global stardom. The music is influenced by classic reggaetón, dancehall and trap, making it timeless. — INGRID FAJARDO
Listen to more editors’ Latin recommendations in the playlist below:
