This yr guarantees to be some of the thrilling editions of the Latin Grammys.
Because the Latin Recording Academy prepares to unveil the nominations for the award’s twenty sixth version on Sept. 17, the eligibility interval — from June 1, 2024 to Could 31, 2025 — contains numerous high-profile albums that not solely contributed to the continuing Latin music increase on a world degree, but additionally pushed the motion ahead with their radical selections and genre-defying sounds.
Now a significant a part of the Latin pop DNA, the urbano style continues to redefine and problem itself, whereas the rootsy strains of música Mexicana have deservedly gained a privileged seat on the desk like by no means earlier than. The fields of people, rock, electronica and tropical are nonetheless increasing, and artists equivalent to Dangerous Bunny, Rauw Alejandro, Becky G, Fuerza Regida and Natalia Lafourcade are vying for awards with a number of the most bold albums of their careers.
De Los assistant editor Suzy Exposito and contributing author Ernesto Lechner talk about their predictions on the songs and albums which can be most certainly to be nominated. The next dialog has been edited for size.
Ernesto Lechner: This appears to be a straightforward yr by way of the 2 apparent candidates for Latin Gammy historical past. Dangerous Bunny’s “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” is the type of album that defines not solely the yr it got here out — 2025 — but additionally your complete decade. And Natalia Lafourcade’s mystically tinged “Cancionera” finds the perennial Grammy favourite on the apex of her craft. Going again to Benito’s masterpiece, its conceptual gravitas is sort of grander than the songs themselves.
Suzy Exposito: I’m actually gunning for Album of the Yr for this one. The quantity of thought and intention that he positioned on this file. The cultural significance of the songs, not simply by way of the historical past of Puerto Rico, however the best way through which he immediately engages with the Caribbean diaspora at giant by way of salsa.
E.L.: I really like how lovingly he delves past salsa to additionally embody plena. He goes again to Rafael Cortijo — the roots, the very essence of boricua tradition. And the album has this Beatles-like high quality the place it’s extremely business — a No. 1 file, the album that everyone is listening to — however there’s no compromise on the inventive entrance. It’s an bold, absolutely realized assertion.
S.E.: Is any album by Benito simply one other Dangerous Bunny album? I don’t assume he dabbles in filler the best way different artists do.
E.L.: The photograph of the plastic chairs on the quilt may have been taken within the suburbs of Lima, or San Salvador, or Medellín. Benito makes such an inclusive, pan-Latin assertion. Which brings me to appoint the title observe, “Debí Tirar Mas Fotos,” as an ideal contender for Tune of the Yr.
S.E.: Once I first heard it, I began to cry. It’s a really sentimental track. I used to be not too long ago in Puerto Rico and went to a plena jam session. It was taking place on the street, and you can see folks of all ages enjoying collectively, singing conventional songs, drinks in hand. There was one thing actually stunning and timeless about that communal expertise.
E.L.: An analogous ardour for music permeates Lafourcade’s “Cancionera.” Recorded dwell on analog tape, it has a pristine, wooden-floor type of heat. She embodies this mystical character, the cancionera, and it’s a really mature album. I really like “Cocos en la Playa” — a frisky, stunning tropical track that’s so beautiful and genuine. For my cash, it’s going to be a battle between these two albums in all the most important classes.
S.E.: I really feel that Natalia Lafourcade is the conservative selection on the Latin Gammys, and it feels weird to say it. It is a lady who was making pop-rock within the 2000s. She is a virtuosa, and a grasp of her craft, however her nomination is predictable as a result of now she represents the gold normal for the Latin Academy.
E.L.: She’s positively the most secure selection between the 2. In addition to Benito and Natalia, there are a number of albums that might very effectively seem within the main classes, and certainly one of them is Cazzu’s “Latinaje.”
S.E.: That album is such a press release piece. I beloved seeing Cazzu break free from the Latin lure sound that she outlined and mixing it with different issues. She’s an awesome songwriter, and her transformation is fascinating. I feel that is the yr when many younger individuals are going again to their roots, after which making one thing new out of it.
E.L.: I had a dialog with Cazzu a number of months in the past and informed her that “Latinaje” made me really feel vindicated. As a fellow Argentine, I’ve all the time felt that we’re an integral a part of Latin America. She proved it with this stunning love letter to so many important genres. There’s salsa, merengue, South American folks, and “Dolce,” a stunning corrido tumbado about that notorious pink gown that went viral. And she or he did all of it so genuinely.
S.E.: It could be arduous for her, as a result of she got here up as an MC. I ponder if the Latin Academy will know in what classes to put her, since that is such a multi-genre album. I imply, she’s a global woman.
E.L.: And naturally, Rubén Blades has a brand new album out, and it’s stunning as all the time. “Fotografías” is one other luxurious, large band salsa session. It combines new compositions with songs that Rubén had given to fellow Fania artists within the ‘70s, and now recorded them himself.
S.E.: That’s an awesome transfer on his half. “Hey, remember those songs? Yeah — I wrote them!” It sounds ridiculous to say that Rubén is one other protected selection, however I can see him in all the massive classes. Which brings me to a different artist who made a salsa-influenced album: Rauw Alejandro and “Cosa Nuestra.”
E.L.: I really like the Afro-Caribbean vibe on “Cosa Nuestra” and the silky duet with bachata star Romeo Santos on “Khé?” I really feel this one has been overshadowed slightly by Benito’s “Debí Tirar Más Fotos.” My favourite Rauw Alejandro album stays 2021’s “Vice Versa” with the superior, ‘80s influenced mega-hit “Todo De Ti.”
S.E.: My favorite song on “Cosa Nuestra” is “Se Fue,” the duet with Laura Pausini, which is also like a moody ‘80s song. Raúl has made it a point to polish up his nostalgia for old forms of music. Michael Jackson is one of his most influential artists.
By the way, we should mention Fuerza Regida and their ninth studio album, “111XPANTIA.” They have never been nominated for a Latin Grammy, so I’m rooting for them as a result of they’ve experimented in a extremely daring means. Their lead singer, Jesús Ortiz Paz, has proven numerous intention behind his inventive choices past making the identical corridos or mining from the identical previous ‘90s rappers. Their music is cheeky; sonically, it pushes boundaries.
E.L.: You’re by no means gonna have a foul time with this new wave of música Mexicana stars, contemplating the staggering melodic richness of their songs and the immediacy of the lyrics.
S.E.: On that observe, I feel it’s time for Ivan Cornejo to get a Latin Grammy nod for “Mirada” — the manufacturing has this ethereal high quality that sounds so mature and progressive for the style. I additionally need to applaud DannyLux for his bold “Leyenda,” which is a psychedelic tackle sierreño music, à la George Harrison.
E.L.: What about Becky G? Final yr I used to be requested to jot down about “Encuentros,” and I simply needed to give up to the magnificence of this pristine música Mexicana session. Her voice sounds big on this file.
S.E.: I actually hope they don’t silo her within the música Mexicana classes, as a result of it is a very mature album for her. She grew up singing mariachi music together with her household, so it’s an attractive full circle second for her.
E.L.: “Encuentros” could be an ideal Album of the Yr candidate as a result of it celebrates the music of her grandparents however on the identical time transcends it. I really like that Becky stated she’s by no means wanting again after recording her two conventional albums of rancheras and plush Mexican pop.
This brings me to a extra normal commentary: I consider we’re experiencing an period of absolute splendor, and the Latin Grammys nominations are sure to mirror that. It’s like each single Latin American nation has blossomed, sporting its most elegant garments and throwing some superb events. The richness and breadth of the music being recorded all through the continent is off the charts.
S.E.: I agree. Creatively, the final couple of years have been probably the most thrilling for Latin music in a extremely very long time. I feel we’re going to recollect the 2020s for the daring decade that it’s.
