Mexico's Ranchera-Pop Anti-Diva
Blending traditional Mexican ranchera sounds with elements of the Pop and Rock she grew up with in Tijuana, Julieta Venega first landed on the Mexican Rock scene in the nineties and has since won a Grammy, been nominated for two…
Things That Matter to...Arya
The second profile in our series on Venezuelan Diaspora Music, we are delighted to present a true rising star; Italo-Venezuelan singer/songwriter Arya. Daughter of Orlando Watussi, a well-known Venezuelan salsa singer, Arya grew…
Things That Matter to...Luiz Gabriel Lopes
Luiz Gabriel Lopes is a singer-songwriter from Minas Gerais, the fertile territory that spawned the incredible Clube da Esquina generation of Milton Nascimento, Lo Borges, Toninho Horta et al. Echoing these illustrious…
Reggaeton’s Romantic
Jay Wheeler has long been known in his native Puerto Rico as “reggaetón’s favourite voice”, due to his romantic lyrics, folky tone and unashamedly sensitive side. He famously got so emotional at one concert in his hometown Ponce…
An interview with Quimantu
Sarah Quarmby talks Latin rhythms, left-wing politics and educational duties with Mauricio Venegas-Astorga and Rachel Pantin from Quimantu. Photo credit: Harriet Armstrong
Sounds Like London - Part 2
In part 2 of our feature on a new generation Latin musicians in London producing a Spanglish melting pot of unique sounds, we profile more emerging bi-cultural artists.
Things That Matter to...Sila Lua
Born in Galicia, Sila Lua started her musical career while studying music production in London and released two EPs ('The Black Door' and 'Vía') before 'ROMPE', her sea-culture inspired debut album.…
At the request of their fans, Jacob Forever and Nacho release the remix "Te liberé"
The Cuban Jacob Forever and the Venezuelan Nacho are premiere! After several days of promotion in social networks, Latin urban singers have just given the green light on YouTube to their new collaborative song.
Argentine Songs that Tell the Story of the Malvinas
Every year in April, Argentines commemorate Day of the Veterans and the Fallen in the Malvinas War (Dia del Veterano y de los Caídos en la Guerra de Malvinas), a national holiday honouring those who took part in the 1982 conflict…
Cuban Spirit
Roberto Fonseca’s soulful, dynamic new album, Yesun, is a reincarnation, where the sounds of an old Cuba collide gracefully with the clean precision of modern day. The son of Havana’s streets, now on a European tour, spoke to…
THE JULY REGGAETON RECAP
July is the month of collaborations! From a trio packed with Argentinian All-stars to another who are each representing their own nation, it’s great to see artists working together providing the ultimate summer soundtrack.
'The Marvellous Jew' - an interview with Fania legend Larry Harlow
Known affectionately as ‘the marvellous jew’ Larry Harlow was such a talent that the great Latino stars of Fania more than embraced him as one their own; they revered his musical leadership and vision. Jose Luis Seijas talks to…
Things That Matter To...Eliane Elias
Brazilian jazz pianist Eliane Elias is known for her distinctive and immediately recognizable musical style which blends her Brazilian roots, her sensuous, alluring voice with her virtuosic instrumental jazz, classical and…
We Love Sergio Mendes
Sergio Mendes may not have been the main originator of bossa nova - one of the most innovative musical movement of the 20th Century - he may not have been the most talented musician to come out of Brazil, but he became the most…
Tino Contreras' Fantasy Island Tracks
Our castaway this month is Tino Contreras the master Mexican jazz drummer who for more than six decades has melded Latin influences with free jazz, psychedelia, avant-garde experimentation, and global sounds. Born in 1924, Tino…
Just Another Lonely Latin Hit?
We’ve seen it before, the querky pop tune with a tropical feel that gets under the UK’s skin for a while. Every so often they hit this cold little island, create a Latin craze and then disappear. In the nineties we had ‘Mambo no.…
“Who would I invite on stage in London?...probably Jessie J!”
Juanes, the world’s most successful all-Spanish artist, talks to Latinolife exclusively about music, idols and ideals.
Cuarteto Rising: From Córdoba’s Barrios to the Global Dancefloor
Forget tango. Forget rock nacional. The sound shaking Argentina right now is cuarteto, born in Córdoba’s sweaty dancehalls. Raw, relentless, working-class — the music of Saturday nights and fernet in plastic cups. Eight decades…
Folkoric Child
Mariana Yegros made her name as ‘La Yegros’, the Argentine artist who mixes the country's forgotten folklore and its passion for cumbia with electronic sounds. Recently at Rich Mix, her magnetic performance clearly showed…
Marc Anthony’s Debut Concert in the UK
The biggest selling salsa artist of all time showed he could still be surprised by adoring fans, as he was visibly moved and energised by an 02 full of London's latinos.
Hustle and Grind in the Mexican Music Scene
Struggle is the name of the game in Mexican music, but the creativity and innovation keep flowing with eclectic genres and fusions blossoming from the land of the Aztecs
Bolivia Clasica
Making her professional debut aged eight years old, a Gold Record aged eleven, and performing at the White House aged twelve, pianist Ana-Maria Vera has remained devoted to chamber music ever since, performing across the globe…
It's OK to Love a Love Song…in Spanish
Love e'm or hate 'em, nobody can deny the power of a good love song. Especially when it's in Spanish. No, not even Phil Collins and Bryan Adams can top the Latino crooners. Actually, especially them. A sentimental…
Golden Days
Four-time Latin Grammy winners Aterciopelados defined a new Golden Era of Colombian pop music when it exploded onto the Latin pop scene back in 1993, going on to become one of Colombia’s best known pop bands of the 1990s. With a…
Area 23, Hip Hop and Venezuela’s Cultural Revolution
Jorney Madriz or ‘Master’ as he is commonly known, is a rapper with hip hop group ‘Area 23’, based in ‘23 de enero’, one of the most militant low-income barrios, that encircle the country’s capital Caracas.
Hot Steppin’ Chamo
With his latest single ‘Hot Steppa’ breaking records as the fastest-growing UK-produced Latino song ever, clocking over 160k views in YouTube in 4 days, Angelo Flow is on a high. The song, a collaboration with dancehall legend J…
Strength in Music
And the music must go on. We brought together eight of London’s finest Latin bands and artists to record together, some of them for the very first time since lockdown in March, in what proved to be an emotional encounter. All…
SNOWBOY AND THE LATIN SECTION: NEW YORK AFTERNOON'. (SNOWBOY RECORDS)
One of the UK leading Conguero Snowboy is back, this time on his own label and delivering his latest Mambo/Salsa album! Snowboy and the Latin Section: New York Afternoon, his very own tribute to the NY
Latin Londoners of 2018
As Latin artists are making the mark ever more indelibly in the UK, we celebrate those who stood out this year, earning the support from both the public and the discerning LUKAS judges to win awards for their artistic excellence…
Reggaeton producer Tainy releases his first EP
Puerto Rican producer Tainy, made an appearance this time as an artist with his debut EP, ‘The Kids Who Grew Up on Reggaeton: Neon Tapes’ , released via his boutique label NEON16 and Roc Nation Records.
The Salsa Group that IS Cali - an interview wth Grupo Niche
It has been said that 'Grupo Niche IS Cali and Cali IS Niche', indeed Niche is the most significant band to come out of the Colombian cIty that is known as the 'Capital of Salsa' more, and arguably out of…
True Romantic
We talk to four-time Latin Grammy winner Andrés Cepeda about how girls inspired him to start writing music, his secret shot of aguardiente to calm nerves and love as the engine of life. There's no doubt about it, the much…
Ozuna ‘Odisea’
Make space for the next superstar of reggaetón, Ozuna. This young is already a veteran of the scene, having cut his teeth as hype man of pioneer reggaetonero Guelo Star. after having enjoyed almost two years of immense chart…
LATIN LONDONER #25 - Jamy - Singer-songwriter
Jamy is a Colombian singer, whose latest critically-acclaimed Tropical album "Cuentos de la Luna" (Moon tales), includnig Bachat and Kizomba - was produced in the Dominican Republic and is available on iTunes, Spotify…
Teleport yourself through Sech's Latest Album "42"
Panamanian Reggaeton Sensation, Sech releases his third album “42”, the 11 track album is vibrant and features Rauw Alejando, Arcangel, Wisin Y Yandel and Nicky Jam.