Luis Cortés, Angelina Victoria, Maeso & More Emerging Latin Artists on Our Radar
Our latest edition of On the Radar Latin includes a wave of emerging artists, who we discovered either by networking, or coming across their music at a showcase, or elsewhere. See our recommendations this month below:
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Artist: Angelina Victoria
Country: U.S.
Why They Should Be on Your Radar: I wasn't able to catch Angelina Victoria at the Chicago White Sox Mexican heritage night earlier this month, which was a bummer given that she's one of a handful of women who are making waves in regional Mexican music today. The 22-year-old Chicago-born artist already boasts of a wide-ranging collection of singles that showcase her versatility, including cumbias, norteño, corridos tumbados to pop and opera. But it's in música mexicana where she really shines, allowing her polished vocals to take centerstage as she sings songs of love and heartbreak. Earlier this year, she also performed at SXSW, setting her up for a promising 2025. She's also set to drop her debut album sometime this year. — GRISELDA FLORES
Song For Your Playlist: 'Mejor Nada'
Artist: Cielo Torres
Country: Peru
Why They Should Be On Your Radar: She might be petite in size, but Cielo Torres carries potent vocals that I discovered firsthand when I saw her perform live at the Heat Latin Music Awards music festival earlier this year in Medellín. Hailing from Tacna, a city in southern Peru, Torres kicked off her solo music career in 2018 with her debut single 'Si Me Tenías' and hit No. 1 in the country with her 2020 'Nunca Es Suficiente.' Prior, she was the lead vocalist of cumbia group Agua Bella and formed part of local telenovelas. In the past seven years, she's established herself one of the leading voices of salsa music in her country and is currently making the rounds with her five-track EP Confidencial—fully charged with tropical finesse and empowering lyrics.— JESSICA ROIZ
Song For Your Playlist: 'Te Equivocas'
Artist: Luis Córtes
Country: Spain
Why They Should Be On Your Radar: If it weren't for an invite to his first showcase in Miami this month, I would have never had the pleasure of discovering the magical artist that is Luis Cortés. In 2019, the artist from Valencia, Spain launched his debut single 'Ojalá,' which put at the forefront his raspy yet dulcet and passionate vocals. Morevoer, it introduced his captivating music project that fuses traditional flamenco with R&B, neo-soul, reggaetón, and tropical music, as best heard in his 2021 breakout single 'Mala Vida.' This year, Cortés—who easily became one of my favorite new artists—released two albums: his live Gira Dolores (En Directo) and studio set Corazón Negro. The latter of the two includes his romantic and melancholic collaboration with Camilo on 'Desamarte.' — J.R.
Song For Your Playlist: 'Desamarte' with Camilo
Artist: MAESO
Country: Puerto Rico
Why they should be on your radar: Alternating between merengue, reggaetón, EDM, and bachata, emerging artist MAESO demonstrated in 2024 what he's capable of in his seasonal EP series Primavera and Verano, which included collaborations with Guaynaa, OG Flamez, and La Tribu Royale. This Friday (June 27), he is back with another EP, the six-track Mucho Gusto, which includes the previously released merengue 'Te encontré' with Venezuelan star Nacho and the bachata 'La Botella,' his latest single. Maeso is a fresh voice that gives tropical music a contemporary touch. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS
Song for your playlist: 'La Botella'
Artist: The Rumba Madre
Country: Spain
Why You Should Be On Your Radar: Think Gogol Bordello or Manu Chao, but with flamenco flair and the fiery energy of Spanish punk rebellion. The Rumba Madre blends sharp political critiques with genre-defying sounds that confront today's pressing issues. From border discrimination to intergenerational trauma, their music speaks truth to power in ways that feel urgent. Take 'La Rumba del Coco,' a cutting critique of immigration policies, where frontman David Vila Diéguez recounts a surreal incident of being accused of trespassing at the U.S.-Mexico border for simply carrying a coconut. Meanwhile, their recent single, 'Abuela,' shifts the focus to Spain's post-Francoist trauma, blending grief with vivid storytelling about two grandchildren safeguarding the ashes of their anti-Francoist grandmother.
Diéguez's work extends beyond music and in academia. His forthcoming book, Spanish Punk: Screaming for Democracy in a Post-Dictatorial State (paperback out Nov. 11) — full disclaimer: I had the honor of penning its foreword — examines the radical impact of punk music in Spain during and after Franco's dictatorship. Now based in Nashville, the troupe challenges conventions and confronts history head-on, while creating a sound as unapologetic as the stories they tell. — ISABELA RAYGOZA
Song For Your Playlist: 'Abuela'
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