Radio Menea

Juan Luis Guerra’s “Bachata Rosa” is an iconic album credited with bringing Dominican genres to the rest of the world. Over thirty years after its release, the album’s status as a classic is undeniable. But bachata and merengue both had long histories before Juan Luis Guerra, and bachata specifically - previously seen as a low-class and vulgar style - came to be seen in a whole new light after the...

You know those famous reggaetoneros who find Jesus and reject their music careers? Farruko might be the latest to publicly and dramatically announce a turn to religion (during Pepas no less!), but he is not the first to decide God is more important than music. Listen in as we mourn the music greats who have turned away from the music we love and turned toward el Señor. Featuring music by Hector El...

Simón Mejía of Bomba Estereo joins Vero to talk en español about their new documentary project, El Duende. It explores Marimba, a Afro-Colombian musical tradition from the Pacific coast of the country, an area that because of it’s isolation has created a unique and distinctive sound. Featuring music by Bomba Estereo and Bad Bunny. Show notes: bit.ly/3OCJ2El Follow us: instagram.com/RadioMenea twit...

Had a lil COVID spell last week, peeeeero we’re back and stronger than ever, ready to give you alguito nuevo pa sus playlists. We give you a little on Biza’s unusal path to producer stardom, a pop girlie moment, y mucho caribe, cuz you know. Us. Featuring music by Villano Antillano, Biza, J Balvin, Ryan Castro, Empress Of, Jessi Uribe, Xiomara Fortuna, Skilteck, Los Rakas, Nohemy, Mediopicky, and...

Hace calorrrrrr, so we got your pool pari playlist started! We have all the vibes - LA pool party, fun in the sun, hopping into the pool at the house party with your clothes on y más. Featuring music by Puerto Rican Power, Speak, Proyecto Uno, Banda MS, Snoop Dogg, Ms. Nina, Mediopicky, Diego Raposo, Sólo Fernandez, Mario Castellanos, Bad Bunny, and J Balvin. Show notes: https://bit.ly/3c1906Q Fol...

We’re here, we’re queer and we’re mad AF. We had other plans, pero we dropped them to do this episode inspired by our anger at the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe vs. Wade and all of the ways our rights are being compromised. Listen in for songs that connect us to our rage, our grief and our joy amidst what feels like constant disaster. Featuring music by La India, Kelis, Sergio George’s Salsa...

Thirty years ago in the hilly barrios of Caracas, an electronic music genre began to emerge away from the gaze of Venezuela’s elite. Today, after millions of Venezuelans have dispersed throughout the globe in a massive displacement crisis, Changa Tuki is quietly making moves. Featuring music by DJ Baba, DJ Yirvin, Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, and Arca. Show notes: https://bit.ly/3NdWKwN Follow us: in...

It’s pride month! Did you know that heterosexuality can be cured? Despite all of the heavy shit going on, we’re taking a moment to celebrate all the beautiful and complicado dimensions of being LGBTQA+++. We’ve got queer artists, straight allies and even some gay rage para ti. Featuring music by Johnny Sky, Omar Apollo, Reyna Tropical, Rita Indiana, Los Tigres del Norte, Liniker e os Caramelows an...

We’re back beibiisss! Some things have happened while we’ve been plugging away at a little side project — not least of which was another Bad Bunny surprise album. We’ve got some thoughts about it all, naturally, pero les tenemos otras cositas tambien. We’re glad to be back - thanks for hanging with us amores! Featuring music by Los Cojolites, Natalia Lafourcade, Bad Bunny, Buscabulla, and Ala Jaza...

What is more dramatic than color bursting from the ground and trees? This week we’ve got a primavera playlist for you. Songs about spring, about drama, about this season of rebirth and renewed romantic possibility. Featuring music by Vicente Fernandez, iLe, Adrian Quesada, Los inquietos de vallenato, Oksana Linde, Yuri, Yahritza y Su Esencia, and Hector Acosta El Torito. Show notes: bit.ly/3DP6WZk...

What was once an almost entirely Cuban-dominated Latin music scene in Miami, the 90s finally bring the beginning of a more pan-Latin sound from this south Florida city. In our final installment of a two-part series on the music of Miami, we get into the multitude of artists that the 305 has produced from the 90s until today. Featuring music by Albita, Bacilos, Pitbull, Kat Dahlia, Leslie Grace, Am...

How did a small South Florida city become such a Latinx metropolis? Starting with the massive migration of Cubans after the revolution, Miami has become a cultural center for Latinx entertainment, including music. In Part 1 of a two-part series we talk about the origins and evolution of Miami’s Latin music scene, from very local Cuban rock bands to national crossover hits. Featuring music by Brill...

Some dreamy R&B, una bachatica nueva, an interesting cover, and old faves make comebacks. Lo nuevo pa sus playlists - whether you’re wanting something upbeat for warmer times or taking your time and moving slow. Featuring music by Kiko el Crazy, Wisin y Yandel, Kaina, Flor de Toloache, Ibeyi, Romeo Santos, Hurray for the Riff Raff, and Don Omar. Show notes: https://bit.ly/3N0FrA3 Become a Radio Me...

It’s 1999. Ricky Martin is about to take the gringo Grammy’s stage with a historic performance. The beginning of what became known as the “Latin Explosion,” it ushered in a new Latin Boom moment. Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, and the rise of commercial reggaeton shortly would follow. The moment passes, and then in 2017: Despacito. Is anything different? In part two of our Latin Boom series, we detail t...

Every so often, Latin rhythms - read, Afro-Latino rhythms - make it to the U.S. mainstream. And yet, with few exceptions, these “Latin booms” present something very particular: a whitewashed yet racialized exotic designed for white consumption. In our two-part series on Latin Booms, we explore the booms and the busts, the times in between, and whether we see a different future ahead for Latin musi...

Ready for an antidote to Valentine’s Day propaganda??? Ok, we love love, but this week it’s about the dark side: more often than not, relationships lead to breakups….and heartbreak. These are the songs for your broken heart - songs you can relate to, songs you sing really loud and on repeat. Get your tissues and let’s have a good cry amores!!! You’ll feel better in no time. Featuring music by Ange...

It has been so! Long! Since we did a new music episode! So we dig back to cover a few things that maybe aren’t theeee newest but didn’t wanna miss, and also some good new new. Just covering our bases amores, and we promise to keep more new música coming. Featuring music by Combo Chimbita, Son by Four, Estación Cero, Brray, Joyce Santana, Andre Veloz, Amaarae, Moliy, Kali Uchis, and Yandar y Yostin...

It’s the 1990s in NYC. The mix of people, social and political conditions, and money from the music industry collide to make the beginnings of genres that are staples of Latinx popular music today. This week, on part two of our two-part series on Nueva York’s influence on Latinx music, we take you from the ‘90s to the early 2000s: merenhouse, global pop bachata, and reggaeton. Featuring music by P...

New York City has been a critical geography in the U.S. Latine diaspora, and a longtime home for displaced peoples from all over the world. It has led to the creation of globally influential culture, and music is no exception. In part one of a two-part series on Nueva York, we explore the ways that the social and political conditions that created mass movements of people landing in this singular c...

Think: songs your favorite Latina drag queens love to perform. Songs that might not be explicitly gay, but get the queers going. You know the ones. These are the gay anthems. Featuring music by Selena, Ana Gabriel, Gloria Trevi, Thalia and Celia Cruz. Show notes: bit.ly/3qPc233 Become a Radio Menea member: bit.ly/2s2RQhS Follow us: instagram.com/RadioMenea twitter.com/RadioMenea tinyletter.com/Rad...

Celebrity deaths! Pandemic panic! Winter chill! What a moment. We’re back for our first episode of 2022 trying to process this moment - all the weird and concerning and sad things, but also managing to stay ok and slowing down. Featuring Vicente Fernandez, Kelman Duran, Thalía, Romeo Santos, Ana Macho, Leiva, Natalia Lafourcade, Tei Shi. Show notes: https://bit.ly/3qpcNiP Follow us: instagram.com/...

Llegó la navidad amores! It’s coquito, its hallacas and tamales and pasteles, it’s pernil and pan de jamón and generally ungodly amounts of pork. Y bueno, música. We’ve got some classic Venezuelan gaitas, some diaspora feels salsa, and yes, a christmas dembow. Enjoy the season! Featuring music by Victor Manuelle, Cardenales del Éxito, El Alfa, El Cherry Scom, Kiko El Crazy, Shelow Shaq, Maracaibo...

Big feelings. Big vocals. Big hair. It’s time for another señora jams episode! Consider your end of year deep cleaning playlist started. Join us as we do a rundown of some very señora songs, and revisit the perennial question: is Vero a señora yet? Featuring music by Myriam Hernández, Paulina Rubio, Alejandra Guzman, Lucero, Pimpinela, Yuridia and Gloria Trevi. Show notes: bit.ly/3xNbpc6 Follow us...

We’re so delighted to have Dominican duo Martox as our invitados this week! They join us to talk (en español) about their brand new EP Se Siente Diferente, the queer storyline in the EP’s visuals, and how they’ve created an all-encompassing artistic concept behind their music. Show notes: https://bit.ly/3kPzp9j Follow Martox: instagram.com/martoxmusic twitter.com/martoxmusic Follow us: instagram.c...

Xenia Rubinos’ music defies categorization, blowing up genre boundaries in favor of raw emotion and a sharp, witty musicality. We’ve been in conversation with Xenia here since 2017 and following her for even longer, and she returns to the show (for a third time!) to talk about her new album, Una Rosa. Join us as we talk about her creative processes, her influences, her relationship to flowers y má...