New Music Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs and albums recommended by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors. Check out this week’s picks below.
Alejandro Sanz & Grupo Frontera, “Hoy No Me Siento Bien” (Sony Music Latin)
Alejandro Sanz’s latest song — in collaboration with Grupo Frontera — thrives on a cacophony of sounds. “Hoy No Me Siento Bien” is unconventional both lyrically and musically, and that’s what makes it a really great song in general. Sanz and Frontera’s Payo sing about why it’s OK not to feel great all the time: “If you see me crying, it’s not that I’m not happy/ And it isn’t about love either, sometimes you just cry to cry,” Sanz wails at the top of the song. Sonically, the record begins with a pop melody, then goes tropical, pop again and then becomes a fusion of both. A subtle norteño accordion accompanies the song, giving it that Grupo Frontera signature sound. Produced by Edgar Barrera, “Hoy No Me Siento Bien” is the second single off Sanz’s upcoming album. — GRISELDA FLORES
Cazzu, “DOLCE” (DALE PLAY Records/Rimas Entertainment)
On the heels of her very vulnerable ballad “La Cueva,” Cazzu powerfully kicks off the new year with “DOLCE,” her intent at the Música Mexicana genre. The surprising corrido tumbado — produced by her longtime producer Nico Cotton — is about a complex relationship characterized by betrayal, backed by pleasing requintos. The Argentine artist reflects on her emotions and the consequences of this betrayal, ultimately leading her to seek revenge in a creative and expressive manner. “You forgot that I taught you everything you know,” she fearlessly chants. “DOLCE,” named after a red dress she owned from the designer brand, is the second single off of her upcoming studio album set for April. — INGRID FAJARDO
J Balvin, “Rio” (Sueños Globales/UMG Recordings)
J Balvin kicks off 2025 with new single “Rio.” Though the title honors his son’s name, the edgy, romantic reggaetón track is in fact a sweet dedication to his partner, Argentine model Valentina Ferrer — or, how the lyrics say, to the one who returned his faith. In the over three-minute track, the Colombian artist reflects on his personal and spiritual healing process, paying tribute to one of the most important people who has supported him along the way: the mother of his son. “Why look on the street for what is abundant in my house?/ A good-natured babe, who has a hot body and face […] God made her humble but I see her as very expensive,” he chants, also clarifying that he’s left the party life behind because “the VIP is now at home with you.” The heartfelt music video captures never-before-seen videos of the couple, who’s been together since 2018. — JESSICA ROIZ
Danny Ocean, “Vitamina” (Atlantic Records)
A dose of vitamin D – as in Danny Ocean – arrives this winter in the form of a song. The Venezuelan musician continues spreading his warmth and good vibes with the new single “Vitamina,” which in the midst of freezing temperatures and even snowfalls in Florida transports us to the heat of the beach while evoking an old love. “You and me, lying on the beach watching the sun go down/ You and me, although I never told you, I am yours my love/ You and me, can you imagine?/ A love that never ends/ It’s like a vitamin, you and me,” says the infectious chorus.
“‘Vitamina’ is a love song based on the beach, that place of escape, of being with a real love and having a peaceful time,” Ocean tells Billboard Español. “It’s like escaping the routine and going to a place where you feel free, a place where you are with that person you love having a good and peaceful time, where things happen just as you want them to happen.” It is a pop song with the distinctive Caribbean flavor that has made of Danny Ocean an instantly recognizable artist. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS
Soge Culebra & Abraham Mateo, “Rayo de Luz” (Atlantic Records Spain)
Spanish artists Soge Culebra (real name: Gabriel Gómez) and Abraham Mateo join forces to sing about unconditional love on the collaboration “Rayos de luz.” The immersive track features impeccable production that highlights elements of electronic pop and contemporary R&B. The lyrics highlight the transformative power of love, depicting it as a force capable of being a guide through difficult times, through people who become true rays of light. The two performers’ voices complement each other perfectly, adding rich and dynamic nuances to the melody. — LUISA CALLE
Varios Artists, Vallenatos Norteños: Un Homenaje A Colombia Desde México (Warner Music México)
In today’s Latin music, fusion genres are in the spotlight. From Los Esquivel’s pulsating electro-corridos to Yahir Saldivar’s cumbias bélicas and Fuerza Regida’s Jersey corridos, the soundscape is as fresh as ever. Enter Vallenatos Norteños, emerging as a riveting but seamless blend that merges Northern Mexico’s fervor with Caribbean Colombia’s soul. This 11-track album, presented by Warner México, weaves accordion-laden melodies with joyous cumbia rhythms: an intersection that highlights the inherent complementary nature of these two music traditions. Noteworthy are the duets such as Jorge Celedón and Ana Bárbara’s “Olvídala,” and Pipe Bueno with Angelina Victoria in “Niégame Tres Veces.” Produced by Abelardo Rivera, José Luis Cornejo, Guillermo Mazorra, and Jair Alcalá, the compilation serves as a cultural bridge that celebrates and blends two rich musical heritages into an exhilarating listening experience. — ISABELA RAYGOZA
Check out more Latin recommendations this week below:
