NEWS
Chimbala, Natti Natasha & El Alfa
Courtesy PhotoFirst Stream Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs, albums, and videos recommended by the Billboard Latin editors. Check out this week’s picks below.
Natti Natasha, El Alfa, Chimbala, “WOW BB” (Pina Records/Sony Music Latin)
A more fitting title could not exist, as Natti Natasha managed to reel in two pioneers of the dembow movement for “WOW BB.” The flirtatious track, produced by B-One, DJ Luian, Mambo Kingz, and Raphy Pina, is a playful dembow about two men who are trying to swoon the same girl. She, however, is independent and is not impressed by their coquetry. More than a great summer anthem, “WOW BB” flaunts pure Dominican power as the three artists unite their distinct vocals and flow. The three artists officially debuted the song on television at the 2022 Premio Lo Nuestro. — JESSICA ROIZ
Maria Becerra, “Felices x Siempre” (300 Entertainment)
Argentinian singer-songwriter Maria Becerra released the first single off her upcoming second album. The pop-ballad perfectly fuses her lyrical versatility with the theme of a relationship that is over and was not meant to be “Happily Ever After.” This new track empowers new beginnings, where she lets her vulnerability shine in this heartfelt song. While Maria has dabbled in urban music in her previous songs, this is the start of a new era in her music career. — INGRID FAJARDO
El Fantasma, “Fuera De Servicio” (AfinArte Music)
Durango, Mexico-born singer-songwriter El Fantasma is making the rounds with his new banda anthem “Fuera De Servicio,” penned by Luciano Luna and Tony Montoya. The attitude-heavy corrido narrates his return to the forefront after a few obstacles challenged him along the way. “I struggled, but don’t worry, I know you’ll be there for me just how you had said back when I lend you a helping hand,” he sings. “My good luck has returned in case you want to come say hello again.” The track is powered by traditional Sinaloan band brass instruments that provide a canvas to El Fantasma’s emboldened lyrics. — GRISELDA FLORES
Rauw Alejandro, Trap Cake Vol. 2 (Sony Music Latin)
A follow up to his 2019 Trap Cake, Vol. 1, which featured collabs with Cazzu, De La Ghetto, and Jon Z, Rauw Alejandro delivers an equally star-studded Vol. 2 that includes songs with Future, Ty Dolla $ign, and Rvssian. The genre-blurring EP stays in tune with the Puerto Rican artist’s ever-so experimental essence. Treading between trap, rock, pop, and R&B, Alejandro kicks off the nine-track set with the sentimental heartbreak song “Museo.” But not all is heartbreak in Trap Cake Vol. 2, a standout track is “Wuepa” with Ankhal, a bonafide party anthem. — G.F.
VF7, 15 (Sora And Company 1)
VF7 dropped her sophomore studio album 15 on her quinceañera, which coincided with her first-ever nomination at the 2022 Premio Lo Nuestro. The Puerto Rican newcomer, a 2020 “Billboard Latin teen artist to have on your radar,” has already received the stamp of approval from reggaeton stars Rauw Alejandro, Jay Wheeler and Lunay, to name a few. On 15, she counts with collaborations from Nio Garcia (on the urban-bachata “Baila”) and Lyanno (on “Ya No Es =”), to name a few. The 14-track set kicks off with “Quince,” where the artist (real name: Valeria Fernandez) celebrates her sweet 15 by saying: “The more the years go by, the more hunger grows. Fear does not exist. Thank God for another year, 15 bro.” Way beyond her age, however, VF7 has evolved in her penmanship and melodies, experimenting with punk rock and perreo for a different approach. VF7 officially premiered her single “Restart” with Lele Pons, produced by Ninow & Candy, at the 34th annual Premio Lo Nuestro. — J.R.
Rubio, “Buena Suerte Muchacha” (Rubio)
Chilean singer-songwriter Rubio (real name Francisca Straube) gets deep and introspective in her new, piano-led single “Buena Suerte Muchacha,” which also serves as the theme song to Pantaya’s new series Señorita 89. A preview of her upcoming album, the track finds a nostalgic Rubio who is on a healing journey eager to find herself in the process. “Life is a game that if you don’t play, you become sick, with rocks in your backpack for not speaking from the heart,” she evocatively sings. — G.F.
Fontaines D.C. have teamed up with Rosalía for their new collaboration, Where Is Gone?.
The song features on the Irish rock band's forthcoming album, Dopamine Chamber, which arrives on Friday (16.10.26). For guitarist Carlos O’Connell, working with the Spanish superstar is particularly special because of his own Spanish roots.
He explained: “I’ve admired Rosalía ever since her debut album, which I thought was absolutely beautiful.
“What excited me most was the way she continued to preserve Spain's musical traditions, something that felt spiritually connected to what we've been trying to achieve with Irish music. Having roots in both countries, it's been really special to witness. "She's an artist who has continued to amaze me at every point in her career.”
Frontman Grian Chatten has also described the collaboration with Rosalía as one of the most memorable achievements of his career.
He revealed that he felt "humbled" when she agreed to lend her voice to the band's album.
Speaking to NPR, Grian said: “I've always felt there's something almost like a single big idea that I'm personally trying to communicate to the world before I get old and die, if that makes sense. There's one thing I think I'll spend my life trying to express. I have a feeling she has a similar outlook. … I mean, she's an amazing arranger, composer and lyricist. It means so much that she wanted to sing on something we'd put together. It's definitely one of the highlights of my career.”
Rosalía's links to Irish rock music extend beyond Fontaines D.C. She also offered inspiration and helped develop the Spanish lyrics for U2's The Mirror Maker (Rosalía), a track from their forthcoming album, Carnaval de Luz.
During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon last week, she spoke about frontman Bono, saying: “I don't know him personally, but he sent me a text explaining that he was working on a new project and had written a song called The Mirror Maker."
Rosalía joked that Bono had invented a few words of his own.
She recalled telling him: “I wasn't sure what to make of it, but I told him he could create his own language if he wanted to.”
She described the opportunity to collaborate with the 66 year old music veteran as a real privilege.
She added: “Bono is a legend.
“It's amazing.”
Bono recently revealed that he was worried about seeming like a stalker when he reached out to Rosalía to ask whether he could name the song after her.
