Alternative Latin music is experiencing a pivotal moment, generating a lot of buzz on global stages. Didn’t you see the irreverent Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso dazzling at major festivals and renowned shows? And what about the ever-charming Rawayana, betting on stellar collaborations and winning international awards? How can we not continue to marvel at the Afro-Cuban groove and the scenic spark that Cimafunk’s performances achieve? And how can we not take our hats off to Nathy Peluso, always authentic, in a constant state of artistic challenge? Of course, not all of them are headliners yet: Midnight Generation stands out as one of the best Mexican bands to see live right now.
CA7RIEL & PACO AMOROSO
It’s not easy to process everything that has been happening to Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso. Just a few weeks ago, the Argentinian duo were spotted as VIP guests at Paris Fashion Week, amid a high-impact European tour, with major performances at festivals like Roskilde to Glastonbury, just a few months after making their mark at Coachella and Lollapalooza. And as if that weren’t enough, Kendrick Lamar invited them for a Latin American tour in the second half of the year. They are a global phenomenon, no doubt about it. However, the praise had come well before her high-profile performance of “El DIA DEL AMIGO” on Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show. They were also great before their Tiny Desk, perhaps the kick-off of this worldwide buzz that now has them as international stars.
Locally, the talent of Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso has always been an open secret. They wanted to be high-caliber musicians – in fact, they are: Catriel is a guitarist, and Paco is a drummer. But they also realized the arduous journey it entailed. So they stumbled upon trap, an urban genre that pays off in recent times. They did it their way, of course, fusing it with pop, hip-hop, electronica, jazz and funk. Also, the connection between the two has always been organic: they met at school and hit it off because of the confusion over their surnames: Catriel is Guerreiro, and Paco, who is actually called Ulises, is Guerriero. Their influences are more diffuse, since they belong to that generation that consumes everything, from Prince to Megadeth. We can’t ignore the heritage of Argentine hip-hop pioneers Illya Kuryaki & The Valderramas. But they draw on many elements from past Buenos Aires scenes, from local icons Charly García and Luis Alberto Spinetta to the lesser-known Pornois.
RAWAYANA
“The Rawa just won an American Grammy, long live Venezuela in this shit!” With humor and references to local culture, Rawayana’s acceptance speech for winning the Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album award earlier this year put things in perspective. Furthermore, just a month after the ceremony, they announced the release of ASTROPICAL, a project in collaboration with Bomba Estéreo. The band has long since ceased to be an expectation, something yet to come. This is happening: it is one of the most important acts of Latin American alternative music, a reference in the contemporary music scene. The fruit of a journey that began in 2007 and includes five albums to its credit: Licencia Para Ser Libre (2011), Rawayanaland (2013), Trippy Caribbean (2016), Cuando Los Acéfalos Predominan (2021) and ¿Quién Trae Las Cornetas (2023).
Of course, Rawayana is more than just a reggae band. Yes, they love reggae, but they also love funk and pop, mixing it with hip-hop, electronica, and Caribbean rhythms like salsa and merengue – a tropical cocktail they once called “trippy pop”. They are innovative because they have evolved their sound. And they are authentic because they manage to maintain their essence and their positive message despite the changes. Rawayana means friendship and connection: Beto (vocals), Fofo (drums), Tony (bass) and Abeja (guitar) have been friends since they were teenagers and have always had a chemistry that allowed them to consolidate a strong musical cohesion. Rawayana also represents the Venezuelan diaspora, which involves emigrating, adapting, and transforming adversity into inspiration.
CIMAFUNK
Of course, if we talk about Latin artists who put groove to the live performance and leave the stage on fire, we have to highlight the great Erik Rodríguez, the name behind Cimafunk, the king of Afro-Cuban funk. We’ve been praising his fiery performances for a while now, and he continues to raise the bar, especially after an overwhelming 2024: he became the first Cuban artist to perform at Coachella, he released his third album Pa’ Tu Cuerpa, he embarked on a European tour full of high-energy concerts, and was once again nominated for a Grammy – this time for his collaboration on “Todo Colores” with Ibrahim Maalouf and Tank and the Bangas. This year his most recent album was also nominated for the famous awards, he sold out his show at the Terral Festival in Malaga and ventured into a new studio project with renowned producer Emilio Estefan. He has certainly become a global artist.
Born in Pinar del Río, Cuba, in 1989, Erik Rodríguez went through different bands until he ended up in Cimafunk, a solo project that combines his two worlds – that of Afro-Caribbean with African-American, that of salsa with funk, that of rumba with soul. A communion between Funkadelic and Irakere, between the Ohio Players and Los Van Van. His debut solo album, Terapia (2017), propelled by the hit-single “Me Voy” and a series of live performances that labeled him as a revelation artist. Preceded by the EP Cun Cun Prá (2020), it was the turn of his second album, El Alimento (2021), to consolidate him on the international scene. Featuring collaborations with George Clinton, Lupe Fiasco, CeeLo Green and Chucho Valdés, as well as co-production by Jack Splash, the album was recognized by Rolling Stone and NPR as one of the best albums of the year. Electric by nature, Cimafunk radiates groove with every step. And when he goes on stage, everything goes boom.
NATHY PELUSO
2025 definitely started with Nathy Peluso in unstoppable mode. In February, she launched a successful world tour that kicked off in Europe, moved on to the US, continued through Latin America, and returned to Europe. With a setlist ranging from 25 to 30 songs, the acclaimed show she put together for her Grasa Tour serves as a look back at the best of her career and a testament to the great moment she’s currently experiencing, that of her consecration as a top Latin artist. Also earlier this year, to keep up with new studio material, she released the single “EROTIKA”, inspired by the erotic salsa scene of the early 1990s in New York. Then, to showcase her wide range of styles, she ventured into two different collaborations: “Fantasía” with Pablo Vittar and “Perfecto Final” with Conociendo Rusia.
Since her celebrated debut in 2018 with the EP La Sandunguera, Nathy Peluso’s career has been on a steady rise, increasing her dedication and polishing her talent, always encouraging herself to go one step further. Recorded in Barcelona, Buenos Aires, and Los Angeles, 2020’s Calambre was a more than auspicious first full-length album, full of praise and good reviews, earning a Latin Grammy (Best Alternative Album). Her next step, 2024’s highly acclaimed GRASA, wasn’t so straightforward. Nathy explained that she initially discarded a full version of the album, which she considered inauthentic, as it didn’t convey the music she wanted to share. It was a demanding creative process that led her to rework and reconnect with her roots (bolero, ballad, and Latin folk). Of course, it was worth it.
MIDNIGHT GENERATION
In charge of putting on an electrifying show that has become a centerpiece at major festivals, Midnight Generation is the Mexican band that has redefined the disco and funk sound for the 21st century. Formed in Chihuahua just 10 years ago, they’ve made their live performances an unparalleled experience. Each of their shows radiates unstoppable energy, driven by relentless beats that immerse you in a total party atmosphere. Led by Fernando Mares, who sings and plays keyboards and guitar, their lineup is completed by Luis Carlos Valderrama on keyboards and backing vocals, Carlos Amaya on bass and keyboards, and Samuel Márquez on drums and backing vocals. Diego Bustillos recently joined the band on percussion to enhance their rhythmic flow and bring new energy to the stage.
The combination of synthesizers, retro grooves, and a 70s-and-80s-inspired aesthetic led some to describe Midnight Generation as the Mexican Daft Punk. Of course, their influences range widely, from Nile Rodgers to Prince, from Talking Heads to Chromeo. For the now quintet, there are two things that are non-negotiable: the live connection with the audience and the focus on the beat. This is not unrelated to the fact that they sing almost everything in English: so, it’s not so much what it means, but what it makes you feel and what makes you move. In short, rhythm is their universal language. Live performance is key for them, without a doubt, but their albums also reveal a special care for audio quality. This year they released their fourth album, Tender Love, preceded by Afterlife (2023), Odyssey (2020), and Funk Your Bones (2016), in addition to a handful of singles and EPs.
Credit Instagram / @ca7rielypacoamoroso
