13 New Songs to Listen to This Week From GALE to Immasoul
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 GALE, jame minogue and Seye, and Immasoul. Follow our playlist featuring these tracks and more on Spotify or Apple Music.
GALE – “D Pic”
Following “Problemas,” the Puerto Rican singer-songwriter GALE dropped “D Pic,” an alternative pop banger that finally talks about the unnecessary, unsolicited photos in the middle of the night that some people receive without consent. With “D Pic,” she solidifies her knack for pop tunes that her first single, “Inmadura,” showed us she’s capable of spearheading. The electric guitar-driven track is entertaining as it is unapologetic – she even uses a chime to substitute the explicit words that we can only imagine she’s thinking of. Needless to say, GALE keeps us hooked with her creative singles, and even more so now by showing us her alternative, edgier side. – Jeanette Hernandez
jame minogue & Seye – “Dark Clouds”
Seye and jame minogue have joined forces to give us a delicious throwback track to dance to with our eyes closed. The two Dominican artists wrote and co-produced “Dark Clouds” using colors from the ‘80s synth-pop palette and little strokes of contemporary pop, praying for the dark clouds in their hearts to go away so they can be themselves again. It’s a stormy reflection on toxic relationships and imminent endings. – Cheky
Lucia Tacchetti, Mula – “Rota”
A match made in Latin American electronic heaven, Argentine singer and producer Lucia Tachetti has linked up with Dominican dream team Mula for the thumping new single, “Rota.” The epic crossover unspools a classic tale of how our traumas raise impenetrable barriers around our hearts, achieving cathartic enlightenment over whirring bass lines and seductively asymmetrical percussion. – Richard Villegas
Diamante Eléctrico – “Persona Favorita”
Colombian rocker trio Diamante Eléctrico embraces all of love’s highs and lows in the latest single from their forthcoming album Leche de Tigre. “Persona Favorita” may be carried by a buoyant, mesmeric pop-rock melody, but it does not fall within the framework of a traditional love song. Here, vocalist and bassist Juan Galeano celebrates finding that sense of safety in a person while also shedding light on practicing humility when seeking patience and understanding. – Nayeli Portillo
Moro La Flor – “Golpe De Ola”
Few musical mashups can make us raise an eyebrow and take notes nowadays. That said, Moro La Flor music might be the exception. This Buenos Aires musician’s sound is defined by the twin pillars of ‘60s surf guitar riffs a la “Wipeout” or “Misirlou” with dembow rhythms, creating something unheard of. Beyond the novelty, there’s plenty of melody and bounciness to “Golpe De Ola,” making it feel at home in the N.A.A.F.I. catalog. Moro La Flor might be on the verge of a new genre. — Marcos Hassan
Uji – “Flechas”
TIMEBEING is the latest album by electronic music producer Uji and “Flechas” manifests much of the LP spirit, a good drop from the Argentinian label ZZK. Departing from folk chord harmonies, the artist (who is also an ethnomusicologist) follows a crescendo that encompasses tribal drums and cosmological bleeps. The vocals in vernacular languages add another layer of mysteriousness to the production that must be better appreciated on a dancefloor. The track comes along with an astonishing music video by director Jazmín Calcarami. — Felipe Maia
Lúconde – “Macacoa”
Some artists want to play in a genre’s sandbox without disrupting it too much, eager to bask in its simple fruits. But once in a while comes someone who wants to push and challenge the music, and Lúconde is one of them. The Puerto Rican siren incorporates her theater and film experience into her upcoming project, of which “Macacoa” is the first single. The concept album explores culture, feminism, mental health, and other weighty topics through the riveting lens of multiple characters and dynamic alt-perreo sounds. But it tugs at these themes without sacrificing what people come for above all: music they can enjoy and dance to. — Juan J. Arroyo
Immasoul – “Sugar Boi”
The Quintana Roo-based R&B singer Immasoul released “Sugar Boi,” a heartfelt love letter dedicated to her life partner of over a decade. “Sugar Boi”’s rhythmic afrobeat paired with her crisp vocals make for a catchy, upbeat track that leaves you wanting to know more about Immasoul’s romance. The smooth song captures you from beginning to end, fusing a light pop ambiance with swooning lyrics that describe the “sugar” comfort and endless love that couple gives one another. Que viva el amor! – Jeanette Hernandez
Las Robertas – “Awakening”
Costa Rican darlings Las Robertas have finally announced the follow-up to their 2017 full-length Waves of the New, the Owen Morris-produced Love is the Answer, coming out on Kanine Records in Mar. next year. “Awakening” is the album’s first single, and it sounds like they’re time travelers from the ‘60s who landed in the ‘90s yet it still sounds authentically Las Robertas. Splashed with the right amount of psych and guitar crunch, Mercedes Oller optimistically sings about better things to come after the hard times go. – Cheky
Fernando Milagros, Huaira – “Agua Santa”
Chilean singer/songwriter Fernando Milagros has been a fixture of South America’s future folk scene for over a decade, cemented into the cannon with dreamy cult favorites like “Reina Japonesa” and “Carnaval.” But for his latest album OBSYDIANA, the mysterious troubadour is stepping away from the safety of a band format and into the role of producer, invoking a fresh mix of electronic beats, Andean percussion, and atmospheric synths. A standout track off the new LP is unquestionably “Agua Santa.” It’s a hypnotic meditation on how water is not only a source of primordial life but also a conduit for emotion, conveying sadness through tears and excitement through sweat. – Richard Villegas
Lascivio Bohemia x Tribilin Sound – “Qosqo” (Remix)
Berlin-based label Eck Echo has announced the release of Jalea Mixta, a compilation honoring Peruvian DJ and producer Tribilin Sound, due Nov. 11. On the album’s opener, a remix of Tribu Ancestral’s “Qosqo,” Ecuadorian producer Lascivio Bohemia echoes the digital cumbia luminary’s vision of fusing ambient electronics with warm, traditional Andean instrumentation. Bright 10-string charango strums and silvery flutes are punctuated by deep, reverberant bass and vacillating synths, building it to a busier and more spacious psychedelic haze. – Nayeli Portillo
Pearla – “The Place With No Weather”
Autumn is the time of nostalgically gazing out the window. Even though the song claims not to desire proper weather, Brooklyn’s Nicole Rodriguez’s newest song is the aural equivalent of fall colors, a slow and sad meditation set to acoustic guitars and her falsetto. “The Place With No Weather” is bookended by droning tones that submerge the listener in darkness, yet the verses offer warmth and solace, a safe space of melody and vulnerability to dwell on. Pearla conjures a unique emotional atmosphere with sparse instrumentation and a lot of heart. — Marcos Hassan
Jan Mercé – “K aPasa’o”
Jan Mercé has quietly established himself as an artist’s favorite and regular at various local indie rap shows in the San Juan area, winning over fans with his eclectic wordplay and delivery. He’s now kicking off the anticipation for his upcoming EP, Numero1Uno. It’s starting with the new single “K aPasa’o,” a lovelorn rap that shows off a more melancholic side to his usual rough and tumble lyrics. Mercé rose amongst the artists that make up the nascent Puerto Rican alt-trap scene, some of which he’s often collaborated with before. The scene has finally begun to gain traction amongst listeners, and he’s banking on being a future breakthrough. — Juan J. Arroyo
