From pop to rap to mariachi, these 12 Latin acts are worth celebrating
In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, here are 12 acts with Latin roots whose sounds run the gamut from pop to rap to mariachi. Some are likely new to your ears. Some might be familiar. They all deserve a listen.
Lara Project
Brothers Manuel and Felix Lara comprise this duo, whose polished sound draws from disco, house and R&B. There’s also a dark ’80s edge to much of the music. Singles “Altas Horas” and “Control” are lush listens that set the stage for a forthcoming album. On his own, Manuel Lara has produced songs for Bad Bunny, Rauw Alejandro and Sebastian Yatra, among others.
Choclock
Choclock’s “Magua Con Miel” might be the best R&B album of 2022. The singer and producer has an effortless way around a groove and a voice that emanates confidence and comfort. He distills his songs down to the essential elements, never bows to trends and has a clever way with a lyric. Truly one of the freshest sounds in recent memory.
Paul Luna
What’s most bracing about Houston rapper Paul Luna isn’t that his music is so explicitly sexual. It’s that he’s comfortable and confident enough as a gay man to express himself in such a raw way. Luna’s original rhymes on songs “Barricade,” “FDAU” and “Flawless” pack a punch. He takes on everything from relationships to insecurities to selflove.
Pehuenche
Rafael Meza, known as Pehuenche, makes dreamy pop music that feels familiar and new at the same time. The singer from Veracruz, Mexico, has a pointed, precise voice that gives his lyrics a sense of longing. His 2022 album “Vida Ventura” moves from jangly pop-rock to bolero torchy ballads — and it’s one of the best things you’ll hear this year.
Chris Perez
Perez is practically a household name, but his musical output has been sporadic since playing guitar with Selena, his late wife. This month, he makes his biggest move so far. Solo single “Pushing Ahead” will be Perez’s first song to feature his vocals. It will be released on comedian George Lopez’s new imprint, Malaspalabras Records. The Chris Perez Band will perform in October at the State Fair of Texas.
Girl Ultra
The Mexico City native has been making music since 2016, an ethereal sort of R&B influenced by Beyoncé and Destiny’s Child. Her new EP “El Sur,” however, takes a detour to the dance floor. It’s full of lounge-y, chill vibes and is a throwback to her early days as part of a Mexican DJ collective. The song “Bombay” riffs on the JLo/LL Cool J track “Control Myself.”
Jena Rose
Cuban American singer and Plano native Jena Rose has
racked up millions of streams and views for her slick dancepop. The 21-year-old has also earned spots with MTV and Foot Locker. New single “Being Good Is Boring” is about hitting the town after a lockdown — relatable, right? Her EP “Baby Maybe” is set for release later this year.
Lorenzo Mendez
Former La Original Banda El Limón singer Lorenzo Mendez is known for his Spanish-language music, including a new duet with Ninel Conde called “La Vida Es Pa’ Gozarla.” But the El Paso-raised singer, who recently competed on the “Asi Se Baila” dance competition, wants to record Michael Bublétype tunes in English. Or at least Spanglish.
Obzesion
Brothers Juan Antonio, Miguel and Hector Hernandez attended Milby and Chavez high schools before forming Obzesion almost two decades ago. They enjoyed considerable success. But the Tejano/norteño group scored the biggest hit of its career with 2021’s “Mi Trokita Cumbia,” thanks to viral dances and videos. Now, a whole new swath of fans is obsessed.
Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles
This LGBTQ+ mariachi group came together when members Carlos Samaniego and Natalia Melendez, the first openly transgender female mariachi, were frustrated by the discrimination they faced as musicians. The group has performed all over the country, has a gorgeous album on digital platforms and is still a rarity in a genre that adheres closely to tradition. Echale pa’lante!
Porter
This Guadalajara band has become one of Mexico’s most compelling alternative-rock acts, often blending the moody atmospherics of Sigur Ros, Peter Gabriel and Radiohead with Mexican and indigenous touches. The fusion is as intoxicating as it is unique.
Little Jesus
Of all the new wave of rock en espanol bands in Mexico, Little Jesus is at the front of the pack. These guys from Mexico City have been going from strength to strength over the course of three albums and numerous singles, including the duet “Fuera de Lugar” with fellow Mexico City singer Girl Ultra. Picked to open for the Rolling Stones in Mexico, the band has been making inroads in the U.S. with its eclectic style of indie-rock that recalls the likes of Flaming Lips. Little Jesus plays Houston’s White Oak Music Hall Sept. 25 with Colombia’s Divino Nino opening.