Super-producer Edgar Barrera on turning old-school genres into pop hits

Alt.Latino hosts Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre are in Spain this week for a music conference, so they soaked up the local sounds.Featured Songs:- Mayte Martín, "El Breve Espacio Que No Está"- Rels B and Lia Kali, "La Vida Sin Ti"- Judeline, "INRI"- Buika, "La Niña De Fuego"Listen to the playlist at https://npr.org/altlatino.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Anamaria Sayre brings some exciting new sounds coming out Mexico City (while recording from Mexico City) including sweet new music from Colombian artist Elsa Y Elmar, while Felix Contreras shares new jazz-classical out of Barcelona and more.Songs featured in this episode:•Elsa y Elmar, "Palacio"•Alih Jey, "Luz de Gas"•Little Jesus, "Tierra Llamando A Sant"•Lucia Fumero, "Folklore II"Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Simon Rentner. Editorial support from Hazel Cills. Our project manager is Grace Chung. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

To celebrate the release of a new book from NPR Music, How Women Made Music, as well as the 50th anniversary this year of the album Celia & Johnny, Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre walk through their favorite songs by the legendary Celia Cruz, alongside the artist's niece Linda Pritchett. Songs featured in this episode:• Celia Cruz, "Bemba Colorá"• Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, "Yiri Yiri Bon"• Celia Cruz, "La Negra Tiene Tumbao"• Celia Cruz, "Quimbara"• Celia Cruz, "Cuando Salí de Cuba"• Celia Cruz, "La vida es un carnaval"Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Simon Rentner. Editorial support from Hazel Cills. Our project manager is Grace Chung. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre play a few of their favorite new tracks, some from Alt.Latino standbys and some exciting new discoveries, too. Also, we hear from an Alt.Latino listener about a Dominican song that moves her.Songs featured in this episode:• Twanguero, "Rumba #2"• Twanguero, "La Leyenda de Cañaveral"• Rosalía, "Omega (feat. Ralphie Choo)"• Wyatt Flores, "Oh Susannah"• pablopablo, Helado Negro, "Lejos De Más"• Troker, "El Novio (Versión Mariachi)"• Los Sufridos, Bad Gyal, "Duro de Verdad pt. 2"Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Simon Rentner. Editorial support from Hazel Cills. Our project manager is Grace Chung. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Alt.Latino is usually all about sharing new music across Latin America, but what about the older cuts Ana and Felix are obsessed with?On this episode, Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras share the music they've been playing on repeat, from beloved classics by greats like Ella Fitzgerald to surprising new discoveries out of Mexico like Paloma Morphy.Songs featured in this episode:•Paloma Morphy, "me faltas tú"•George Shearing Quintet, "Juana Palangana"•Carin León and Bolela, "Aviso importante"•Chick Corea Trio, "Spain"•Alex Ferreira, "Un Cariñito"•Alex Ferreira, "Un Cariñito (Versión Acústica)"•Ella Fitzgerald, "Angel Eyes"Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Taylor Haney. Editorial support from Hazel Cills. Our project manager is Grace Chung. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Wait a minute — does Alt.Latino actually agree with a lot of the Latin Recording Academy's nominations this year?Felix Contreras, Anamaria Sayre and reporter Isabella Gomez Sarmiento run through as many of the whopping 58 categories as they can in this episode dissecting the nominations for the upcoming ceremony.Songs featured in this episode:•Grupo Frontera, "CANSADO DE SUFRIR"•Grupo Frontera and Yahritza y Su Esencia, "LAS FLORES"•Grupo Frontera and Christian Nodal, "Ya Pedo Quién Sabe"•Dayme Arocena, "A fuego lento"•Hamilton de Holanda, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, "Saudade, Saudade"•Kali Uchis and Karol G, "Labios Mordidos"•Karol G, "MI EX TENÍA RAZÓN"•Latin Mafia, "Julieta"•Kevin Aguilar, "Bonita"•Nicolle Horbath, "Carmen"•Nicole Horts, "Bitch3"•Ana Frango Elétrico, "Dela"•Angélica Olivo, Juan Pablo Contreras, and Orquesta Latino Mexicana, "La Minerva - III. Himno a la Mujer"Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Suraya Mohamed. Our project manager is Grace Chung. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

This week on Alt.Latino, Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras talk about an exciting new album from Manu Chao on the way — his first in 17 years — and their favorite recent songs from artists like the Dominican indie rock band Solo Fernández, ethereal pop from Tiny Desk Contest Winner Linda Diaz and more.Ana and Felix are starting something new this week. Felix always says it, but it's not a Mexican party until someone cries. So every episode starting today, they'll talk to a listener about a song that moves them to tears.And they want to know, what song moves you to tears? Email [email protected] for a chance to be featured on the show. Songs featured in this episode:•Janeiro feat. André Viamonte, "LEGO"•Manu Chao, "São Paulo Motoboy"•Solo Fernández, "TELESCOPIO"•Solo Fernández, "BROOKLYN"•Solo Fernández, "TÚ NUNCA DEJARÁS DE SER POESÍA"•Linda Diaz feat. Solomon Fox, "Watching Ourselves Die"•Julieta Rada, "Baile del Candombe"•Amaia Miranda, "Mientras vivas brilla"•Nick Drake, "Pink Moon"•Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Suraya Mohamed. Our project manager is Grace Chung. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

'El Tiny' season at the Tiny Desk launches next week and this year it's all about love — familial and romantic, with drama fit for a telenovela. Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras preview this year's line-up, sharing a sneak peek at what 2024's 'El Tiny' has to offer.Songs featured in this episode:•Juanes, "Mala Gente"•Juanes, "A Dios Le Pido"•Ivan Cornejo, "Ya Te Perdí"•Okan, "Okantomi"•Eladio Carrión, "Mama's Boy"•Daniel, Me Estás Matando, "Lo Hice, Te Dejé"•Danny Ocean, "Me Rehúso"Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Taylor Haney, with editorial support from Hazel Cills. Our project manager is Grace Chung. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras play some of their favorite new songs from the last few months, featuring globe-spanning electronica from Colombian producer Sinego, border-crossing new music from La Doña, nuanced salsa from Spanish Harlem Orchestra and more.Songs featured in this episode:•Adrian Quesada, "Dos Manos"•Nancy Sanchez, "You Are"•Sinego, "Quema"•Sinego, Pahua, "Sol"•Spanish Harlem Orchestra, "Llegó El Caballero (feat. Gilberto Santa Rosa)"•La Doña, "Corrales"•La Doña, "Corrido Para Palestina"•Andres Levin (feat. Pedrito Martinez, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Yissy García & Yerba Buena), "Manteca 2.0 (An homage to Chano Pozo, Dizzy Gillespie & Cayo Hueso)"•Dizzy Gillespie, Chano Pozo and Gil Fuller, "Manteca"•Nico Sorin, Proyecto Gomez Casa, Lucy Patané, "Karma Dron"Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Taylor Haney, with editorial support from Hazel Cills and Otis Hart. Our project manager is Grace Chung. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Over the past month thousands of Venezuelans have taken to the streets to protest the disputed election of president Nicolás Maduro, while Venezuelan artists like Danny Ocean use music to reflect on this political moment. But Ocean's work is just one data point in a long history of music from Venezuela that embodies the political opinions and emotions of those within the country and the diaspora.On this week's episode, Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre are joined by producer Isabella Gomez Sarmiento to walk through crucial moments in Venezuela's political history over the last 30 years, and the music that soundtracked it.Songs featured in this episode:•Yordano, "Por estas calles"•Carlos Baute, "Yo me quedo en Venezuela"•Canserbero, "Es Épico"•Danny Ocean, "Me Rehúso"•Apache, "Rompiendo el Hielo"Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Taylor Haney, with editorial support from Hazel Cills, Zach Thompson, Tony Cavin and Didi Schanche. Our project manager is Grace Chung. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy