13 New Songs to Listen to This Week From Jay Lee to PJ Sin Suela
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 Jay Lee, PJ Sin Suela, & iLe. Follow our playlist featuring these tracks and more on Spotify or Apple Music.
Jay Lee – “Traicionaste”
Jay Lee is making a grand entry from anti-boyband stardom with AQUIHAYAQUIHAY to finding his inner strength and solo debut with Príncipe De Los Ladrones. Now, Jay Lee transforms this bad boy persona into one that has the grit of cyberpunk drama and spins it with a tinge of reggaeton, making his sound effortlessly genre-fluid. The 10 track EP in its entirety is melancholic yet lively, with inspiration taken from classic trap and R&B tonalities. Inspired by the duality of life, the EP also represents it sonically by juxtapositioning the stories into ones that flourish over lo-fi layouts, and it’s no different on “Traicionaste,” off the EP. The three-minute song is a doozy, carrying its weight into a simple reggaeton melody, while Jay Lee purges his heart open, asking why someone could turn their back so quickly. But as he sings, it examines all sides of love, including hate, passion, and even betrayal. – Holly Alvarado
PJ Sin Suela – “Mambrú”
Puerto Rican rapper (and practicing physician) PJ Sin Suela delivers a track that serves as an homage to his home country and all the dark realities that surround the island’s relationship to its participation in war. Over the melodic stylings of lo-fi hip-hop beats meets soulful jazz notes of trumpet horns, the singer enters an emotional flow over the stories of those who fought alongside U.S. troops, despite their complex relational and political ties and truth. Turning bars into lessons, the rapper effortlessly details the tropes of the less nationalistic, glamorized sides of the military by vividly navigating stories of enlistment as a means for survival, a response to a lack of opportunities, and a desperate grasp at hope of providing families with a more prosperous future. – Jeanette Diaz
Yellow Outlet – “Escapemos”
The wavy synth-pop track “Escapemos” brings out the playful and rhythmic sound that Yellow Outlet is known for. The duo’s vocalist, María Taveras, has such a distinctive voice that is carried effortlessly through a groovy drum beat, which makes this track both catchy and lively. Overall, “Escapemos” instantly transports us to a Caribbean beachside, enjoying a flirty getaway with a lover, completely forgetting any type of responsibility. Bliss. – Jeanette Hernandez
Los Wálters – “Dinamarca (Soul Clap Remix)”
After the successful release of their last LP, Miss Universos, Puerto Rican rock band Los Wálters now wade into the world of remix EPs with Dinamarca (Remixes). Inspired by the single of the same name, which was already an industrial club scene-inspired track, this new project brings in producers and DJs such as UNOUNO, Millionyoung, Gyanma, Lost Boyz, and others as they huddle and put their own unique twists on the song. Here, Boston natives Soul Clap filter “Dinamarca” through a dreamy house beat that maintains the original’s personality while garnishing some ethereal notes creating an audial light show for the senses. — Juan J. Arroyo
Labaq – “DÓIDÓIDÓI”
In recent years, Brazilian singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Labaq has stepped away from traditional methods of composing and storytelling, evolving in a creative direction that prioritizes primal, cathartic release. Their latest single, “DÓIDÓIDÓI,” is a fluttering, half-whispered rumination on isolation and transformation built upon crashing digital drums, jagged acoustic bass lines, and sampled breaths, unraveling ethereally like an intimate hyperpop confessional. – Richard Villegas
Lukrø – “Mami Shula”
Applying the lessons learned from his early dedication to footwork and juke, Lukrø is now entering the world of dembow with striking results. “Mami Shula” finds a sweet spot between digital dancehall and reggaeton to give us this Caribbean club heater, bringing instrumental hooks and the odd voice sample to get dancers in the mood to shake what they got. Lukrø’s vision is still in the future, and this track is a sign of what club music is about to become. – Marcos Hassan
Pachyman – “Towards the Mountain”
Only weeks ago, L.A.-based Boricua producer and multi-instrumentalist Pachyman shared “All Night Long,” the warm lovers rock half of his new 7,” El Sonido Nuevo de Pachyman. And now, we can experience the slow-burning vibes of side A, “Towards the Mountain.” The melodica-led instrumental jam is an exploration of far-east sounds influences in Jamaican music, and it shows Pachy García’s deep love for and knowledge of Jamaican-bred music as he turns the studio into a dub shrine. – Cheky
Chicocurlyhead & Ana Mancebo – “DIADREAMER”
Being born in Panama and raised in Atlanta brings Chicocurlyhead to an intersection of a mix of culture, genre, and language that is extended through his music. His latest, “DIADREAMER,” is a hard-hitting, alt-trap track that finds itself lost in thought and sounds of the future to come. Themes of a blossoming career, money, and the love to be found circulate the young artist’s self-assured flows, as Ana Mancebo joins forces mid-song with an unrelenting rap breakdown. The resulting track showcases that securing their daydreamed visions are only a matter of time away for the promising talents. – Jeanette Diaz
Adrian Quesada, iLe – “Mentiras Con Cariño”
Black Pumas’ co-founder Adrian Quesada is dedicating his next musical chapter to “psychedelic boleros,” where he uses balada elements, such as heartbreak lyrics on a hazy bossa nova groove, to set the mood for his upcoming album’s featured singers. Over a taunting and echoing drumbeat in “Mentiras Con Cariño,” Quesada showcases Puerto-Rican vocalist iLe, who embodies the classical, powerful emotion that the golden era of boleros are known for. – Jeanette Hernandez
OkeiFlou x Zizzy – “CTQE”
Dominican jack-of-all-musical-trades OkeiFlou continues to rev up the anticipation for his upcoming album, Despues de La Fama, with his new single “CTQE.” Teaming up with Mexico’s own Zizzy of AQUIHAYAQUIHAY fame, the track brings out the duo’s best to form a trap-R&B swirl not unlike as seen in the song’s visualizer. The seasoned producer, who came up working with Tokischa in her nascent days, is committed to including singing as part of his repertoire, which he deftly demonstrates here. When considered alongside the previous single “MANIPULAXIÓN,” it’s clear OkeiFlou is set to become D.R.’s new answer to the Latine R&B wave. — Juan J. Arroyo
Diómedes Jiménez, Inka – “De Camino”
Diómedes Jiménez and Inka — two of Santo Domingo’s buzziest rap talents — have linked up for a brand new single titled “De Camino,” lending a bird’s eye view of the struggle and resilience you can spot while riding the bus on any given day. Featuring production from Jiménez, Wenn Ferreira, and rising beat wizard Shy Melomano, the track’s rich musical canvas layers jazzy guitars and textured merengue percussion while breezy banter between the MCs keeps focus on the message without becoming preachy. – Richard Villegas
Rosalía, Wisin, Daddy Yankee – “Saoko” (King Doudou Remix)
Somebody had to do it, and who better than the monarch of booty-shaking reworks to take a stab at it. Ever since Rosalía dropped the perreo-ready “Saoko” early in the Motomami rollout, reggaeton historians were quick to point to the origin of the hook, the classic Wisin and Daddy Yankee link-up. King Doudou not only mashes both versions up, but adds plenty of tricked-out flavor to remind us of the exhilarating underground mixtape remixes from back in the day. – Marcos Hassan
Zaucy – “La Canción”
Sixteen-year-old Colombian-American newcomer Zaucy spent his 2021 introducing his sound to the world and rattling the TikTok cage with an impressive list of singles. And no he’s finally back this year to give us “La Canción.” This melancholic reggaeton-inspired single finds him piecing together memories of a night of perreo and casual sex, but he remembers the feeling very well, and it’s so intense he’s bending over backwards to convince his love interest to give him a chance to do it all over again. – Cheky
