Alt.Latino

This year was bookended by two major statements in Latin music. In January, Bad Bunny released DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, and followed that up with a 31-show residency in Puerto Rico over the summer. Then, in November, the Spanish vocalist Rosalía released her genre-defying masterpiece LUX, which sent legions of music lovers scrambling to try to grasp the magnitude of an album performed in 13 different languages. But they were only the tip of the iceberg of yet another year of mind-bending creativity in Spanish language music. This week we look back at some of the other artists and recordings that made 2025 another year of adventurous and rewarding listening. These six artists made only a fraction of music that caught our attention. But we only have so much time on these podcasts! Use this as a starting point to explore the year that was on your own. And check out more of NPR Music's coverage of the best music of 2025 here. Enjoy! Artists and albums featured in this episode: - Bad Bunny, DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS - Rosalía, LUX - Queralt Lahoz, 9:30 PM - Roxana Amed, Todos los Fuegos - Arath Herce, Musas en Mi - Mon Laferte, Femme Fatal - rusowsky, DAISY - Lido Pimienta, La Belleza This episode was produced by Noah Caldwell. The executive producer of NPR Music is Suraya Mohamed.

The annual Latin Grammy awards are always full of glamour and glitz. But they're also an ideal time to take the pulse of the industry - which is exactly what Anamaria Sayre did this year, perusing the red carpet to talk with the most exciting names in Latin music. In this episode, Ana brings Felix her report from Las Vegas, where Bad Bunny won Album of the Year, the independent Brazilian music scene made a splash, and the whole industry seemed to be saying: "Show us where you're from." This podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell. The executive producer of NPR Music is Suraya Mohamed.

Not to sound like a broken record, but I'll say it again: the variety of creative expression in what is inadequately labeled "Latin music" continues to astound me. From the bossa nova-by-way-of-Guatemala of Fabuloso and Los Skeepers, to the evolving torch singing of the Chilean-via-Mexico vocalist Mon Laferte, to the ‘Western noir’ of California singer Andrés Miguel Cervantes, to Nathy Peluso’s Argentine take on Seventies New York City salsa, to jazz from southern Spain’s Chano Domínguez... how do we even try to keep up with this kind of output? Someone has to do it, and we’re glad it’s us. Featured artists and songs: - Milo J, 'OLIMPO', 'Bajo De La Piel', 'Jangadero' - Fabuloso & Los Skeepers, 'Si Te Gusta' - Mon Laferte, 'Las Flores Que Dejaste En La Mesa', '1:30' - Chano Domínguez & Emaginario, 'March Of The Siguiriyas' - Nathy Peluso, 'ÁNGEL' - Andrés Miguel Cervantes, 'Dreams of Jacumba' This podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell. The executive producer of NPR Music is Suraya Mohamed.

The past month has been a whirlwind. The El Tiny takeover of the Tiny Desk... interviews with some of the most exciting artists in Latin music... and, of course, puppets! So, for today's episode, we emerge from the craziness and dig into our neglected mailbag, which is brimming with new music. What did we find? Simple beauty. A young songwriter from Veracruz whose spare compositions have wowed his elders. An offbeat producer from Madrid. And, a joyful ode to a city half a millennium old. Featured artists and songs: - Arath Herce, "Musas en Mi" and "Quien Pensaría" - iLe, "Si Te Contara" - TRISTAN!, "Voyage" and "Ártico" - Venezonix ft. Pahua, "La Soledad" - Meme de Real, "Estaba Sentado" and "Embeces" - Bomba Estereo ft. Carlos Vives, "La Samaria" This podcast was produced by Noah Caldwell. The executive producer of NPR Music is Suraya Mohamed.

Gloria Estefan is one of those musicians whose work and mere presence in the record industry deserves without question platitudes like ‘pioneering’ or ‘ground breaking.’ In fact, we have often mentioned her in that light throughout the 15 years of Alt.Latino. So it was a thrill to invite her to chat with us once again, this time immediately after a stunning Tiny Desk performance that will publish Oct. 13. She gives serious Favorite Tiá vibes, and since she and Felix are close in age, it felt like a conversation with a good friend with a fascinating life story - who just happens to have one of the richest song catalogs in Latin music history. This podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell. The executive producer of NPR Music is Suraya Mohamed.

There's no question that Mexican vocalist and composer Silvana Estrada is special to Alt.Latino. Ever since she launched her 2022 album "Marchita" with a series of revelatory singles, she seemingly spoke directly to Alt.Latino co-host Anamaria Sayre. Since those earliest days, the two have been able to spend quite a bit of time together in interviews and other public gatherings, which only brought them closer on a personal level. Now, as Estrada releases her new album, "Vendrán Suaves Lluvias," and celebrates the publication of her Tiny Desk Concert, it seemed like a good time to sit in on the ever-flowing conversations between the two of them. The result is a conversation that is probably a lot more personal than you’re used to. And that’s OK. Because Silvana is a performer of complex emotions, and while you can experience those emotions through songs, sometimes you have to hear things for yourself. Enjoy. This podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell. The executive producer of NPR Music is Suraya Mohamed.

Bad Bunny's months-long residency in Puerto Rico is coming to an end. The shows brought in hundreds of millions of dollars to the island, and sparked new debates about Puerto Rican identity and politics. For this week's episode, Ana and Felix traveled to San Juan to take in one of the final performances, and interview both locals and tourists about the musical and cultural impact of the summer of Bad Bunny. This podcast was produced by Noah Caldwell. The executive producer of NPR Music is Suraya Mohamed.

This week's episode is a tribute to host Felix Contreras, who just received the Hispanic Heritage Award for Journalism from the Hispanic Heritage Foundation. Co-host Anamaria Sayre and the Alt.Latino team surprised Felix with guest appearances from Juanes, Daymé Arocena, Chucho Valdés, Dolores Huerta and more. This podcast was produced by Noah Caldwell. The executive producer of NPR Music is Suraya Mohamed.

Felix shares the music that's helped him recover from a serious illness. Anamaria shares some new exquisite (and, in one case, slightly toxic) love songs. Featured artists and songs: • Blood Orange, "I Can Go" (feat. Mabe Fratti & Mustafa) • Draco Rosa, "Quiero Vivir" • Caetano Veloso, "Voce E Linda" (Remixed Original Album) • Tim Bernardes, "BB (Garupa de Moto Amarela)" • Tim Bernardes, "Última Vez" • Santana, "Goodness and Mercy" • Xavi, "Ojitos de Miel" • Los Lobos, "Bertha" (Live at the Carefree Theatre, 1992) This podcast was produced by Noah Caldwell. The executive producer of NPR Music is Suraya Mohamed.

Bad Bunny's new album has had unprecedented U.S. chart success for an all Spanish-language record. NPR Music contributor Stefanie Fernández explains what makes the artist and the album so special.