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.
Quevedo, Buenas Noches (DQU Productions/Rimas Entertainment)
After being MIA for quite some time — just as he had a breakthrough year in 2022 with the ”BZRP Music Sessions, Vol. 52″ — Spanish hitmaker Quevedo is making a triumphant return with BUENAS NOCHES, his second album bur first under a new distribution deal with Rimas Entertainment. Describing this comeback — which will also include a tour — as “the most beautiful phase of my career,” his sophomore set truly stands out. The 18-track LP is packed with club-ready hits, including one with Pitbull himself (“MR. MOONDIAL) that’s reminiscent of the early 2000s, a dreamy 80s-like synth-pop tune with Aitana (“GRAN VÍA”) and a neo-reggaetón bop with La Pantera (“HALO”).
And while sonically this may seem like a rager album packed with party anthems, its lyrics are quite introspective, after all, this album was inspired by Quevedo’s late-night reflections, he expressed in a press statement. And it just so happens to be thoughts that are ultra relatable, as he sings about sex, love, heartbreak and even loneliness with other collaborators like De La Rose, De La Ghetto, Yung Beef, Sech, Rels B and Sin Nombre. His signature deep vocals soar in this nearly hour-long album that ushers a new, exciting era for Quevedo. — GRISELDA FLORES
Maluma, “Cosas Pendientes” (Paris LG LTD/Sony Music Latin)
With the sounds of an acoustic guitar, Maluma opens the first verse of his new single, “Cosas Pendientes,” which translates to “Things Pending.” This song marks a return to the essence of his beloved 2015 era, “Pretty Boy, Dirty Boy,” taking it to new heights but a bit more pretty and more dirty. Reconnecting with an old love to resolve pending issues, he sings in the chorus: “Apparently she didn’t forget me/she’s still waiting/she wants to ignore me/but the tension is seen, felt.” The song is tied to a short film of revenge and glamour, including a surprise appearance by Colombian actor Luis Alfredo Velasco, known to fans as Dúver Cruz or Manín of La Reina del Flow. The video also highlights Maluma’s signature sound while he shaves his head, signaling an official symbolic return to the early days of his career. — INGRID FAJARDO
Grupo Frontera & Oscar Maydon, “¿Qué Te Parece?” (Grupo Frontera)
Grupo Frontera is on a romantic streak. Following their lovey-dovey hit “Hecha Pa’ Mi,” the group reels in Oscar Maydon for “¿Qué Te Parece?” (what do you think?). On the joyful, feel-good cumbia-norteño track, the two Música Mexicana acts serenade a beautiful lady, offering them the perfect dream date: “What beach should I take you to drink wine and have a romantic dinner? / What shoes do you like? What purse do you want? So I can gift it to you,” Maydon’s sugary vocals declare. “If you tell me yes, we’ll travel to Paris, I already have your lock,” he continues in the chorus, referring to the Pont des Arts, also known as the Love Lock Bridge in France. A playful music video, directed by Sauna and produced by Oriental Films, captures Frontera and Maydon performing the song on a tennis court, where they are surrounded by a diverse group of bachelorettes. — JESSICA ROIZ
Gilberto Santa Rosa, Debut y Segunda Tanda, Vol. 2 (B2B Music)
“El Caballero de la Salsa” Gilberto Santa releases Debut y Segunda Tanda Vol. II, a continuation of a project that began in 2022 and that includes a mix of new songs and reinterpretations of past hits. From the first chords of “Piedra y Agua,” through “Como Si Fuera Nuestra” – both debuts – Santa Rosa makes us dance with bright brasses, powerful choruses and his unmistakable style and voice. The list of new songs includes, among others, “Tratando de Acercarme,” which stands out for its softer rhythm and instrumentation, and the cheerful “Fin de Semana” with Gerardo Rivas. As for covers, there are “Vamos a Ver” by David Torrens, “Tun Tun” by Kelvis Ochoa — with and infectious chorus and romantic lyrics — and “La Marea” by Rubén Blades for a gran finale.
“This album represents for me the opportunity to explore and present something different, but always maintaining my essence,” the salsa icon said in a press release. “Is an invitation to share my love for music, in all its forms, and to dance or grieve together once again.” It is a work worthy of any Latin New Year’s Eve party and adds to the extensive repertoire of one of the most beloved artists of the tropical genre. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS
Kevin Kaarl, “Esta Noche” (Kevin Kaarl)
There’s a warmth to Kevin Kaarl’s “Esta Noche,” an ultra nostalgic song that brings to mind the magic of ’90s pop and rock en español. Listening to the Mexican indie artist’s singular and soothing vocals is almost disarming, and it’s easy to get lost in the song’s folky vibe as Kaarl sings emotionally and vividly about love and heartbreak, injecting pathos in every verse. “Esta Noche” was produced by his twin brother, Bryan Kaarl, who first joined Kevin for “Te Quiero Tanto.” The new track’s music video is the first installment of a trilogy of visuals that will culminate in a short film. “Esta Noche” is the first single off his forthcoming studio album, ULTRA SODADE. — G.F.
Leo Rizzi & Lasso, “QUEBRANTO” (Atlantic Records Spain)
As a nostalgic nod to South American rock of the ’80s, emerges the new collaboration between Spanish-Uruguayan singer-songwriter Leo Rizzi and Venezuelan Lasso called “QUEBRANTO.” The pop single manages to capture the magic of legendary Argentine rock riffs and the essence of the music of that golden age. In the lyrics, the pair sing about finding a way out of pain and the desire for redemption in the face of life’s trials. The music video encapsulates that same nostalgia, with retro visuals and the artists’ ’80s aesthetics, transporting us back to that era. — LUISA CALLE
Listen to more editors’ Latin recommendations in the playlist below:
