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Top Ten Spanish Crooners
Spain, the land of passionate flamenco, bolero and copla, more recently fusions of reggeaton, hip hop and punk, but what’s wrong with good old romance, and when it comes to crooning no one does is better than the Spaniards (you…
Carmen & Lola (2018) A forbidden Gypsy Love
Spanish director Arantxa Echevarría disturbs the status quo with her opera prima about love between two teenage girls from a close-knit Roma Community in the Vallecas suburb of Madrid. Corina J Poore catches up with the exuberant…
10 things about Julieta, according to Pedro Almodóvar
In his own words, Pedro Almodóvar offers us clues to the ten themes central to his latest film, Julieta
AFRO LATINOS: Un Pedazito de la Historia Negra
To be or not to be Afro-Latino? Maria V. Luna explores the resurgance of black pride in Latin America and its diasporas.
The Continuous Death of Tom Jobim
In Brazilian music, there are so many names that do not require any sort of introduction. Indeed, these are names that are often conflated with the definition of Brazilian music itself. They are names that, when spoken, evoke…
Carlos Gallardo: From Mariachi to Zombie
‘An actor first and a producer second.’ Latino Life catches up with Carlos Gallardo, who first appeared in the now classic film El Mariachi in1992. Fast forward to 2017 and he returns as producer of RedCon1. BUt it was his…
La India Tunes That Rock the Dance Floor
We pay tribute to Linda Viera Caballero AKA La India, in our humble opinion, one of the greatest Latina singers in the world. A true Nuyoroican, La India burst onto the scene in the 90s. Formerly part of the NY House music…
For the Love of Plantain
Pioneering Pan-Latin chef and restauranteur, Esnayder Cuartas, declares his love for this over-sized banana.
THE LATIN HIT TIMELINE
We’ve gone back decades and delved into our archives to bring you a definitive Latin hit timeline…from the 1970s and Julio Iglesias to Maluma’s Hawái via Ricky Martin and ’Despacito’. Remember the lost years of Latin Cheese? from…
La Lupe, Singer (1936-1992)
With a voice initially described as “screaming, disorderly and disrespectful,” heroic was so evocative it provoked some strong reactions but came to be regarded as one of the best Latin vocalists of her generation. She wept, bit…
Alex Wilson's Top Ten Latin Jazz Albums
From the early 19th century, the mutual fascination and connection between American Jazz musicians and the plethora of Latin American talent gave birth to a whole new world of music we now know as ‘Latin Jazz.’ We asked London…
Things You Should Know About...Spanish Fiestas and Festivals
The Spanish peninsula and its outgoing and infamous inhabitants, is well known for annual street parties in every town all over the country, celebrations of various saints throughout the year and above all, for its endless summer…
Gledys Ibarra: I am testimony that 'una negra del barrio' with a mission can succeed
Gledys Ibarra broke the mould back in Venuezuela as one of the country's first black telenovela stars, having starred in a string of popular Venezuelan telenovelas that have been translated into many languages and shown all…
Latin Elephant Cuisine - London's unlikely Tourist Destination
"So many people living in this wider area had no idea that this world existed – they felt like they were tourists in their own city." We talk to Doreta Linakis, founder of Elephant and Castle's successful Colombian…
Things you should know about Latin American Oscar Triumphs
Do you remember the days when Latino artists weren’t allowed to sing their songs on mainstream TV because ratings would drop? I know right? Hard to imagine, but it did…Back in 2005, when Jorge Drexler was nominated for an Oscar…
Manuelita Saenz - The Harlot of Americas
Writer-performer Tamsin Clarke fell so in love with the story of Manuelita Saenz, the 19th century Ecuadorian revolutionary, sometime spy and lover of Simon Bolívar that she decided to write a show about her. Here she recounts…
Top Ten Most Common Misconceptions about Latin America
Good dancers? Latin Lovers? Revolutionary guerrillas? You might have watched too many soap-operas or just followed rumours but if you want to check your prejudices about Latin America and the Latinos, here are 10 common…
Carlos Gardel (1890 - 1935)
Carlos Gardel was the world’s first and, arguably, only Global Tango Star. Songs such a ‘El Dia que me Quieras’ and his presence on screen not only made him a global icon but, aided the careers of countless other singers over the…
Latina Homegrown
Sweetness, strength, ambition and beauty are the words that encapsulate this unique group of talent trying to break through the many barriers of London's difficult world of urban music. What’s the biggest challenge; as women…
...Peruvian Bands and Artists
Music is and has always been a key ingredient to Peru’s collective cultural identity, write Martin Morales and Duncan Ballantyne of Tiger's Milk Records. The evolution from the Afro - Peruvian creole tradition of the 1950’s…
Que Vivan 'Los Turcos': Latin America's Arab connection
Last year, when the crisis in Colombia coincided with the Israeli incursion into Gaza, Colombian and Latino social media platforms were awash with calls for solidarity with Palestinians, after the distressing scenes of the…
Colombia: Stairway Storytellers in Medellín
In Medellin, Billie Melluish-Turner finds a project to replace ghoulish and superficial tourism with something real and sustainable
Black Heroines of Latin American History
Being an female activist meant putting your life at risk, being a black female activist was a probable death sentence, yet these courageous women took that risk, and gave their lives in some cases, in order to shape our history.…
The Queen of Quechua Pop Grows Up
Back in 2018, Renata Flores Rivera burst onto the international music map with her cover of Michael Jackson’s ‘The Way You Make Me Feel’ in Quechua, the indigenous language of the Incas. The video received almost two million…
Things you should know about Spanish Oscar Triumphs
After celebrating Latin America's successes at the Academy Awards, we couldn't carry on without bringing you Spain’s most successful Oscar-winning films and individuals within the film industry.
Music City Guide: Medellin
Medellin, the Colombian city ringing with music and undeniably an epicentre of Reggaeton worldwide, with J Balvin, Maluma, Karol G, Camilo and many more Urban artists all born there, has always been a city of music lovers. Not…
Afro-Peruvian Artists
The influence from Africa is felt in many corners of Latin America and in Peru its light shines brightly through its incredible food, art and above all, its music. It is woven into the texture of Peruvian society and features…
The Reggeatón Time Line
From garage parties in Panamå to the awards ceremonies of Miami, how did an obscure Caribbean genre that was shunned by radio stations and banned by the authorities become one of the most influential genres in global dance music…
Things You Should Know About...Chilean Cinema
Chilean cinema is on a high at the moment with directors such as Pablo Larrain and Sebatian Lelio creating some of the most original and critically acclaimed works of the day, but it has had a tumultuous past. Although Chilean…
Here Come the Reggaetoneras
The crude origins of Reggaeton, from videos verging on soft porn and misogynistic lyrics, have been toned down in recent years in the industry's quest to make the genre moe commercial. At the same time, female Reggaeton…
Remembering Amalia Rodrigues, Fado singer (1939-1999)
One of Portugal’s most beloved music stars, Amalia Rodrigues held the heart of a nation for more than 50 years, singing in the style of one of her country’s most enduring folk music traditions, fado.
A Brief History of Latin Music in London
Notwithstanding the cheesy album covers and the pastiche distortions of Latin dance on BBC’s Strictly’, London has had a long and idiosyncratic affair with Latin culture. From the hi-flying success of Edmundo Ros’ Latin Big Band…
Things You Should Know About....Latin American Female Artists
Ten inspiring and intriguing female artists whose life and art was inextricably linked to Latin America.
Tito Rojas Dies at 65
There are very few salsa artists who had the level of success that Tito Rojas had during the 90s. One of the best selling Latino artists of that decade, he managed to stay relevant until pretty much he passed away a few weeks ago…
We Love Toña la Negra (1912 –1982)
Mexico has never been short of fantastic singers and to become considered as a singing star in the country, you have to be great and Toña La Negra was one of the greatest singers Mexico has given to the world. An Afro-Mexican of…
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Film & Theatre
Brazilian film ‘BABY’, by Marcelo Caetano selected for the 63rd ‘Semaine…
“I did not run away from home; they ran away from me”. After two years and barely 18, Wellington…
Food
Morito
Morito is a charming tapas bar in Exmouth Market, serving top-notch cocktails and an array of tasty…
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Top 10 Argentine Footballers
As one of the biggest football teams in South America and the world, the Argentine Football…
Ballads and Boleros
Top Ten Mexican Male Singers of all Time
Since the days when Mexico was a serious rival to Hollywood in terms of film production and quality…
Top 10 Mexican Boxers
Globally, Mexico is known as a boxing powerhouse, boasting some of the greatest champions in the…
