12 New Songs to Listen to This Week From Ibeyi to Symon Dice
This is our weekly compilation of newly released bite-sized song reviews from our talented music writers. Discover new favorites, read nuanced criticism of the week’s hottest releases, and much more. Who knows, you might walk out of this with a new fave or two. Some of the featured artists include Ibeyi, Symon Dice, and Paulo Londra. Follow our playlist featuring these tracks and more on Spotify or Apple Music.
Ibeyi – “Juice of Mandarins”
Sisters Naomi and Lisa-Kainde Diaz made a stop at A COLORS SHOW to record a lovely rendition of “Juice of Mandarins,” their brand-new single as Ibeyi that follows their stunning 2022 album Spell 31. Produced by long-time collaborator Richard Russell, the song instantly immerses us in a sweet world of dreams with only a few elements. The Diaz sisters capture the ecstasy of a love that’s all kinds of right with their stunning harmonies, and now we’re floating for the rest of the day. – Cheky
Paulo Londra – “Party en el Barrio (feat. Duki)”
Two of the world’s biggest trap stars out of Argentina rewind it back to their humble beginnings on their first-ever collaboration, “Party en el Barrio.” Since his three-year absence stemming from a legal battle with the co-founders of label Big Ligas, Paulo Londra has been keen on experimenting with everything from airy pop-punk power chords to Ed Sheeran co-signed singles. But “Party en el Barrio” captures the essence of the public freestyle battles where both Londra and Duki first cut their teeth, zigzagging between Londra’s jovial ‘made it’ moments (“Saben que traigo noticia’ buena’ para todo el barrio/siempre innovador… Soy un perezoso, pero no puedo dormir… Solo fui con cien y volví con mil”) to Duki’s rapidfire boasts over busy hi-hats and muddied 808s. – Nayeli Portillo
Symon Dice, DEEIKEL ft. Rafa Pabön – “Cacique”
Symon Dice dropped “Cacique,” an upbeat reggaeton-infused track that features a Caribbean-esque guitar in the melody. Dice’s new single echoes the quality of his production work that he’s known for. Previously, he’s worked with all-stars such as Dímelo Flow, Farruko, and Natti Natasha, to name a few. Both DEEIKEL’s and Rafa Pabön’s verses serve a smooth rhythm. When they pair up on the catchy chorus, it’s game over – their flow will stay stuck in your head the whole day. – Jeanette Hernandez
Lolabúm – “Nidi”
For nearly a decade, Ecuadorian indie pop prince Pedro Bonfim has led his band Lolabúm through acclaimed records unspooling anxieties and romances flourishing at the center of the world. Teasing their new album Muchachito Roto, the band has unveiled “Nidi,” a bouncy yet bashful single likening needy paramours to the constant attention one might give their Tamagotchi pet. Fluttering synths and acoustic guitar meet Bonfim’s soothing, almost hesitant vocals as he pleads for the affection he so desperately wants while trying his darndest to come off cool as a cucumber. — Richard Villegas
Loyal Lobos – “Bummed”
Having already given us a fair share of sad bangers to hold ourselves together when we’re feeling down, Loyal Lobos has released a party song. However, it’s not the kind of party song one might expect. The Bogota-born, Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter has penned a tune about losing yourself at a gathering and wanting to return to your own space. Likewise, she builds “Bummed” as an alt-rock ballad with strummed guitars and soft-focused drum machines to underline the dispirited vibe, delivering a catchy yet sorrowful bop. — Marcos Hassan
Conjunto Ingeniería – “Intermission Riff”
During the high times of Latin jazz in the 1960s, a group of engineering students in Venezuela got together to start a side project: a full-fledged big band jazz group called, appropriately enough, Conjunto Ingeniería (or, The Engineering Group). El Palmas Music will release a compilation of their best recordings, starting with this week’s “Intermission Riff.” The track bursts with lively orchestration and irresistible rhythm that used to fill dance floors, and still can. The good vibes remain timeless and contemporary listeners have a golden opportunity to discover a group that committed to their sound in a way that’s seldom found these days. — Juan J. Arroyo
Belmar – “Todos Los Santos (feat. Eliangel & Sunsplash)”
For his newest single, producer Belmar summoned two of his Mexico-based buddies from the Venezuelan diaspora: fast-rising newcomer Eliangel and seasoned electronic artist Alberto Stangarone, a.k.a. Sunsplash. “Todos Los Santos” (a title that nods to Stangarone’s breakthrough band Todosantos) is a sensual, esoteric R&B song with a huge hip hop-tinted beat that highlights Belmar’s multicolored production style. The two vocalists trade verses as they try every ritual in the books in an attempt to save a romantic relationship hanging by a thread. – Cheky
Hermanos Gutiérrez – “Los Chicos Tristes”
On “Los Chicos Tristes,” guitarists and brothers Estevan and Alejandro Gutiérrez duet their way through self-reflection. Rather than be inundated by what the two describe as a shared sadness, the Ecuadorian instrumental duo uses trebly blues riffs to explore how the sentiment can be an agitator, ultimately reconstructing it as a source of transformation. The accompanying video features the two traversing Iztapalapa, Mexico’s bustling Central de Abasto. – Nayeli Portillo
Jessie Reyez – “Only One”
Jessie Reyez is and will always be the movement. Her heart-wrenching croons paired with R&B ballads make for an enticing and rich musical project. After two years, she’s back with her sophomore album Yessie, which explores her bittersweet love stories, all while feeling empowered to push through them. Moreover, she continues to have an undeniable knack for resonating with many of her audience’s current love affairs. On “Only One,” she does just that by boldly wearing her heart on her sleeve. The Colombian-Canadian talks about yearning to be someone’s number one – without ever second-guessing her priority level. And how can we not feel her? It’s hard not to want to be one’s favorite. – Jeanette Hernandez
La Perla – “Chicharachera”
Bogota’s La Perla have released their highly anticipated debut album Callejera, pouring a dizzying array of vocal and percussive influences from cumbia, bullerengue, porro, gaita, and more into a sprawling collage of Latin American street sounds. Look for explosive collaborations with La Dame Blanche and Frente Cumbiero throughout, and get swept up in the cheeky glory of “Chicharachera,” a loving tribute to maiz and the many gifts it has bestowed upon the people of Abya Yala. Staccato clave dances with warbling synth bass and La Perla’s soaring vocal harmonies as the chicha flows from their instruments into the Andean elixir fueling the party ahead. — Richard Villegas
TIMPANA – “Jovi”
Right from the first droning notes of “Jovi,” a sense of peace can be felt descending through your ears and into your heart. Bolivia’s TIMPANA pays tribute to the ancestral sounds of the Indigenous people of her country, singing the opening lyrics in Guarani while building an arrangement of electronics that complement the song, turning it into a little prayer for our modern world. Achieving a respectful tribute to the past while building timeless music, “Jovi” hovers like a spirit blessing our lives for a scant few minutes. — Marcos Hassan
Late Nite Laundry – “Sizzle”
Chicago-based quartet Late Nite Laundry readies the Nov. 4 release of their self-titled EP with “Sizzle,” the first of its two singles. The band doesn’t stray much from the psych soul-jazz sound that’s defined them the last two years, and it’s that same style that graces this song and its themes with appropriate solemnity. While last year’s “Free Time” was a fun throwback to classic R&B and quiet thunder romps, “Sizzle” is more interested in getting “beneath the surface, under the skin” without sacrificing listenability as it delves into the more sober subject matter. — Juan J. Arroyo
