14 New Songs to Listen to This Week From Jay Lee to MUSAS
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, Musas, and Luna Luna. Follow our playlist featuring these tracks and more on Spotify or Apple Music.
Jay Lee – “21 Gramos”
With irresistible melodies over the groove-centric beat, Jay Lee demonstrates a knack for pop-flavored hip-hop that is hard to overlook. In “21 Gramos,” the Mexican singer laments the loss of a romantic partner and how down it has him, losing weight and such. This is reflected in the melancholic and autotuned melodies that bring hook after hook to the track, giving personal feelings an intimate yet big sound. Jay Lee has delivered an ultra-melodic ode to heartbreak that’s hard not to keep on repeat. — Marcos Hassan
MUSAS – “Patience”
Gone are the days of ’90s and early 2000s girl group icons at the forefront of R&B chart-toppers, but their impact remains evident. Sisters Keisha, Fiona, and Fiorella (aka MUSAS) encompass the empowered, unapologetic energy of that era on “Patience,” the follow-up to their debut single and last year’s salsa-driven party starter “Destino.” Layers of violin — courtesy of Latin Grammy award-winning violinist La Lulu — and crystalline keys balance out propulsive Afrobeats-inspired percussion as the Colombian-NYC trio claps back and refuses to be taken for granted. – Nayeli Portillo
Fuego x Fred de Palma – “Night Sky”
Following his successful hit single “Bonita,” the Dominican-American singer-songwriter Fuego released “Night Sky” with Italian artist Fred de Palma. The single departs from the electronic and jazzy likes of his aforementioned single. It instead demonstrates another face of EDM: a more sensual, mellow rhythm that Fuego excels at. The track features deep house influences mixed with his Caribbean touch – a combo we didn’t know we needed. – Jeanette Hernandez
Duplat – “Hasta Nunca”
Duplat is back with a dreamy new single titled “Hasta Nunca,” a sexy, loungy confessional about unattainable love written and co-produced alongside hitmaker Juan Pablo Vega. A swoon fest of heart-stopping proportions, the song finds Colombia’s prince of vintage pop grappling with fairytale romance and its accompanying disappointments, arguing that it’s worth risking it all for love even if things end in goodbye. – Richard Villegas
13am feat. Marconi Impara, Brray, Jovaan, & Lil Joujou – “Flip Flop (Remix)”
After toiling away for the past few years on the margins of the indie Latine trap scene, 13am is finally stepping into the spotlight with “Flip Flop (Remix).” The track runs back his sleeper favorite from last year, this time with prominent guest stars such as Brray, Marconi Impara, and Jovaan who are three of the top shooters of the genre, as well as fellow up ‘n’ comer Lil Joujou. 13am’s multifaceted flow and wheezy delivery give him a recognizable voice, both literally and lyrically, that augurs a promising future. His debut album, Luck7 13, is out today. — Juan J. Arroyo
Luna Luna – “Talk Too Much”
With roots in Colombia, Mexico, and El Salvador, Austin-based quartet Luna Luna just dropped their latest single “Talk Too Much,” and it’s one for the afterhours. This shiny retro pop number stands somewhere between The Slow Rush era Tame Impala and Rauw Alejandro, using a contagious dance beat, technicolor synths, and sultry bilingual lyrics to demand a little less talking and a lot more physical action. – Cheky
ZTVZ – “Tú”
Even after just one listen, it’s clear that “Tú” is a hit. The sibling duo from San Juan, Puerto Rico, has made a moody dancefloor-bound synth-pop banger that adopts current reggaeton flow to give us vocal hooks for days, bringing to life emotions that range from dark to elating. The music video tackles queer discrimination with seductive yet tasteful imagery, bringing another shade of flavor to an already layered song. ZTVZ proves to speak many languages to become fluent in pure pop bliss.— Marcos Hassan
Jessie Reyez – “Adios Amor”
On her latest album YESSIE, Jessie Reyez remains adamant about not getting caught up in the whirlwind of modern romance (along with the subsequent heartache) because she knows she’s ultimately better off without it. The downtempo “Adios Amor,” YESSIE’s closing track and biting send-off, perfectly encapsulates the record’s overall bittersweet tone in just a couple of lines: “Y aunque me duela, no estoy llorando/Porque yo ya di demasiao.” Recorded in Barcelona, Spain, as part of the Gallery Sessions video series, this pointed and intimate rendition features her raw, towering vocals beside guitarist and songwriter Heather Crawford, who you may recognize from Reyez’s touring band. – Nayeli Portillo
JONA – “Conocerte de Nuevo”
The emerging Honduran artist JONA released “Conocerte de Nuevo,” a melancholic track that questions the act of second chances. The bittersweet track talks about memories that haunt the singer-songwriter, going as far as providing his reasons why the pair didn’t work out. The song’s beat features an opening guitar riff that pleasantly leads to a rhythmic, reverb-heavy beat, which complements his words of unrequited love. Needless to say, it’s a tune that resonates with many about longing for the one that got away. – Jeanette Hernandez
Elis Paprika – “La Verdad”
Elis Paprika is not a wallflower. For nearly two decades, the trailblazing Mexican rockera has built a revered career on buzzing guitars and cathartic primal screams, as if continuously exorcizing the demons plaguing her heart and mind. This is why her latest single, “La Verdad,” arrives as a delightful surprise, unfolding as a ’90s alt-rock ballad that ponders the worth of truth in a world filled with lies. Paprika is not new to existential songwriting, but her softer, almost exhausted delivery here captures the confusion and despair of witnessing society spin out of control around us. – Richard Villegas
Nueva Cría – “Cataclismo”
Nueva Cría’s unique distorted nü-metal sound has an unexpected source: the Puerto Rican grouping is fronted by deadperrx (Aki), the artist better known for their electronic hyperpop music, this time collaborating alongside guitarist Renaldo and bassist Emma. “Cataclismo” is the latest single, and the last before their debut EP, Entre Todo, drops in a few weeks. The track borrows sounds from across the entire post-punk spectrum, coalescing them into a rousing and mosh-ready headbanger that’ll wake up even the most ardent wallflower. — Juan J. Arroyo
Flash Amazonas – “La Reina es un Lagarto”
Colombian-Japanese duo Flash Amazonas are back with their second album uva-uva, a dizzying, electrifying art-rock project big on theatrics and existential realism. Standing out on the second half of the album is “La Reina es un Lagarto,” a rollercoaster ride of a song that finally ends up losing its brakes, sending us into a vertiginous fall that’s filled with wild conspiracy theories about the late Queen Elizabeth II and Michael Jackson. After the song finishes, we’re ready to stand in line and ride it all over again. – Cheky
