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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…
Oscar D'Leon Tracks that Rock the Dance Floor
One of the most important salsa singers ever, the Caracas-born ‘Sonero del Mundo’ has the whole package: as a sonero, he's up there with legends such as Hector Lavoe, Ismael Rivera or Beny Moré and, just as importantly,…
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…
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…
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…
Manuel Turizo
A deep, authoritative voice, laced with the charm, typical of the Colombian costeño, Manuel Turizo is the new voice of the romantic, poetic Reggaeton coming out of Colombia that is storming the world. At a mere 17 years of age,…
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…
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
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…
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…
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…
THE LAST FOREST – Where Dreams Collide and Nightmares Escape
In an isolated Yanomami land in the Amazon, the shaman Davi Kopenawa Yanomani tries to keep the spirits of the forest and the traditions alive, while the arrival of gold prospectors brings death and destruction to the community.…
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.
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…
For the Love of Plantain
Pioneering Pan-Latin chef and restauranteur, Esnayder Cuartas, declares his love for this over-sized banana.
Top Ten Latin Bangers of 2017
No one can deny that this was the year of 'Despacito.' But more importantly, this was the year that Latin music conquered the world, topping the charts in almost every country on the planet. It was also an unprecedented…
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…
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…
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.
NORTHERN SKIES OVER AN EMPTY SPACE (2022)
Selected to be screened for the Panorama Competition at the 72nd Berlin Film Festival, this Mexican ‘western’, the third feature to be directed by Alejandra Márquez Abella, delves into magical realism with the build-up of omens…
London Bars with a Latin Edge
London is a city that's always buzzing with stuff to do. There is never a shortlist of places to go on a Friday night, but, unfortunately, your weekend budget is not always grand. Susana Cicchetto went out on the town to…
Beny Moré, Cuban singer (1919-1963)
Regarded by many as the greatest artist in the history of Cuban popular music, the songs and style of Beny Moré feel today as fresh as they did 70 years ago, when he was singing to the dance halls of pre and post-revolutionary…
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…
Remembering José José, Mexican Singer (1948-2019)
Mexico is a land blessed with many things, including a huge amount of phenomenal singers and one of the most populars ever is who they call “El Principe”, the Prince of Song, José José. A hugely popular figure in his native…
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…
10 UK Latin Acts to Watch Out for in 2024
The UK Latin music scene is undergoing a vibrant transformation. 2023 was a year for the books and this year brings a new generation, spearheaded by a diverse group who blend cultural heritage with innovative sounds. These…
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…
Colombia: Stairway Storytellers in Medellín
In Medellin, Billie Melluish-Turner finds a project to replace ghoulish and superficial tourism with something real and sustainable
LatinoLife - The UK's First Latina-run National Portfolio Organisation
In April 2023 LatinoLife became the UK's first and only Latina-run National Portfolio Organisation (NPO), selected to be part of the UK government's ‘most varied and ambitious’ portfolio of NPOs. In being chosen as one…
In Praise of Latin Erotica
A rare screening of FUEGO, one of Latin America’s best examples of erotic cinema, has been chosen as part of the Barbican’s Cheap Thrills season of bold and outrageous films. Corina Poore praises one of the hottest cinematic…
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…
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…
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…
Latest Content
Film & Theatre
Gabriela (2023) Oscar-qualifying short film by Guatemalan-American…
Gabriela, a young Guatemalan undocumented immigrant struggles to fulfill her dreams of becoming a…
Film & Theatre
MAGDALENA, TE AMO (2024) by Andrea Calao
‘Magdalena, Te Amo’ (2024) is a moving short film about student sex workers in New York. Premiered…
Film & Theatre
Power Alley (Levante- 2023) by Brazilian director Lillah Halla
Lillah Halla is emerging as the new kid on the block in Brazil with her opera prima, Levante (Power…
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Top 10 Argentine Footballers
As one of the biggest football teams in South America and the world, the Argentine Football…
Top 10 Mexican Boxers
Globally, Mexico is known as a boxing powerhouse, boasting some of the greatest champions in the…
Ballads and Boleros
LatinoLife's Favourite Mexican Male Singers of all Time
Since the days when Mexico was a serious rival to Hollywood in terms of film production and quality…
