"The Best Latin Music You Don't Know"

Zune Social: raiderette 87 | By: Alfa Santos | 8/25/2010 |

For the last three years, Latina magazine has offered up the best in little known "Latin" music from all over the Spanish-speaking world, including the US.

I've gladly shared that music with you.

The first year (2008), I shared the free music download link in the Zune forums. Then last year, I let you know that you needed iTunes to get the free downloads. This year.. Latina magazine is more than lacking; there aren't any free music downloads anywhere to be found.

Hell, there isn't even a page online that I can direct you to read up on the featured artists.

But si

nce I'm stubborn as all hell and because I've really loved the past "Best Latin Music" articles from Latina, I'm more than willing to share this year's by any means necessary.

Which mostly involves my organizational skills (or lack there of) and me typing.

The following 18 artists/musicians/bands are from 12 different parts of the Spanish-speaking world.

So as not to make it seem like I'm playing favorites (because I'm only human), I will list the artists in alphabetical order by the country they are originally based out of.

→ ARGENTINA

Sofia Toello

born in Cordoba
moved to New York to study jazz around 2000
her music is said to be Soulful, Latin jazz
recommended download: "La Clarosa Cruz"

Banda de Turistas

these 20-somethings have opened for Coldplay
won the Latin Alternative Music Conference "Artist Discovery Award" in 2009
their music is psychedelic pop
recommended listen: "Día de Prosperidad"

No Lo Soporto

won "Best Independent Artist" at Los Premios MTV 2007 after Soda Stereo lead Gustavo Cerati praised them in a newspaper in 2006
the female trio has digitally released Avión in the US
sounds like new wave, indi rock
listen to "Nunce Iré"

→ BRAZIL

Mallu Magalhães

recorded her first song at 15 and posted it online
at 17 years old, her MySpace page has had more than 4 million visits
MTV Brazil says she is "mini-Feist"
her music is Feist-like with folk
recommended download: "Make it Easy"

→ CHILE

Ana Tijoux

born in 1977 in France during the Pinochet dictatorship
raps in French
moved to Chile and formed Makiza; went solo in 2006
collaborated with Julieta Venegas in "Eres Para Mi"
she has an old-school rap sound
listen to "1977"

Valentina Fel

labeled to Lizard King; same as Santigold
great dance music
her music sounds like electro-gypsy-esque rap
recommended listen: "Sin Control Sin Diversión"

→ COLOMBIA

Eka

is the side project of Erika Muñoz; the band she's a part of is the electro-Latin Sidestepper
Muñoz showcases her Caribbean heritage with Eka
she was born in Barranquilla
sounds like: Afro-Colombian Soukous
download: "Corre que Te Corre"

→ COSTA RICA

Debi Nova

has received six Grammy nominations
wrote songs for RDB
she's preformed with Ricky Martin, the Black Eyed Peas, among others
her music is Spanglish pop
recommended download: "Drummer Boy"

→ MÉXICO

Carla Morrison

inspired by Patsy Cline and Lola Beltrán
native of Tecate
Natalia Lafourcade will produce Morrison's Mientras tu Dormías
her music has a country heart with minimal pop
listen to "Esta Soledad"

→ PANAMA

Los Rakas

Panamanian slang for "ghetto folk"
duet is made up of two cousins, Ricardo Guilliam Bethancourt and Abdull Dominguez, that have been spittin' rhymes since '05
are positively compared to KRS One, Mos Def, etc
currently based out of Oakland, Calif
their music sounds like El General and Clipse had a child
recommended listen: "Miel"

→ PERÚ

Autobus

the band formed in 2006
have opened for Franz Ferdinand, The Killers, Soul Asylum, and more
they sound like vintage Brit pop-rock, with an electro feel
download: "El Duelo"

→ PUERTO RICO

Suturee

Rebecca Adorno and Julian Brau form the duo
now based out of NYC
they have a healing, folk pop feel to their music
recommended download: "Afraid of Hands"

→ SPAIN

Huecco

is composed of Ivan Sevillano
his 2006 self-titled album went gold in Spain
he's compared to the equally socially conscious Manu Chao
Sevillano mixes rock, rumba, cumbia, flamenco, hip-hop, and punk
listen to: "Reina de los Angelotes"

→ UNITED STATES

Rana Santacruz

born in Brooklyn, Santacruz has Chilango (name given to people from Mexico City) roots
his music sounds like Mexican bluegrass/ Irish mariachi. Basically, Mezcal-spiked Celtic folk
download: "El Funeral de Tacho"

Fancy Me Yet

lead singer, Natasha Dueñas (formally known as JD Natasha), received three Grammy nominations when she was solo
the Miami based band was formed in 2009 and consists of Alex Gaynor on guitar and Chris Bernard on drums
their music is like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, a la 305
recommended download: "Amusing Me"

Gustavo Galindo

another Chilango, Galindo is now bases himself from Los Angeles
he's labeled to Surco; as is Juanes
if Bruce Springteen and Juanes' music had a baby, it'd be Galindo
listen to: "Amor de Alta Mar"

Maleco Collective

is composed of Chicano rapper Malverde, Peruvian producer Marthin Chan, Puerto Rican bassist Ibo Rodriguez, and Mexican guitarist Cuevo Perez
together, they "make a savory and soulful mix" of tropical hip-hop
recommended download: "Serenata Para Ti"

→ VENEZUELA

Jóvenes y Sexys

this duo is made up of Lorena Orlando and Ezequiel Bertho
they're from Caracas
covered "Amor Platónico" by Los Tucanes de Tijuana in the 2009 film Rudo y Cursi
their music is said to be sticky sweet lo-fi pop
recommended listen: "El Reloj"

If you would like to read more on these artists, you can back order the June/July 2010 issue of Latina magazine. It's the one with Christina Aguilera on the cover in a green, strapless dress.

I hope you enjoy these new found artists!