Rauw Alejandro’s ‘Dejame Entrar’ & More Best New Music Latin
New Music Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs and albums recommended by Billboard’s Latin and Billboard Español editors. Check out this week’s picks below.
Rauw Alejandro, “Déjame Entrar” (Sony Music Latin)
Returning to the sultry depths of his musical roots, Rauw Alejandro seduces with “Déjame Entrar,” blending tropical beats with longing lyrics reminiscent of his raunchy yet simmering 2020 debut, Afrodisiaco. This second single from his upcoming album showcases the craftsmanship of super producer MAG, musician Mick Coogan, Tyler Spry and additional talents, creating a lush soundscape for Rauw’s melodious pleas.
The track gains a dancehall-inflected intensity as it progresses, illustrating the Puerto Rican star’s plea for a deeper connection. By the four-minute mark, the reggaetón rhythms climax alongside a luminous steel-string guitar. In its accompanying music video, starring Adrian Brody, Rauw (a.k.a. El Zorro) switches from a suave, hopeless romantic lounging in a jacuzzi to dancing in an equestrian field — perfect visuals to complement the song’s passionate, evolving sounds and his consistent, flirtatious essence. — ISABELA RAYGOZA
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Danny Ocean, venequia. (Warner Music Latin)
With just a few days left before the presidential elections in Venezuela — which he had already referred to during his performance at the Latin AMAs with a t-shirt with the date July 28 — Danny Ocean surprises his fans with a seven-song EP dedicated to his native country, from the perspective of an emigrant. Driven by electronic rhythms that merge with reflective lyrics, the album opens with “A Mí También Me Duele,” which according to press notes he wrote thinking about the authorities who are suddenly not on your side, perhaps as seen in the many demonstrations in the South American country over the years.
While some of the tracks can easily pass for love songs, Ocean’s intention runs deeper. He says he made “Por Siempre y Para Siempre,” for example, “thinking that Venezuela will not forget those of us who are outside.” Other titles are more direct: In “Por la Pequeña Venecia” (Venezuela means “little Venice”), he admits he is willing to exchange justice for peace; in “Una Niña de Venezuela” he talks about the women who had to leave their home behind; and in “Dime Tú” he imagines what would be the first thing he would do if there was a change of government in his country. The EP closes with an acoustic version of his 2016 hit “Me Rehúso,” “for all those loves that have been forced to be separated,” as he says at the beginning of the song.
The cover of venequia. is also deeply significant: A broken fragment of Carlos Cruz-Diez’s emblematic work “Couleur Additive” that covers the floor of the Simón Bolívar International Airport lobby, and which has become a symbol of Venezuela’s emigration. It is, from start to finish, a well-produced and thought-out EP. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS
Ivan Cornejo, Mirada (Zaragoza Records/Interscope Records)
There’s an elegance to Ivan Cornejo’s music, as he meticulously crafts songs that are profound, both lyrically and sonically. Perhaps Cornejo’s best album to date (also his major-label debut), the songs on MIRADA showcase a maturity to the Mexican-American’s songwriting, with lyrics about heartbreak that are more refined, poetic and less trite. It’s been two years since Cornejo’s last album (Dañado), and he’s now 20 years old — so this album totally captures this coming-of-age narrative that Cornejo puts on full display, just as he offers a first-row seat to his display of emotions.
Powered mainly by traditional Mexican guitars, which have given Cornejo his signature sierreño sound, he also takes on a corrido tumbado (“Herida Abierta”) fueled by slapping tolocoche strings and wailing trombones. There’s another standout track that totally captures just how innovative Cornejo can be in his genre (música Mexicana). He takes Emmanuel’s brass-driven pop anthem “Quiero Dormir Cansado” from the 1980s, and makes it sound like a completely new song with a riveting electric guitar solo mid-song. Throughout MIRADA, Cornejo’s commanding vocals shine, even when he’s singing in a whisper-like tone he demands attention.
Overall, Cornejo sounds more confident in who he is and can be as an artist in regional Mexican music, a style that’s been generally confined to a sound and an audience. His role today in the genre is more clear than ever with this album — and that’s to keep evolving and revolutionizing a style that’s been a fountain of inspiration for him and a new generation of hitmakers. — GRISELDA FLORES
Lasso & Sofia Reyes, “Siempre Llegas Tarde” (Universal Music Latin)
Lasso is primarily known for his sometimes feel-good, sometimes thought-provoking lyrics and melodies. With “Siempre Llegas Tarde” (you’re always late), his new collaboration with Sofia Reyes, he’s showcasing his versatility that goes beyond the Latin ballad and pop realms. Produced by Andres “Chano” Guardado, we find the Venezuelan artist immersing himself in the cumbia world — a sound that’s already familiarly linked to Reyes—and ever-so-often flaunting his charismatic lyricism. “You’re always late, tell me where you are?/ Every time that I feel lonely and need you more/ You’re never here,” goes the chorus. The soft-yet-catchy cumbia-pop tune talks about a couple who loves and cares for each other but simply doesn’t understand each other. A playful music video shot in the middle of the desert details the frustration of the “relationship” between Lasso and the Mexican pop artist. — JESSICA ROIZ
DOMELIPA & Ozuna, “Ese Vato” (Lipa Music/Sony Music Latin)
Domelipa and Ozuna collaborate to release a new track with chill summer vibes. “Ese Vato,” Mexican slang for “that guy,” is about enjoying an uncomplicated relationship without formal commitment: “Let’s make love, but without a contract/ Baby, I’ve liked you for a while.” Produced by Colombian hitmaker Ovy on the Drums, this retro-pop track is driven by smooth drums and groovy bass, while an acoustic guitar adds soft harmonies that connect with the beauty of the long summer sunsets. “This is an incredible opportunity that helps both of us — Ozuna on the influencer side because it’s very popular right now, and me on the music side,” Domelipa previously told Billboard. “It was cool being able to meet him and talk to him. I admire him a lot, and these are things that a young Dome wouldn’t believe yet.” — INGRID FAJARDO
Ela Taubert, “¿Para Qué?” (Universal Music Latino / Art House)
Pop artist Ela Taubert releases her new single “Para Qué”, the follow-up to her previous theme “Cómo Pasó?” The melody, loaded with acoustic guitars and fusing folk with pop elements, presents a sound that evokes Taylor Swift and Maggie Rogers. In the lyrics, Taubert reflects on a failed relationship, concluding that it is too late to return, even if the other person wants it. “I want my fans to feel the song, to make it their own, to make it their anthem and to accompany them a throughout their journey,” she commented on the release. The Colombian rising star has found her signature sound and stays true to it, bringing a new nuance to the current music scene. — LUISA CALLE
Listen to more editors’ Latin recommendations in the playlist below:
