There are so many people and nations that fall under the title of Latin, which translates into a ton of talent and culture across the world. Latinx artists have always been shaping music in more ways than one. Even in the U.S., there have been plenty of influential and growing artists who also represent another country in their music. Whether that be Selena, Kali Uchis, J Balvin, Rosalia, Bad Bunny and so many more. Fans of music have so much to owe to Latinx musicians for their impact on the American music scene. Here are a few artists who hail or descended from Spanish speaking countries.
The following are Latinx artists that people should get familiar with in honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15.
If you are a fan of bedroom pop then you need no introduction to Boy Pablo. Nicolas Muñoz, who goes by the stage name of Boy Pablo, is part Chilean and has been making music since 2015. He started gaining attraction when his song “Everytime” blew up on YouTube, gathering 40 million views in four years. His most recent work is his debut album “Wachito Rice” where you can hear him being in touch with his Chilean roots. If you’re a fan of Cuco, Clairo or other indie pop artists, then give him a listen.
Marina de Miguel aka Girl Ultra is one of the rising stars in Mexico’s growing R&B culture. She is currently signed to the label, Finesse Records, who has other Latin artists like Coral Casino, Santa Bandida and more. In an interview with NPR, she stated she grew up around 90’s R&B artists like Erykahu Badu, D'angelo and Destiny's Child. You can hear the influence in songs from her most recent album “Nuevos Aires.”
The trap scene has plenty of latinx stars as well including the likes of Natanel Cano. Born in Hermosillo, Mexico, he has collaborated with many well known artists like Bad Bunny, Alejandro Fernández and Snoop Dogg. Even though he has distanced himself a bit from the trap sound in his most recent album and has took on more of a corridos sound, he is still a great artist to check out.
Nathy Peluso is the most “different” artist in this article and maybe in general. She takes inspiration from salsa, rap, tango, R&B and any other genre. Her lyrics aren’t much different; she is constantly mixing languages and slang which may be confusing at times. However polarizing the Argentina pop star is, she still has plenty of great songs to check out. I recommend checking out her most recent single “Mafioso” that was released on July 9.
My personal favorite of this list is The Marias, a band led by the Puerto Rican singer Maria Zardoya. The indie rock group takes aspects of Selena, Tame Impala and many more talented groups incorporating Spanish and English in their songs. They have a very bittersweet yet calming sound which has led to a growing audience. The group recently released their album “Cinema” which is a must listen for fans of alternative music.
Last but not least is the Guatemalan songwriter Jesse Baez. Just like Girl Ultra, he is a talented R&B artist but he takes on a much different sound. If you’re a fan of artists like Partynextdoor or Bryson Tiller, you will love Jesse’s sound. Unlike most of the artists here on this list, he was born in the U.S., then moved back to Guatemala at a young age. His alternate sound is super interesting and has the ability to capture you. He hasn’t released a full album in three years but his discography is still full of entertaining music.
This is an extremely small dose of all the talent in the Latinx community. All with their own genre, appeal and style that deserves an audience’s attention. Make sure to celebrate this month in some way and to remember what the Latinx community has done for this country and for music as a whole. The impact they have had should definitely be noticed more than just every National Hispanic Heritage Month.
