What's in our mailbag? The beauty of simplicity

The past month has been a whirlwind. The El Tiny takeover of the Tiny Desk... interviews with some of the most exciting artists in Latin music... and, of course, puppets! So, for today's episode, we emerge from the craziness and dig into our neglected mailbag, which is brimming with new music. What did we find? Simple beauty. A young songwriter from Veracruz whose spare compositions have wowed his elders. An offbeat producer from Madrid. And, a joyful ode to a city half a millennium old. Featured artists and songs:- Arath Herce, "Musas en Mi" and "Quien Pensaría"- iLe, "Si Te Contara"- TRISTAN!, "Voyage" and "Ártico"- Venezonix ft. Pahua, "La Soledad"- Meme de Real, "Estaba Sentado" and "Embeces"- Bomba Estereo ft. Carlos Vives, "La Samaria"This podcast was produced by Noah Caldwell. The executive producer of NPR Music is Suraya Mohamed.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

There's no question that Mexican vocalist and composer Silvana Estrada is special to Alt.Latino. Ever since she launched her 2022 album "Marchita" with a series of revelatory singles, she seemingly spoke directly to Alt.Latino co-host Anamaria Sayre.Since those earliest days, the two have been able to spend quite a bit of time together in interviews and other public gatherings, which only brought them closer on a personal level. Now, as Estrada releases her new album, "Vendrán Suaves Lluvias," and celebrates the publication of her Tiny Desk Concert, it seemed like a good time to sit in on the ever-flowing conversations between the two of them.The result is a conversation that is probably a lot more personal than you’re used to. And that’s OK. Because Silvana is a performer of complex emotions, and while you can experience those emotions through songs, sometimes you have to hear things for yourself. Enjoy.This podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell. The executive producer of NPR Music is Suraya Mohamed.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Gloria Estefan is one of those musicians whose work and mere presence in the record industry deserves without question platitudes like ‘pioneering’ or ‘ground breaking.’ In fact, we have often mentioned her in that light throughout the 15 years of Alt.Latino. So it was a thrill to invite her to chat with us once again, this time immediately after a stunning Tiny Desk performance that will publish Oct. 13. She gives serious Favorite Tiá vibes, and since she and Felix are close in age, it felt like a conversation with a good friend with a fascinating life story - who just happens to have one of the richest song catalogs in Latin music history.This podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell. The executive producer of NPR Music is Suraya Mohamed.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

It's that time of year again: NPR's Tiny Desk becomes El Tiny, featuring concerts from some of the most exciting and legendary Latin artists around. So, this week Felix and Ana run through this year's El Tiny lineup and listen to performances from Fito Paez, Carlos Vives, Chuwi and more. Plus, a conversation about the news that Bad Bunny will perform at next year's Super Bowl LX.This podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell. The executive producer of NPR Music is Suraya Mohamed.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The way new music comes to Alt.Latino World Headquarters says a lot about our slight age difference. I still get CDs in the mail, with an occasional music file sent via email. Ana is constantly playing me audio files she gets vial email or texts from her new music sources, very rarely on CD. So while we were busy putting the finishing touches on our fist annual El Tiny takeover of the Tiny Desk Concert series, our mail piled up. Which means we had lots to choose from for this week's new music episode. There's bound to be something that catches your ear and makes you think: 'How did I live without that in my life?"Featured artists and songs: - Making Movies, “La Marea” ft. Mireya Ramos- Teo Planell, “El Mundo Delante de Ti”, “Como Pensarte Mal”- Ramona and the Holy Smokes, “Esta Herida”, “I Want You To Be My Man”- Lorea, “Se me ve la cabeza”, “Mi alma sobre la mesa”- Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Yainer Horta and Joey Calveiro, “Quizás, Quizás, Quizás”- Martox, “Enganchao de Ti”This podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell. The executive producer of NPR Music is Suraya Mohamed.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Bad Bunny's months-long residency in Puerto Rico is coming to an end. The shows brought in hundreds of millions of dollars to the island, and sparked new debates about Puerto Rican identity and politics. For this week's episode, Ana and Felix traveled to San Juan to take in one of the final performances, and interview both locals and tourists about the musical and cultural impact of the summer of Bad Bunny.This podcast was produced by Noah Caldwell. The executive producer of NPR Music is Suraya Mohamed.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

This week's episode is a tribute to host Felix Contreras, who just received the Hispanic Heritage Award for Journalism from the Hispanic Heritage Foundation. Co-host Anamaria Sayre and the Alt.Latino team surprised Felix with guest appearances from Juanes, Daymé Arocena, Chucho Valdés, Dolores Huerta and more.This podcast was produced by Noah Caldwell. The executive producer of NPR Music is Suraya Mohamed.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Felix shares the music that's helped him recover from a serious illness. Anamaria shares some new exquisite (and, in one case, slightly toxic) love songs. Featured artists and songs:• Blood Orange, "I Can Go" (feat. Mabe Fratti & Mustafa)• Draco Rosa, "Quiero Vivir"• Caetano Veloso, "Voce E Linda" (Remixed Original Album)• Tim Bernardes, "BB (Garupa de Moto Amarela)"• Tim Bernardes, "Última Vez"• Santana, "Goodness and Mercy"• Xavi, "Ojitos de Miel"• Los Lobos, "Bertha" (Live at the Carefree Theatre, 1992)This podcast was produced by Noah Caldwell. The executive producer of NPR Music is Suraya Mohamed.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

This week, NPR Music reporter Isabella Gomez-Sarmiento is back on the mic, bringing host Anamaria Sayre new music in the vein of her 2010s Tumblr era. Think emo bangs, bright blue skinny jeans and a Warped Tour T-shirt. Sonically, this week’s picks run through bedroom pop, sultry balladry and Bronx-Dominican rap over post-punk basslines.  Featured artists and songs:• Titanic (I. la Católica and Mabe Fratti), “Escarbo dimensiones"• Mon Laferte, “Esto Es Amor"• Planta Industrial, “Teteo in The Bronx”• Santi Muk and Zenon Pereyra, “seu carinho,” “CUÁNTO FALTA PARA CONOCERTE?” and “ANA BAILABA”• Maria Usbeck, “Mar”• LATIN MAFIA and Omar Apollo, “Hecho para ti”This episode was produced by Noah Caldwell and edited by Otis Hart. Suraya Mohamed is the Executive Producer of NPR Music and the madrina of Alt.Latino. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

On Alt.Latino we often discuss the way that traditions are recognized and expanded upon. Usually it’s when we’re talking about new artists.But this week we are spending time honoring two legends: Tex Mex accordion player Flaco Jimenez and Latin jazz pianist/composer Eddie Palmieri each died within the last few weeks. They were foundational to their respective musical cultures, products of two distinct Latino cultural and musical traditions who also expanded the idea of tradition with their musical visions.Tune in this week to see how Felix connects the dots between these two seemingly dissimilar icons — and hear some new music that also blends tradition with modernity. Music heard in this episode:Orquestra Afro-Brasileira, “Saudação ao Rei Nagô” and “Obaluayê”Doctor Nativo, “Caminantes” feat. Roco PachukoteBikôkô, “The Other” feat. Isaiah Hull and “La Mano” feat Crystal Murrayday2k, “OBSSD” and “más q todoooooo”Flaco Jimenez, “Lucerito”Eddie Palmieri, “Una Rosa Española”Audio and production for this episode was done by Noah Caldwell.Suraya Mohamed is Executive Producer for NPR Music.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy