Reyna Tropical – “Conocerla”
This song hypnotizes like a snake charm. “We dance slowly so that the heat goes away,” sings Fabi Reyna in Spanish, with her voice in a silky mode, following the seductive mood imposed by “Conocerla”. A reverb guitar follows the beats of a slowed-down cumbia, under the influence of some Amazonian spell. Reyna Tropical’s new single also comes with a music video, directed by Devyn Galindo with featured designs by Willy Chavarria, emerging as a powerful statement of trans and lesbian visibility. According to Reyna, the clip “investigates the multi-faceted experiences that we carry and act from as queer norteñes — rebuking the lifelong narrative of being told ‘que no soy de aquí ni de allá’ and redirecting the stigma of matriarchal pleasure towards a slow, consistent movement of belonging in the in-between, a place of sensuality, acceptance, and creation.”
“Conocerla” further proves the magic that radiates from the album Malegría, released just six months ago. Earlier this year we were already celebrating the return of this cutting-edge band with its second preview single “Cartagena”. A former duo that became a solo project for reasons of force majeure, Reyna Tropical was announced as the new electro-Caribbean sensation a couple of years ago, willing to reimagine a sound collage based on diasporic genres, from Peruvian chicha to Mexican zapateado, from Congolese soukous to Colombian champeta. Unfortunately, its future was affected by the tragic death of one of its members, the producer Nectali “Sumohair” Díaz. But singer-songwriter Fabi Reyna decided to move on, to honor the wish of her musical partner.
pablopablo x Helado Negro – “Lejos de Más”
Some introduction is useful here: pablopablo is the stage name — stylized all in a row and lowercase — of Pablo Drexler, a 26-year-old producer and singer-songwriter from Madrid. Maybe some of you already know him for his collaborations with C. Tangana — he was even part of the Sin Cantar Ni Afinar world tour. Or because he’s currently nominated for two Latin Grammys: he co-wrote and co-produced Nathy Peluso’s “Aprender a Amar” and Trueno’s “La Nota”. Or you may recognize him from his parents, singer-songwriters, the Uruguayan Jorge Drexler and the Spanish Ana Laan. But that’s enough of a cover letter: check out Pablo’s talent in A COLORS SHOW. Or go just a few months back to enjoy “Mi Culpa”, a bittersweet ballad that served as his first single for the New York label Mom+Pop.
A few weeks ago we fell under pablopablo’s charm again, this time with his next single, the nostalgic “Lejos de Más”, as a result of a fruitful and organic collaboration with the great Roberto Carlos Lange, aka Helado Negro. Built on an initial pulse that acts as much like a tick of time as much as a heartbeat, this new song delves into the depths of loving frustrations caused by distance. About this work together, Pablo highlighted that, no matter how much you love someone’s work, there’s no guarantee that something worthwhile will come out when you get together one afternoon to make music. “In this case, we were very lucky; I felt that every idea we had was enhanced in the hands of the other,” he said. “These are the moments you hope to have when collaborating with someone,” added Roberto. “The music comes to life, takes you, and transforms you.”
Cultura Profética & Bebo Dumont – “Lento”
Cultura Profética’s new single “Lento” appeals to a core issue of reggae. Its title and lyrics express a you-can’t-hurry-life attitude, a basic foundation of this Caribbean genre. So speed doesn’t count here: you must know how to go slow, like the sloth that stars in the funny video of the song. Produced by David B, “Lento” unfolds as a sonic escape from everyday worries, seeking to resonate with those moments of low motivation, a common feeling of not wanting to start the day. Behind this concept is the versatile and talented Bebo Dumont, singer-songwriter, producer and percussionist, current reference in the Puerto Rican scene and member of International Dub Ambassadors, as well as a regular contributor to Cultura Profética and Trending Tropics.
Baltazar Lora – “El Triste”
This song made Mexican singer José José famous in 1970, after performing it at the Festival Mundial de la Canción Latina. Written by Roberto Cantoral García, who dedicated it to his late mother, “El Triste” is that bolero that can only be sung with a broken heart. Originally from Louisville, but with Colombian roots, Baltazar Lora is a rising singer-songwriter based in Miami who understands pop in all its forms, whether in Spanish or English, whether rocking an indie gem like “Ghost” or reviving an old bolero like “El Triste”. His greatest achievement is “I’m Still Alive”, a song from the original soundtrack of the series Zorro, which includes music by Juanes, Carín León and La Santa Cecilia.
Sinego & Pahua – “Sombras”
Past and present. The beautifully traditional and the revealingly new. Legacy sounds and global dance floor beats. “Sombras” perfectly summarizes Sinego’s musical spirit: a beautifully melancholic melody that could be an old bolero or an old tango, wrapped by piano chords that reinforce those nostalgic airs, but that transform into a danceable ritual over an infectious Afrohouse rhythm track. And if we add to this stew the charming singing of Paulina Sotomayor, also known as Pahua, the flavor is enhanced even more. Released by Insomniac Records, this single is the second featuring of the Mexican singer in a song by the Colombian music producer and DJ: last year they had already joined forces for “Sol”, included on the album Alterego and later remixed by YoSoyMatt.
iLe – “Me Hiciste Quedar Mal”
Heartbreak has no such thing as a refund. But who didn’t want to recover what was lost after a failed relationship? Who didn’t feel a certain need to be compensated? That’s about “Me Hiciste Quedar Mal”, the new single by Puerto Rican star iLe. This is the first song the former Calle 13 releases following her acclaimed 2022 album Nacarile. The title — which translates to “you made me look bad” — is quite explicit, actually. “This song is about that moment when you feel foolish because you realize that the person you dedicated your life with, wasn’t as great as you thought they were and is simply not worthy of you,” she explains. “This song is about breaking with the toxic pattern of conformity in a relationship.”
“Me Hiciste Quedar Mal” was produced by iLe and Ismael Cancel with Argentine producer Tatool — renowned for his work with Trueno and Nicki Nicole. The song came along with a video clip directed by César Berríos. “The video is a way of showing the mixed feelings that flourish from a bad breakup,” shares the Puerto Rican singer-songwriter. “She tries to let go of emotions that might feel contradictory but at the same time they make so much sense. Letting go is a hard process — it’s so important to acknowledge and take the reins of your feelings instead of wasting time trying to ignore them.”