The diaspora of Latin artists is constantly on the move. Migration goes through them, either because they decided to try their luck in another country, or because their families emigrated when they were children or before they were born. A few years ago we collected the migrant stories of women like Mon Laferte, Nathy Peluso and Kali Uchis. Of course, the list goes beyond genre. And it wouldn’t be complete without key names from the alternative Latin pop scene like Buscabullas, Lido Pimienta and Reina Tropical. Talent doesn’t stop there and emerges in new translocated artists who are increasingly standing out.
Daniela Andrade
With almost 2 million YouTube subscribers and quite an impact in Europe, Daniela Andrade has even used migration as a topic of inspiration. Just check out “Gallo Pinto”, a single that pays tribute to her migrant parents. Thus, this Honduran-Canadian singer takes the name of a Central American dish – typical of the working class – to talk about what it means to be from two countries. The song is included in Tamale, a short album released in 2019 that allowed her to move beyond her acclaimed bedroom pop covers, to dive into something more personal, a pond of intoxicating tunes and translocated nostalgia, with slow beats, echoes and whispering voices. A year earlier she had anticipated this move with the charming single “Genesis”. And a year later she renewed her devotion to dream pop with Nothing Much Has Changed, I Don’t Feel The Same, an EP with more songs linked to her roots, such as “Sin Ti” and “Deseo”.
Yasser Tejeda
Singer-songwriter, producer, and exceptional guitarist, Yasser Tejeda has been making waves recently. His name ended up getting into our report on the Latin alternative scene out of the Dominican Republic – although, beyond his Caribbean blood, he has been settled in Brooklyn for a long time. He also gave a fiery Tiny Desk Concert, just a couple of months ago, to continue performing live with his band the songs from his third studio album, La Madrugá, released just a year ago. This record proves that Yasser’s music is a fascinating interplay between past and present – he’s inspired by the traditional rhythms and songs of Afro-Dominican descent, to venture into a fusion of merengue, jazz and rock. Before, he released Mezclansa (2009), Kijombo (2019) and the acoustic EP Interior (2021), in addition to capturing his skillful Berklee-trained guitar in some recordings by renowned artists.
Cometta
Instead of one, make it eleven. That’s the number of artists that make up this band that has become a collective under the name of Cometta. Eleven members from different parts of Latin America: Puerto Rico, Cuba, Venezuela, Mexico and Colombia, all of them based in Los Angeles, California. At first, however, they were a duo: Cosme and AC Metta are two Puerto Rican singer-songwriters who set up this alternative pop project that crosses elements of hip-hop, urban music, rock, R&B and Afro-Caribbean rhythms. They began to show their music officially in 2018, until giving shape to their debut album Vol. 1, released in 2020. This year they are performing Season 2, their most recent full-length record. These new 12 songs show Cometta’s all-terrain versatility, going from acoustic-based ballads (“No Va A Esperarme”) to eighties electrofunk (“Fiel Admirador”), and even fusing the resources of reggae (“Antes”) and merengue (“¡Guao!”).
A.CHAL
Born in Trujillo, Peru, Alejandro Salazar Pezo, migrated with his family when he was 5 years old to New York. So he was raised in the Corona neighborhood of Queens. When he grew up, after doing small jobs that allowed him to finance his home studio, he took the stage name A.CHAL to venture out as a solo artist. His first records – from the albums Welcome to GAZI (2016) and ON GAZ (2017) to the EP EXOTIGAZ (2018) – outlined a field of action around hip-hop and trap, achieving considerable success with singles like “000000” and “Love N Hennessy”, even having a feature on Rosalía’s “Me Traicionaste”. This year he returned with a revitalized sound for his new album ESPIRITU, reinforcing his fascination with psychedelia and embracing styles such as new wave and post-punk – as heard in songs like “Saico” and “Walk On Everything”. What remains intact is the ease of going from English to Spanish in the same verse.
Rui Gabriel
The Venezuelan-born, Indiana-based songwriter Rui Gabriel has become one of the most striking talents in indie rock. Originally from Puerto La Cruz, he moved from south to north: before ending up in New Orleans to attend college, he went to high school in Nicaragua. He always wanted to have a band. He did it in his college days with Yuppie Teeth. And he’s still doing it with Lawn. A few years ago, however, he also decided to go solo. He started with some singles, like 2020’s “Argentina” and 2022’s “Que Loco, No?”, until releasing this year his debut album. Compassion is a 10-song ride that combines ethereal pop with ‘80s synth textures and slacker-rock charm. With the unavoidable reference of Yo La Tengo, although also in tune with the sung stories of Courtney Barnett and Kevin Morby, Rui Gabriel pulls out songs like “Target” and “Change Your Mind” to affirm his personal growth and his disarming lyrical sensitivity.
Cover photo via Daniela Andrade