Radio Menea

We are unexpectedly out this week, so we are re-running our Protest episode, inspired by some of the beautiful acts of resistance we have been witnessing the last few weeks calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. We’ll be back in your feeds on December 1. In the meantime, we hope these songs fuel your fight - whether it’s calling your reps or putting your bodies on the line. Our hearts are with Gaza and,...

Did you know that Yamilet is the most referenced name in Latinx music? Okay probably not, but this week we’ve got FOUR songs for you that talk about her. Who is she?? Why is she such a presence? We’ve got lots of theories for you, and a surprisingly deep discussion of this musically famous name. Featuring music by Daddy Yankee, La Gillette, Onguito Wa, Rochy RD, Bad Bunny, SXTEEN and Poke. Show no...

This week, we’re bringing you with us on our trip to Tucson, Arizona, where we gathered with other members of Mijente - a Latinx political home for those who seek racial, economic, gender and climate justice. We can’t remember a time where it didn’t feel appropriate to say it’s a politically rough moment, pero ajá. It’s rough times. And because we believe we need joy to fuel our fight, we asked ou...

It’s become an annual tradition, so we are digging into our espooky catalog in search of festive selections pa celebrar. Get into the mood with harps from Veracruz, killer novela-style boleros, dia de los muertos songs and more. Featuring music by Kali Uchis, Lila Downs, Tainy, Young Miko, J Balvin, Jowell y Randy, Cafe Tacvba, Ana Tijoux, Shadia Mansour, Tlen Huicani, Lino Chavez, Salt Cathedral,...

As we have moved to cell phones, silent mode, and Do Not Disturb life, the phone ring is slowly losing its ubiquity, pero eráse una vez it was a part of daily life — so naturally producers and songwriters creatively incorporated it into beats and song plot lines. This week, we dedicate the episode to a disappearing classic: the phone ring. Featuring music by Hector El Father, Wisin y Yandel, Avent...

Bad Bunny has a new album out today, but he’s not the only one with new music right now. On this week’s episode we’ve got more artists hopping on the Mexican regional bandwagon, sweet indie tracks, new music from our favorite political Chilena and much more. Featuring music by Bad Bunny, Shakira, Fuerza Regida, Mar, Tomasito García, Ana Tijoux, Omar Apollo, Marc Anthony, Pepe Aguilar, Empress Of,...

Mare Advertencia has been making feminist hip hop that addresses revolutionary politics and uncomfortable topics from her home in Oaxaca for years, but the Zapoteca rapper has had some big come ups recently. Join us in anticipation of Indigenous Peoples’ day as we talk about her musical trajectory, what it was like to get the news that her song was featured on Wakanda Forever, and why she doesn’t...

We’re mixing it up and breaking our only rule this week! We’ve got songs by non-Latinx artists — because they include a sample of a Latinx song. Foundational hip hop, 90s house, fun pop throwbacks, and more sorpresitas. Featuring music by Deee-Lite, Boogie Down Productions, Wyclef Jean, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Celia Cruz, Jeni Fujita, Cibo Matto, DJ Khaled, Rhianna, Bryson Tiller, Shakira, Saweetie, GALX...

Familia can be complicated, but they almost always play a huge role in who we are. Esta semana, songs that feature familial ties - abues, madres, titis, primos y más. Featuring music by Becky G, Sofia Kourtesis, El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, Carlos Rivera, Los Inquietos del Norte, Olga y Tony, and Aventura. Show notes: bit.ly/457ZPXP Follow us: instagram.com/RadioMenea twitter.com/RadioMenea tinyl...

Have you ever been lied to so bad you’ve started to question your reality? We hope not, pero this week we talk gaslighting. Songs about mentirosos, cheating revenge fantasies, remixes of gaslighting classics y más! Featuring music by Daddy Yankee, J Balvin, Ozuna, Karol G, Anuel AA, Luli en Saturno, Aventura, Judy Santos, Snow Tha Product, Amigos Invisibles, Rauw Alejandro Show notes: bit.ly/3ZfFO...

Buenas buenassss!!!! We’re back from nuestras vacaciones de verano and ready with some new music for y’all! Our tastes remain as wild as ever, and we’re here to welcome you back into the fold with chart-topping Mexican regional, experimental Caribbean electronica, indigenous futurism, Latin jazz y más. Featuring music by Grupo Frontera, Manuel Turizo, Jarina de Marco, Mediopicky, Alfredo Rodriguez...

Washington, DC’s cultural scene is often overlooked in favor of its political reputation, but looking beyond that there’s a rich cultural history. This week, DMV local DJ kristy la rAt (@ratatomica) joins us to share about some of DC’s many and diverse music scenes. From post-punk to neoperreo to merengue and trapchata, this eclectic mix will give you a feel for the musical landscape of this small...

We just had the three hottest days ever recorded on earth, so let’s match the heat with the music, les parece? We chat about hot clubs, hot sex, hot weather….and an increasingly hot planet. Pero no se preocupen - we know hope is a discipline around here, and we believe we have the power to turn that around. Featuring songs by Hector El Father; Major Lazer, J Balvin, El Alfa and Diplo; Reyna Tropic...

Turns out that being badly behaved has no gender. This week we’ve got songs all about those boos and baes that have screwed you over. Las tóxicas, los malportados, the bad girls and the fuck boys. Our people love to sing about these tipo/as, so listen in. Featuring music by Big Soto, Ecko, Mr. Pelon, Young Miko, Jowell & Randy, Victor Manuelle, Bad Bunny, Mari, Villano Antillano, Grupo Firme and C...

Revenge bachata, alt dembow, electro-tango, Chilean indie, y más make up our set of brand new bops for y’all esta semana. Featuring music by Yailin La Más Viral, Mediopicky, Jenn Morel, Joelii, Elíades Ochoa, Esty, Vico C, Niña Tormenta, Don Omar, and Ana Macho. Show notes: bit.ly/3JuSWIm Follow us: instagram.com/RadioMenea twitter.com/RadioMenea tinyletter.com/RadioMenea

This week we have a very special invitada, Jenni Mota, who is hosting the upcoming NYC event Mujeres del Movimiento. This historic concert will feature an all Dominican women line up, and she joined us to talk about how this event came about, why it’s so historic, and the artists that will be featured. Y como siempre, the backlash she’s facing for this event. Featuring music by Yailin La Mas Viral...

Book bans, anti-trans legislation, abortion bans and restrictions...things are feeling more than a little fascist in the USA right now. Todo mal, pero no a falta de resistencia. This week we talk about the global rise of fascism, historical context around the ebbs and flows of progress and backlash, and of course, the soundtrack of resistance. Whether it’s the musicians who resisted the 1960’s ris...

We are gay every month, but in June we like to give a little extra shine to nuestra gente cuir. In a dystopian twist, drag performers are under attack right now, so we’re giving some big love to our drag community and all of the songs that make their performances pop in this week’s episode. Featuring music by Gloria Trevi, Christina Aguilera, David Summers, Thalia, Albita, Celia Cruz, Selena and V...

We put together a few new finds for y’all, and it shaped up to be muuuyyy de verano! We are on the precipice of summer, we’ve had a few unseasonably warm days care of climate catastrophe, the Mr. Softee truck is starting to make its first few appearances… we can almost taste the raspados and smell the ocean air. Hope you’re as ready as we are! Featuring music by Sebastián Yatra, Manuel Turizo, Beé...

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned es lo que dicen ¿no? We have had some momentos virales lately with women who have been done dirty by their boo - ::cough:: Shaki ::cough:: - so we decided to dig into the genre. We love a woman scorned señora vibe, so we dug up some older tracks for y’all, but people stay acting a fool throughout time, so we have some more current tracks for y’all too. Featur...

How did the brassy sounds of the Mexican countryside suddenly start dominating the charts? For people who are new to following Mexican Regional music, this rise might seem out of left field. But the ascent of this new generation of Mexican Regional artists has been in the making for years. This week we delve into the Regional Mexican artists who are leading this pop moment, how they got here, and...

Arguably North America’s first boy band, Menudo found epic success before the Backstreet Boys were even out of diapers. The group’s career spanned four decades and involved 32 young men, many albums and a lot of controversy. In this week’s episode we explore the impact, trajectory and dark side of Menudo. Trigger warning: This episode includes discussion of sexual assault and rape involving minors...

The rises on jeans were low, mp3 players were new, and the president was lying about the existence of weapons of mass destruction to invade a whole country to avenge his daddy and make his VP some cash. The year is 2003, and twenty years ago (!!!) the musical landscape looked….vastly different. We were coming off the end of the Latin boom era of the late 90s. Meanwhile, reggaeton was on the precip...

April 17th would have been Chavela Vargas’ 104th birthday. We’re taking this opportunity to do a deep dive into her legendary career. An unofficial queer icon, Chavela lived outside of gender norms during a time when it was risky to do so. Despite this, she made a name for herself in Mexico with her incredible voice, becoming especially known for her renditions of classic rancheras. A complicated...

Hallelujah! Amen! Our Women’s History Month content is spilling into April, ¿y porqué no? The best kind of April shower this week - musiquita nueva by dope ass mujeres. Featuring music by Olga Tañon, Xenia Rubinos, Karol G, Tei Shi, La Santa Cecilia, Pedro Hidalgo, Salt Cathedral, Nicole Manzo, and Kali Uchis. Show notes: bit.ly/3UerVwV Become a Radio Menea member: bit.ly/2s2RQhS Follow us: instag...