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Music
Classical Jazz and Folk
Quimantú presents Surtierra Touring Project: When…
The musical group Quimantú, through its Surtierra Touring Project, aims to break the stigmas associated with immigration caused by war, persecution,…
Classical Jazz and Folk
Birdsong in Quechua
Considered one of the most important indigenous singers to emerge out of South America over the last 50 years, through her 25 albums Luzmila Carpio…
Urban
THE OCTOBER REGGAETON RECAP
It’s hard to tell what’s dropping faster, the leaves from the trees or the singles and albums from…
Classical Jazz and Folk
We Love Omar Geles
Omar Geles was one of Colombia's most important Vallenato singers and musicians and the most…
Urban, Pop & Rock, Tropical Music
Albums from Central American Artists we Love
Central America has a rich tapestry of musical styles shaped by its deep history and diverse…
Pop & Rock, Tropical Music, Alternative
Pioneering Central American Artists You Should Know…
Central America is home to a vibrant music scene, blending cultural traditions with modern sounds.…
Urban
THE SEPTEMBER REGGAETON RECAP
September brings a temperature drop but the artists’ this month are still making some fire records…
Classical Jazz and Folk
The Sound of Healing: An Interview with Nicaraguan…
With her award-winning album 'Luz' and a plethora of singles - 'Para Mi',…
Features
Spanish Music
WOMEN ON THE VERGE: Iberian Female Talent on the Rise
In the last few years, in an attempt to catch up with the US-based powerhouse that has become Latin…
Urban
Reggaeton Revolution: 20 years of UK Urban Latin…
Back in 2004, when the UK music industry was ignoring reggaetón and Maluma was in nappies,…
Pop & Rock
Luca Prodan : The Maradona of Rock
A rebel creative, Luca Prodan was an Italian-Scot who became one of the most unlikely founding…
Urban
From Rock to Reggaeton: Argentina’s Revolutionary Road
Once known for producing Latin America’s greatest rock icons, Argentina was forced to take a back…
Interviews
Classical Jazz and Folk
The Sound of Healing: An Interview with Nicaraguan singer Ceshia Ubau
With her award-winning album 'Luz' and a plethora of singles - 'Para Mi', 'Melodia Sagrada', 'Marzo 2020' and…
Tropical Music
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…
Top 10s
Urban
Albums from Central American Artists we Love
Central America has a rich tapestry of musical styles shaped by its deep history and diverse…
Pop & Rock
Pioneering Central American Artists You Should Know About
Central America is home to a vibrant music scene, blending cultural traditions with modern sounds.…
Spanish Music
Spanish Albums That Rocked the World
From flamenco, bolero and copla to hip-hop, reggatón and pop, Spanish music has evolved in exciting…
Urban
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…
In-depth Interviews
The Good Vibe
Not only did he showcase Bossa Nova to the world, Sergio Mendes personifies how you don’t have to be a shark to succeed in the global music business. Due to play in London next month, the Brazilian music legend reminisces with Amaranta Wright on an amazing music career and muses on the importance of gratitude.
Fantasy Island Tracks
Sergio Mendes' Fantasy Island Tracks
If you were stranded on a desert Island, which tracks would you absolutely need to have to get you through those times of loneliness and despair? Man cannot live on sun and fish alone right? Our castaway, Brazilian music legend, Sergio Mendes puts in his request for musical salvation...
First Person
Smoulder Smoulder: My Secret Love of Luis Miguel
If you’ve never heard of Luis Miguel, you’ve been living an empty life. The Netflix series on the Mexican crooner, who is widely regarded as the most successful artist in Latin American history, literally bigger than Jesus, reignites powerful memories for LatinoLife’s editor. After watching the traumatic and tragic incidents in Luis Miguel's life, which even Mexico’s most extreme telenovela couldn’t make up, Amaranta Wright revisits a weird encounter with Latin America's biggest star in Buenos Aires back in 1996.
Tunes That Rock The Dance Floor
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 career spanning over 50 years of music. His music is still played in Latin clubs all over the world - a favourite for salsa dancers - and his discography is one of the most completes all of salsa singers in history, with more than 50 albums under his name.
Spotlight on...
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 from the Buenos Aires villa (slums). For Argentines who had always been used to the white middle class looking music stars like Fito Paez, Spinetta, Charly Garcia, L-Gante was different...the musical ambassador of the villa, which has proved massively popular. He is currently one of Argentina's biggest artists with 5 million IG followers and over a billion streams.
By Genre
Interviews
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 capital of Latin Music, 'El Cantante Del Ghetto’ as he is known, marks a new turn for reggaetón. Where Maluma is the glamour king, Castro is the self-made boy next door, fresh out of the slums; while Medellin’s pretty boy is waxing about luxury holidays in Hawaii, this Paisa talks about flexing his Jor-dans at the local parche. LatinoLife meets reggaetón’s new parsero to find a special appeal.
In-depth Interviews
The Juanes Mash Up
The Colombian music landscape has transformed dramatically over the last 10 years, with reggaetón becoming the new pop, but one Medellín rockero has transcended all trends and remains as relevant today doing the music he loves. Soon to play in London with his ‘Origen’ tour, which goes back to his musical roots and inspirations, we go down memory lane with Juanes and the music that touched us all growing up.
First Person
Smoulder Smoulder: My Secret Love of Luis Miguel
If you’ve never heard of Luis Miguel, you’ve been living an empty life. The Netflix series on the Mexican crooner, who is widely regarded as the most successful artist in Latin American history, literally bigger than Jesus, reignites powerful memories for LatinoLife’s editor. After watching the traumatic and tragic incidents in Luis Miguel's life, which even Mexico’s most extreme telenovela couldn’t make up, Amaranta Wright revisits a weird encounter with Latin America's biggest star in Buenos Aires back in 1996.
Tunes That Rock The Dance Floor
Hector Lavoe Tunes That Rock the Dancefloor
And we come to the man simply named 'La Voz' (The Voice). Considered by many as the greatest salsa singer ever, Hector Lavoe was a legend in Latin America, both in life and in death. His voice, charisma, stage presence and personality cemented him as the symbol and sound of New York's golden era of salsa and made him an icon. His collaborations with Willie Colon are all classics and his own albums are some of the best Salsa albums of his era. We could write a whole essay on his music! It was hard to choose only 10 songs, his repertoire is so complete and he pretty much delivered every time he did a recording! So we pay homage to "the Singer of Singers" and some of his most danceable songs!!
Obituaries
The Wonderful World of Tim Maia
Back in the 1970s the deep velvety voice of Tim Maia sparked a revolution in Brazilian mainstream culture that went well beyond music, igniting the rise of the Black Rio movement. His bassy tone, resembling that of his funk and soul brothers in the US, expressed his desire to give black people in Brazil a voice. Sung about by contemporaries such as Jorge Ben and talked about by soul greats such as James Brown and Stevie Wonder, Tim Maia’s influence went beyond Brazil, and reverberated around the world. Here we celebrate that larger than life Brazilian singer still remembered and loved today
In-depth Interviews
THE POWER OF NOW: An Interview with Cultura Profética
Cultura Profética is one of Puerto Rico's most influential bands. Formed in 1996, the group came to encapsulate what it is to be Latin Caribbean with its unique fusion of Caribbean reggae and Latin genres such as bossa nova, tango, jazz and salsa. Their polemical lyrics never shy from addressing socio-political and ecological issues, including Latin American identity and environmental concerns, as well as interpersonal relationships and love. As it celebrates its 25th anniversary with a world tour, we talk about music and politics with Puerto Rico’s most unique musical export ahead of its performance in London.
In-depth Interviews
Odd One Out
Hailed as one of the most promising jazz musicians of her generation, Chilean saxophonist Melissa Aldana is somewhat of an anomoly. Amaranta Wright meets Blue Note’s latest signing and discovers an incredible journey from a country with little jazz tradition to being the talk of the jazz world.
Obituaries
Camarón de la Isla, Spanish Flamenco Singer (1950-1992)
Camarón de la Isla was considered by many as the gipsy god of flamenco. Today we remember his legacy and his legendary trajectory that left a mark in Spanish music history, leaving his memory to be respected with great zeal.
Reviews
Urban
THE OCTOBER REGGAETON RECAP
It’s hard to tell what’s dropping faster, the leaves from the trees or the singles and albums from…
Urban
THE SEPTEMBER REGGAETON RECAP
September brings a temperature drop but the artists’ this month are still making some fire records…
Urban
THE AUGUST REGGAETON RECAP
August is in-your-face with many artists on this list capitalising not only their songs but their…
Urban
THE JULY REGGAETON RECAP
July is the month of collaborations! From a trio packed with Argentinian All-stars to another who…
Most viewed
Top 10s...
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…
Top 10s...
Top 10 Female Reggaeton Artists
We may have come a long way since the days of overt misogyny in Urban Latin Music, but the industry…
Top 10s...
TOP 10 Latin Hip Hop Artists
Dominated by Caribbean talent - from Venezuela and Puerto Rico to Cuba and the Dominican Republic…
Top 10s...
TOP TEN Bachata Artists
With its hypnotic beat and heart-renching melodies, this Dominican music began to take the world…
