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Things That Matter to...Amaro Freitas
From the slums of Recife in Brazil's North-East to international jazz icon, Amaro Freitas has earned the music world's attention for "an approach to the keyboard so unique that it's startling" (Downbeat…
She Who Demands the Stage
Diva is the Latin word for goddess and Cuban-Spanish singer, Lucy Calcines, became just that when her performance on The Voice UK in 2020 raised the studio to its feet, got four judges turning and became the most streamed…
Ismael Miranda Tunes That Rock the Dance Floor
Born in Puerto Rico and raised in NY, Ismael Miranda was part as of the original “Fania All Stars” line up, as well as being the lead voice for Joey Pastrana and Larry Harlow’s band and then leading his very own crew, with a…
Reclaiming The Streets
Ryan Castro is the latest in a string of Medellin music sensations to reach global fame, with hits such as Jordan, Wasa Wasa, Malory and Mujeriego. Just as Colombia’s ‘City of Eternal Spring’ has come to be known as the new…
Surrogate Latino #3 Kishon Khan - bandleader
For years, Kishon Khan’s Lokkhi Terra has been blending the musical traditions that surround the band members; from Sufi Samba to Baul Blues to Bengali Folk-Son to Bangla Roots Reggae to London Descargas. Their 6th album ‘…
A Megaphone for Peru's Musical Wealth
One of Peru's most groundbreaking bands, with a trajectory of almost 40 years, PeruJazz has germinated the fusion between traditional and contemporary, folkloric and urban, the cajón and the saxophone. Drawing inspiration…
Spotlight on...Yendry
Meet the uprising Dominican star Yendry who is doing music on her own terms, showing the whole world that you cannot put her in any box as she defies all labels. The breathtaking artist interlaces Afro-Caribbean rhythms from the…
Nando Reis' Fantasy Island Tracks
If you were stranded on a desert island, which tracks would you absolutely need to get you through those times of despair? Our castaway this month is iconic rock star, Nando Reis, the bass player of one of Brazil's most…
Latin Londoners #42: REYKO, Electronic Music Duo
The London based electronic music outfit REYKO is made up of Soleil and Igor, both from Spain. The duo first began capturing attention with several viral songs surpassing overall 40 million streams, and breaking through to…
Roberto Roena Tunes That Rock the Dance Floor
What can we say about Roberto Roena and his Apollo Sound? Well, he went from dancer to Bongocero to bandleader and mastered all three tasks, becoming one of the most recognised salsa musicians ever. Apart from being the leading…
A Night Out With Rapzodia
Our man in Havana takes us on a bus journey (literally) into the post-Covid nights of Havana to discover the best Cuban acts coming out of lockdown. First stop, a sizzling evening with Rapzodia, an electrifying blend of hip hop,…
Things That Matter to...Luiz Morais
Composer, arranger and 7-string guitarist Luiz Morais was born in Fortaleza, Brazil. Based in London since 201, the 32 year-old Brazilian is a unique voice in contemporary Jazz guitar and a virtuoso performer. Graduated in…
Things That Matter to…David Bisbal
My earliest memory was music, it's more of a feeling than a particular event, a love for music whenever it was played, my love for singing.
THE FABULOUS QUINTEROS
In most families, being a world class musician would be the pride of the family, but if you belong to the Quinteros of San Agustín, Caracas, it is merely fulfilling the duty of a long line of stellar musicians. Amaranta Wright…
Renaissance Man
Doctor, poet and musician, Jorge Drexler has taken the long and winding road to global success. Winning an Oscar at 41 – the first ever for a song not sung in English – was just the beginning. Now recognised as one of the finest…
Pacific Tumbao
In the vibrant world of Colombian salsa music, few names resonate as powerfully as Jimmy Saa. Known for his electrifying performances, soulful voice and bringing the rich sounds of his native Buenaventura into a unique brand of…
We Love...Gal Costa
Endowed with a charismatic and exquisite voice filled with stylistic delights, Maria da Graҫa Costa Penna Burgos (better known as Gal Costa) was a native of Salvador, Bahia. Along with Maria Bethania, she was one of the primary…
Rebel Spirit
Ana Tijoux is well known for her strong lyrics that question the status quo, whether social, political, religious, cultural or economic. In the best tradition of Latin American cantaurores, the Chilean-French hip-hop singer…
Baroque Cubana: The Extraordinary Story of Gabriela Mulen
Gabriel Mulen is a charismatic young musician from one of Old Havana’s most iconic Afrocuban neighbourhoods who combines a career as one of only two professional organists in Havana - playing organ and harpsichord in two Early…
TIMBA’S TRIUMPHANT RETURN
Those who were enjoying Eliane Correa and su Evolución at this weekend's LatinoLife in the Park, are no doubt are fans of Maykel Blanco - today's bonafide guru Cuban Timba. Lucky for them, for the first time in six…
Top 10 New Alternative Albums
Recent years have surprised us with many new and old faces releasing albums in the Latino alternative genre. Modern alternative Latino artists have been on the rise, and every year we have new stars that surprise the charts as we…
J Balvin "El niño de Medellin" review
J Balvin bares soul and fights with conscience in his brilliantly told story.
Little Louie Vega's Fantasy Island Tracks
If you were stranded on a desert island, which tracks would you absolutely need, to get you through those times of despair? Man cannot live on sun and fish alone right? Our castaway, Little Louie Vega, the world renowned house…
Our Latin Thing: An interview with Roberto Pla
Whether as percussionist of choice for the UK’s pop bands (Joe Strummer, The Cure, Kate Bush, Boney M) or bandleader, composer and arranger, timbalero extraordinaire, Roberto Pla, has come to be known as The Godfather of Latin…
Surrogate Latina #8: Ana Csergö, leader of Las Adelitas
From Back To Black to the Green, White and Red of Mexico's national colours, Las Adelitas is headlining this year's Mexico's Independence Day celebrations in London. Named after the brave women who took up arms…
Enrique Iglesias @ The 02
After a four-year absence from UK stages, Enrique Iglesias made an impressive return to Britain for his 'All the Hits Live' tour. In a packed o2 arena the Spanish pop icon proved this was more than the comeback of an…
5 Reasons to Love....Jose Feliciano
With a career spanning over fifty years, Jose Feliciano is one of the biggest names in music. His hits such as Feliz Navidad, still one of the most played Christmas songs ever, and Light My Fire made the Puerto Rican a global…
The Latin Momentum: the Story of The LUKAS
The Latin UK Awards, known affectionately as the LUKAS, was launched 7 years ago to recognize the impact of Latin culture in the UK. Today it is Europe’s only Latin Entertainment Awards ceremony and its widest-reaching Latin…
Victor Jara presente – Across the World
'The Right to Live in Peace' and 'Manifesto': the two Victor Jara Songs of hope of the 1970s that became anthems for today's young protesters
'Yo amanecí' Andres Landero (Vampisoul)
A fantastic compilation of Colombia's King of Cumbia
We Love Johnny Pacheco
And this is the bit where we say thank you to the legend on whose shoulders we stand. Put simply, Johnny Pacheco, flautist, percussionist, bandleader, arranger and co-founder of Fania Records, was one of the most influential…
Willie Rosario Tunes that Rock the Dance Floor
One of the leading lights of Puerto Rican salsa, Willie Rosario aka "Mr. Afinque," this true legend of latin music has been filling dance floors for over 60 years, either by rocking it with his band or via his extensive…
Remembering, Mongo Santamaría, Cuban Percussionist (1917-2003)
Mongo Santamaria is arguably the best Conguero ever! Part of that generation of Cuban percussionists who emigrated to the States in the 40s and 50s, Mongo had a fantastic career, recording crossover hits, releasing critically…
Spotlight on...L-Gante
Ahead of his debut London appearance this Friday we profile the pioneer of 'RKT' - a musical genre that stems from mixing reggaetón beats and cumbia villera sounds, a style very particular to Argentina, with heavy tones…
Colombian Cumbia Tracks
New York's DJ Bongohead, pioneering graphic designer, artist, DJ, writer and percussionist, has compiled collections for labels like World Music Network, Nascente, Fania, and Vapisoul. He has designed album covers and…
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