Alt.Latino

We don’t often get to discuss the ways that Latin American music made its way west across the Pacific Ocean. But this week we have two incredible projects that celebrate that journey. First, a Japanese band that fuses traditional minyo folk sounds with cumbia and other Latin rhythms. Then, a project that unearths a forgotten history of the 19th century Mexican cowboys who went to Hawaii to help manage livestock. Plus, a tribute to Afro-Colombian folk legend Totó La Momposina, who passed away this month at 85; an underrated Puerto Rican reggaetonero shines again; and, of course, Ana continues her Brazilian obsession with new tracks from up-and-comer Bebé. Artists and albums featured in this episode: (00:55) Bebé - 'Dissolução' (05:45) Minya Crusaders - 'From Japan With Love' (10:06) Álvaro Díaz - 'OMAKASE' (17:35) Los Cenzontles - 'Adios Ke Aloha: Waves of the Same Sea' (23:05) Orestes Gomez - 'No me fui porque quise' (28:04) Totó La Momposina - Various This podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell. Suraya Mohamed is the executive producer of NPR Music.

Two different pioneers - from two different continents - are at the heart of this episode of new music. Since the late 1980s, Gipsy Kings have been infusing Catalan rumba flamenca with a pop sensibility that defies the purists. Their new single "Historia," from an upcoming album of the same name, shows they've still got that punchy danceability forty years on. And across the pond, Mexican rocker and songwriter Julieta Venegas explores the musical roots of her norteña heritage on a new album, playing with the biculturalism that defines so much of life along the border. Plus, Las Añez brings twin harmonies to Andean folk-pop, Helado Negro teams up with Reyna Tropical, Mexican upstart Esteesgarcia confounds Ana and Felix, and more! Artists & songs featured in this episode: (00:22) Las Añez - "Cebolla", "Libéralo" (05:21) Helado Tropical - "Tocando" (09:44) Esteesgarcia - "south kids", "Okupa" (14:35) Gipsy Kings - "Historia" (23:23) Julieta Venegas ft. Yahritza y Su Esencia - "La Línea" (25:53) bpuntito - "colitaderana", "después" (31:29) Ana Moura & MARO - "Era de Aquário/Deixa o Sol Entrar" This podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell. Suraya Mohamed is the executive producer of NPR Music.

I've been dying to interview Argentine artist Milo J ever since he came to NPR earlier this year to perform at the Tiny Desk. The 19-year-old started his career as a trap artist, but his latest album, 'La Vida Era Más Corta,' mines Argentine folklore to present a bold vision of his country that resonates deeply with younger generations. That Tiny Desk was just released -- and became one of our fastest-growing shows ever -- so we figured the time was right to call up Milo J and dig into it all. And just a note up front: this interview is entirely in Spanish. Llevaba mucho tiempo con ganas de entrevistar al artista argentino Milo J desde que vino a NPR a principios de este año para tocar en Tiny Desk. Este joven de 19 años comenzó su carrera como artista de trap, pero su último álbum, 'La Vida Era Más Corta,' se inspira en el folclore argentino para presentar una visión audaz de su país que conecta profundamente con las generaciones más jóvenes. Ese Tiny Desk acaba de salir al aire y ya se ha convertido en uno de nuestros shows de mayor crecimiento, así que pensamos que era el momento ideal para llamar a Milo J y profundizarlo. Y una nota previa: esta entrevista es completamente en español. - Anamaria Sayre You can watch the full Tiny Desk performance at NPR.org

Fusion is at the heart of so much of the music we cover - especially on this week's episode. Flamenco producers descend on Hermosillo to experiment with regional Mexican music. Young Argentine artists blend trap with folk and rock en Español. A sunny Rio sound is born in Spain. Plus, a New Mexican string band, an Afro-Brazilian collective and an exploration of Latin roots from Cypress Hill. Artists and albums featured in this episode: (02:26) Trueno, 'TURR4ZO' (09:37) Lone Piñon, 'Hot Carne Seca' (13:20) Chanela Clicka, 'COBRA' (18:50) Cypress Hill, 'Dios Bendiga' (22:30) Leo Middea, 'Notícias de Puglia' (25:28) Mandinga Beat, 'Afro-Brazil' This podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell. Suraya Mohamed is the executive producer of NPR Music.

This week's new music show spans the breadth of Latin America. Argentine indie artist Paula Prieto goes experimental. Venezuelan reggaeton pioneers Chino y Nacho return to the limelight. Brazilian singer Marina B reminds Felix of The Beatles. Guatemala's Doctor Nativo pays homage to the "caminantes" heading north to find a better life. Plus, Latin punk from San Antonio, and a celebration of Afro-Cuban legend Arsenio Rodriguez. Artists and albums featured in this episode: (00:46) Chino y Nacho, 'Radio Venezuela' (05:30) FEA, 'Careful' (10:11) Paula Prieto, 'TEMPORAL, LP.' (16:27) Bobby Sanabria Multiverse Big Band, 'Arsenio And Beyond' (22:30) Midnight Cafe & Marina B, 'À Flor da Pele (Lonely Man)' (25:34) Doctor Nativo & Roco Pachukote, 'Caminantes' This podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell. Suraya Mohamed is the executive producer of NPR Music.

Jorge Drexler is one of the most decorated singer-songwriters in Latin America. His albums are always high profile events, and his latest record merits the attention. It's called Taracá, and to make it he returned home to his native Uruguay - after living in Spain for 30 years - to explore the roots of an Afro-Uruguayan tradition known as candombe. On this week's episode we chat with Drexler about the motivation for returning to his home country, making music after losing his parents, and how the album's title reflects the sound made by a candombe drum.

From the very beginning of Alt.Latino, female vocalists have captivated us the most -- and New York-based Argentine vocalist Sofia Rei has been high on our list of favorites for a while. She uses the human voice like paint on a canvas, layering voices to create choirs that take flight at the mere suggestion of a melody. On her new album Antónima, she not only creates magic with her own voice but also collaborates with some Alt.Latino favorites: Gaby Moreno, Daymé Arocena and Xenia Rubinos, among others. As we revive our Guest DJ series, we asked her to bring on some of the songs she loves, for an insider's perspective of the art behind the human voice.

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.