Brazil and Colombia on our minds

This week Ana features two very different Brazilian artists that both draw heavily on the '60s and '70s Tropicália genre. Felix presents two very different approaches to Colombian folkloric music and a new Spanish-language singer-songwriter who turns sadness into light.Artists and albums featured in this episode:(01:52) Maglore, 'Fluxo Natural'(07:13) Indus, 'El Mangle'(12:42) Candelabro, 'Deseo, Carne y Voluntad'(17:11) Araña, 'Araña'(21:07) Lucas Bezerra, 'EU MANDEI MEU AMOR PRO ESPAÇO'(25:21) Luca de Dios, 'De Amor y DesamorThis podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell. Suraya Mohamed is the executive producer of NPR Music.Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

I like to think I’m the one who keeps things fresh on the show — or at least that’s what I tell everyone. But this week Felix once again proved that false, bringing in a fresh corridos tumbados duo from Guadalajara who takes a something-old-turned-new genre and smashes it together with metal. It's something I’ve never heard before. What can I say, Felix keeps us all young. I went back to Brazil with some up-and-coming artists whose albums I’ve been excitedly awaiting. And, of course, Felix had to balance things out with one of his favorite jazz vocalists. As per usual, we’re all about whiplash here at Alt.Latino, but in a way that hopefully will make you the favorite DJ at your next fiesta. — AnaArtists and albums featured in this episode(03:52) Cultura Profética, 'En bucle'(09:53) Claudia Acuna, 'Ave de Luz: Chilean Jazz & Soul'(13:52) Mari Froes, 'Esquina do Sol'(17:36) Valeria Stewart, 'On A Wing'(21:17) Raquel Dimantas, 'Cosmo Dorme'(24:37) Ladrones, 'Arriba La L'This podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell. Suraya Mohamed is the executive producer of NPR Music.Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

Latin identity has been at the core of Cypress Hill's music from the very beginning -- their 1991 track "Latin Lingo" gave voice to the Latin roots of hip hop with its funky Spanglish callouts. But it took the band thirty-five more years to make an album of original songs written in Spanish: 'Dios Bendiga,' which was just released. In this episode, Felix chats with the band -- B-Real, Sen Dog and Eric Bobo -- about the influences behind the album, and why this moment felt right to finally make it. Plus, a cameo from the band's longtime producer and turntablist, DJ Lord. This podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell. Suraya Mohamed is the executive producer of NPR Music.Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

Mexico isn't the first place you think of as the cutting edge of experimental electronic music. But two new projects show that might be changing. LATIN MAFIA recently teamed up with British producer Fred again.. to make a bold new album featuring collaborators like Mabe Fratti and Lil Yachty. And the up-and-coming duo RØZ -- comprised of producers Manolo Cabrera and Hugo Lara -- just released their debut album, spinning a dazzling mix of hip hop, gospel and glitchy electronica. This week's episode also features a comically brilliant track from El David Aguilar, cumbia jam rockers Dos Santos, a cover from La Zorra Zapata, and a deep dive from Felix on the many interpretations of Consuela Velazquez's classic "Verdad Amarga."Artists and albums featured in this episode:(00:43) LATIN MAFIA & Fred again.., '9 months & 50 hours'(07:40) Dos Santos, 'Es Amor'(13:12) El David Aguilar, 'VIGENTE'(18:42) Miguel Zenón & Luis Perdomo, 'El Arte de Bolero, Vol. 3'(25:23) RØZ, 'SE ESTÁ HACIENDO TARDE'(29:11) La Zorra Zapata, 'I Love You Baby'This podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell. Suraya Mohamed is the executive producer of NPR Music.Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

Harry Styles just finished a 5-night run in Mexico City. You know who else had a 5-night run in Mexico City? Michael Jackson in 1993.Mainstream artists have a long history of being enticed by the energy of performing for a Latin American crowd … which means there’s also a long and less-known history of big pop stars making music for that audience.Did you know Michael Jackson has a Latin track? So does Madonna. A few actually.As early as the '50s, Nat King Cole experimented with Spanish and released an entire record, Cole Español, writing songs in partnership with legendary "Bésame Mucho" composer Consuelo Velásquez.This week’s Alt.Latino is a pop takeover. We’re mythbusting the idea that there’s only been one kind of crossover — from Latin to mainstream — and walking through a long history of mainstream wanting to go… Latin.Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

To celebrate Ana's world premiere as a DJ -- a gig playing for 5,000 people in Central Park, which she definitely, absolutely prepared for -- this week we present her summer playlist. We've got song of the summer contenders (Aitana's "SUPERESTRELLA"), sleeper hits we missed when they dropped (Quevedo's "EL BAIFO"), and bubbly classics-in-the-making we keep coming back to (Rawayana's "Se Vienen Cositas"). Plus, Felix balances the bangers with chill-out room Uruguayan jazz, a psychedelic guitar jam and a trio of sisters from Austin.Artists and songs featured in this episode:(02:23) Quevedo, "EL BAIFO"(05:07) Camilo y los Cruzers, "Descarga Rockeada"(09:23) Aitana, "SUPERESTRELLA"(16:44) Alejandra Gala, "I Dare You"(22:14) Rawayana, "Se Vienen Cositas"(25:51) The Tiarras, "Vida Libre", "Black Sheep (unplugged)"This podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell. Suraya Mohamed is the executive producer of NPR Music.Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

Bill Evans might not be techno. But in this week's episode, the slow-building angst and tension of electronic producer Debit's new music reminded Ana of the beloved jazz piano master. And that kind of genre cross-pollination is everywhere in this week's showcase of new music: Brazilian field recordings remixed for the club, multiple reinterpretations of the Cuban guaguancó, and Spanish producers channeling -- as Ana puts it -- "experimental Boricua stuff."Featured artists and albums:(00:45) Various Artists, 'Candomblé: Sacred Rhythms in Brazil'(04:24) Ítallo, 'CATATAU'(11:25) Debit, 'Potpourri'(16:41) Calequi y Las Panteras, 'TRES'(21:07) Carolina Oliveros, 'Oye Camina'(24:35) BLAYA, 'Your lesbian neighbour is playing music next door'This podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell. The executive producer of NPR Music is Suraya Mohamed.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

We'll take any excuse to talk about the insane quality of music coming out of Spain these days. This week, we got one: Spain defeated Argentina on Sunday to win the 2026 World Cup Final. So, this episode is a celebration of the multitude of music scenes across Spain that we can't get enough of. Catch boundary-pushing electronic and hip hop producers in Madrid, indie rockers and songwriters in Barcelona, and some old favorites whose voices never stop (looking at you, Buika!). Artists featured in this episode:(01:22) C. Tangana(04:19) Ralphie Choo(06:28) Mora(10:10) Bikôkô(13:52) Buika(16:04) Repion(20:42) Lucia Fumero(23:12) Maestro EspadaThis podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell. Suraya Mohamed is the executive producer of NPR Music.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

With last week's best-of show behind us, we've got a clean slate to dive into our favorite new music kicking off the second half of the year. Felix brings a batch of country tracks, while Ana -- to absolutely no one's surprise -- continues her exploration of Brazil's endless supply of captivating music. Catch a mesmerizing indie-ambient album from João Carvalho, some posthumous crooning from Raul Malo, the twangy return of Oklahoma's rising star Wyatt Flores, and much more.Artists and albums featured in this episode:(01:13) Cruz Contreras & The Black Lillies, 'Gold and Roses (Live)'(06:15) João Carvalho, 'Uma Festa no Centro do Vazio'(13:02) Raul Malo, 'Bella Ciao: Raul Malo Live In Nashville'(17:14) Rincon Sapiência, 'Um Corpo Preto'(24:13) Wyatt Flores, 'Scared of Heights'(27:50) Cupido, 'Maldito Cupido'This podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell. Suraya Mohamed is the executive producer of NPR Music.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

It’s that time of the year again: a mix between Christmas and Halloween for me and Felix. We gift you our best album picks of the year so far — and there’s nothing spookier for us than having to choose. So here it is, the music we’ve loved and listened to the most in the first half of 2026, some of the best (in our opinion) from all of Latin America and its diaspora. — Anamaria SayreArtist and albums featured in this episode:(02:15) Trueno - 'TURR4ZO'(07:06) Jonathan Suazo - 'Ricano Vol. 2: Fruto de mi Corazón'(11:16) Broke Carrey - 'HIJO DEL PAÍS'(15:48) X Alfonso - 'AIRE'(22:28) Silvia Pérez Cruz - 'Oral_Abisal'(29:30) Nuevos Rios - 'Nuevos Rios'(32:17) Criolo, Amaro Freitas & Dino d'Santiago - 'CRIOLO, AMARO E DINO'(37:33) Sofia Rei - 'Antónima'This episode was produced by Noah Caldwell. Suraya Mohamed is the executive producer of NPR Music.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy