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.
TINI, un mechón de pelo (5020 Records)
It’s clear that TINI had a lot to get off her chest, and her new album was the perfect platform to bare it all, giving listeners insight into what she’s been going through personally over the past few years. The Argentine star’s most personal project yet, TINI kicks off with “pa,” where she shares the fear she felt after nearly losing her father, who has also been her longtime manager. In the song, she pleads for “un ratito más,” or a little while longer with her dad. Mostly produced by Andrés Torres and Mauricio Rengifo, the stripped-down, lyrically strong set follows TINI on moments of vulnerability, pain, resilience, renewal and growth.
In “posta,” TINI recites powerful statements where she clarifies who she is and isn’t. But perhaps the most striking track on un mechón de pelo is “miedo,” which reads like a diary entry as TINI looks inward tracing the ups and downs of her career and personal life. “Wanting to turn back time and start over/ I escaped from my reality, I locked myself in my solitude/ And starting all over again when I can’t even start,” she confesses.
Following a handful of songs that serve as an ultimate release, a seemingly cagey and resentful TINI begins the healing process. In the last three songs, “ellas,” “bien” and “me voy,” she embraces her battle wounds and has a more optimistic outlook of the future. “Now I’m chill, nothing is personal/ My friends I want to call/ It feels good to be able to forgive,” she sings in “bien.” Wrapping the album is the piano-led “me voy,” which serves as the perfect closer. — GRISELDA FLORES
Víctor Manuelle, Retromántico (Sony Music Latin)
Víctor Manuelle released a concept album inspired by the salsa romántica era featuring 10 songs, including “Otra Noche Más,” with a samples of Frankie Ruiz’s “Deseándote” in the voice of the late singer. And a new version of the classic “Cosas del Amor,” made popular in the 90s by Ana Gabriel and Vicky Carr, which Víctor Manuelle performs with passion alongside Tito Nieves.
All the tracks except “Cosas del amor” are new, although “Deseándote” is not the only sample. “Me Fallaron Los Dos” with Maelo Ruiz, about the double betrayal of one’s love with one’s best friend, includes some verses from Alejandro Sanz’s anthem “Corazón Partío.” Among other exciting collaborations are “Casi Perfecta” with Johnny Rivera, “No Quería Menti” with Willie González, and the song that closes the set, “Vamos a Romper la Noche,” with the Gilberto Santa Rosa, known as the “Gentleman of Salsa,” who invite listeners to drown their sorrows while partying with friends.
“Each friend who accompanied me on this album brought their own style and energy to the songs, creating a diverse and exciting album,” says Víctor Manuelle in a press release. “This production is going back to when I started, while celebrating the genre that I love and have always stood by. Every song on this album is infused with emotions and memories that I hope resonate in the hearts of those who listen to it.” With songs about love and heartbreak that also include titles like “En 4 Días” and “Los Hombres También Lloran,” Retroromántico is, in short, a classic salsa work — one that will take you dancing to another era. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS
Danna Paola, CHILDSTAR (Universal Music Group México)
Danna Paola has entered a no-holds-barred musical era. She’s no longer the telenovela sweetheart, the good girl next door, the pop princess. Now, she’s a fierce and unapologetic vixen who has evolved into the child star. Home to 13 bilingual tracks, Paola’s latest studio album, CHILDSTAR, marks her debut credit as producer, where she takes control over her craft and chooses her own musical destiny. Far from the signature pop-urban sound that made Danna a household name, her new set is injected with edgy, synth-pop beats (“ATARI,” “VTR3,” “1TRAGO”), as well as provocative lyrics about fantasy, the party life and sexual encounters (“222,” “XT4S1S,” and “PLATONIK”).
“On this new album I leave behind the mold of me created by others and for the first time I take control of my art, boldly reclaiming my stage name and defining my sound as a singer,” the Mexican songstress says in a press statement. “A synth-pop fantasy that storylines a weekend of partying, booze, sex and fantasy where I explore my darker side and find the light in freedom of expression.” — JESSICA ROIZ
Los Mesoneros & Caloncho, “Nuestro Año” (SR Records)
Los Mesoneros recruit Caloncho for “Nuestro Año,” the lead single from their new album of the same title — their first in five years. With their signature contemporary rock sound, the band’s leading voice, Luis Jiménez, sings in unison with the Mexican artist about hoping for better times: “Because this is our year, even though sometimes it doesn’t seem like that/ Because this is our year always and when you are here.” The cinematic music video, directed by Gaby Noya, shows the artists repeating the chorus like a mantra after taking a few good hits, literally. The band is preparing to hit the road with Nuestro Año Tour, which begins on May 4 in Mexico and also includes stops in the United States. — LUISA CALLE
Joss Favela & Gera MX, “Cuando Llegue El Día” (Sony Music Latin)
Embracing the ephemeral dance of existence, Joss Favela and Gera MX intertwine their talents in “Cuando Llegue El Día,” a profound bolero-rap fusion that contemplates life’s fleetingness and the surety of death. The duo finds solace in the enduring power of music, “Sigo vivo en mis canciones todavía” (“I’m still alive in my songs”) they croon. The track, a part of Favela’s upcoming EP, Mis Compas, Vol. 1 out in May, is an homage to the human spirit, living on through shared memories, backed by beautiful accordion riffs and nylon arpeggios. “At the end of the day, it’s nice to have moved on, having met many people, having family, friends who love you and who will remember you in a positive way,” Joss Favela says in a statement. The music video, directed by Abelardo Báez and produced by Pavel Nordahl, is set against a stunning Día de Los Muertos backdrop filmed in Jalisco, Mexico. — ISABELA RAYGOZA
Listen to more editors’ Latin recommendations in the playlist below:
