Alt.Latino

Venezuela has a deep tradition of reflecting political change through music. This week, as the country reels from the seizure of its president by American forces, we explore the recent history of Venezuelan protest music, and from the Nineties right up until the present. First, we share an excerpt of an episode we made at another moment of political turmoil in Venezuela, in the summer of 2024. The...

The sheer volume and variety of Spanish-language music released every year is breathtaking. Even those of us with our ears to the ground are bound to miss things. So, in this episode we travel back through the year to resurface some of the remarkable albums that somehow didn't make it on the show. Catch Afro-Caribbean jazz, a history-spanning classical strings project, the return of Juana Molina a...

This year was bookended by two major statements in Latin music. In January, Bad Bunny released DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS , and followed that up with a 31-show residency in Puerto Rico over the summer. Then, in November, the Spanish vocalist Rosalía released her genre-defying masterpiece LUX , which sent legions of music lovers scrambling to try to grasp the magnitude of an album performed in 13 differe...

Some folks think by December all the releases for the year are complete. Not quite. This week we feature a new music show with albums that should be considered along with the year’s best.   We've got pop and alternative from Mexico, funk from Colombia, rock and ambient from New York and a Tejano master celebrated by his fellow Texans. Plus, Felix brings the zen.  Artists and songs featured in this...

The annual Latin Grammy awards are always full of glamour and glitz. But they're also an ideal time to take the pulse of the industry - which is exactly what Anamaria Sayre did this year, perusing the red carpet to talk with the most exciting names in Latin music.  In this episode, Ana brings Felix her report from Las Vegas, where Bad Bunny won Album of the Year, the independent Brazilian music sc...

Spanish vocalist and composer Rosalía has been a major presence in Spanish language music since she released her 2018 album, "El Mal Querer." She started by leaning into her flamenco roots, but since then she has expanded her musical vision to become one of those musicians who defies category. Her new album "LUX" stretches that descriptor to its limit. Her musical tools this time include the Londo...

Ever since I heard the Argentine saxophonist Gato Barbieri back in the Seventies, I’ve been fascinated by musicians from South America who found their way to jazz. Lately there seems to be a strong showing of contemporary musicians from various Latin American countries who not only play jazz but also mix certain Latin American folk traditions into their sound. So, this week I spoke with six of the...

Not to sound like a broken record, but I'll say it again: the variety of creative expression in what is inadequately labeled "Latin music" continues to astound me. From the bossa nova-by-way-of-Guatemala of Fabuloso and Los Skeepers, to the evolving torch singing of the Chilean-via-Mexico vocalist Mon Laferte, to the ‘Western noir’ of California singer Andrés Miguel Cervantes, to Nathy Peluso’s Ar...

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...

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 broug...

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...

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 epis...

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 C...

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...

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 Sura...

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 V...

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 M...

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 di...

Felix Contreras is on vacation, so Anamaria decided to throw her own kind of summer bash in his absence. With NPR Music reporter Isabella Gomez Sarmiento along for the ride, today’s Alt. Latino sails through tropical bangers from Mexico, Brazil, the Dominican Republic and more. Simon Grossmann , “Copa del Mundo” A beachy pop-ballad about building a soccer team (as a metaphor for making love), “Cop...

Some might call it whiplash, the way we sometimes zip from one genre of Latin music to another in our New Music shows. But I like to think of it as an expression of the richness and vitality of all music made under what is known as Latin music. This week's selections reinforce the idea that trying to identify this music under one heading is impossible. Let's just call it Good Music. Featured artis...

Global superstar Bad Bunny is hosting an unprecedented 30 concert residency in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Fans are calling it a defining cultural moment for the island. Anamaria Sayre attended two recent shows and shared her reflections. Music featured in this episode: • Bad Bunny, "Callaita" • Bad Bunny, "Baile Inolvidable" • Los Pleneros de la Cresta, "Los de la Isla" • Gilberto Santa Rosa,"La Agarr...

Before Ana heads off to see Bad Bunny's unprecedented residency in Puerto Rico, we chat a little about why the celebration is significant to the island and Latin music in general. We also dig deep into new releases that include four different approaches to the guitar and a musician from Peru who defies genre to create his own musical language. Music heard in this episode: • Hermanos Gutiérrez, "El...

Act now to ensure public media remains free and accessible to all. Your donation will help this essential American service survive and thrive. Visit donate.npr.org now. 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

This week Ana and I share some of our long time favorites. While Ana leans into music discovery, I tend to bring more of the classics. In fact, I build playlists on a streaming service to mix music much like I did back in the era of the cassette tape. There is wide swath of music presented in the show this week. —Felix Contreras • Maestro Espada, "La despedida," "Tres gotas de rocío," and Peretas...

Ana and Felix break down Bad Bunny's latest political video. Hear their failed attempt at a blindfold listening game. Artists and songs featured in this episode: • Cheo, "Amor A Primera Vista" • babas tutsipop, "antonio banderas" and "cursi" • Pedazo De Carne Con Ojo, "Sirens" and "Tiralo" • Ryuichi Sakamoto "DOLPHINS" • Frank Zappa "While You Were Art II" • Pink Pablo, "ALL I DREAM," "OJOS AZUL"...