New Music Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs and albums recommended by Billboard and Billboard Español editors. Check out this week’s picks below.
Armenta, Portate Bien (Street Mob Records/Warner Music Latina)
Armenta steps into the spotlight with Pórtate Bien, a debut album that positions him as one of música mexicana’s brightest voices. The curly-haired wunderkind, known for crafting hits behind the scenes of the Street Mob corridos clan, takes a bold leap forward here with a genre-spanning collection of 15 tracks that balance his knack for storytelling with fresh sonic directions. From aching indie rock to steely corridos tumbados, flirtatious reggaetón Mexa to heartfelt boleros, Armenta captures a kaleidoscope of moods while staying rooted in raw emotion.
The album opens on a vulnerable note with “Ansiedad,” a melodic indie rock track that channels longing into its soaring melodies. Corridos remain the project’s backbone, with tracks like “Ondeada,” a lilting duet with Jorsshh, standing out for its intricate guitar lines. Armenta ventures into unexpected territory with “Buscándote,” where he blends Jersey club bounce and reggaetón rhythms into a shimmering ode to nightlife chaos. Collaborations further expand the album’s reach, including the romantic corridos “Ojitos Lindos” with Jonatan Caro, whimsical sierreño “Balenciaga” alongside DannyLux, and the graceful bolero closer with Colombian singer Manuel Medrano.
“This album was born from difficult moments and decisions that shaped my path. It’s an honest reflection of everything I am,” the artist says in a statement. ”I want this album to speak to those who have loved, lost, fallen, and kept going — to let them know that there is also beauty in the chaos.” It’s a fearless debut, equal parts exploratory and intimate. — ISABELA RAYGOZA
Wampi & Cimafunk, “Que Bola” (Awaken Music/Virgin Music Latin)
As a preview of his forthcoming El Rey de la Habana album, Wampi has teamed up with his “favorite artist right now,” Cimafunk, for “Que Bola.” Marking their second effort following 2024’s “La Pomada,” the new track is a groovy funk song marked by deep bass tones, saucy saxophone and trumpet melodies, and rhythmic percussion — all bringing to life the essence of Cubanía music.
Written and produced by the self-taught musician, Wampi, the track celebrates Cuban culture and nightlight with local street slang in the lyrics: “Asere, qué bola, que vuelta?” they smoothly ask, loosely meaning “what’s up” in Cuban jerga. “Wampi is the real deal. He’s from the streets and has that cred […] He’s the future of Cuba’s urban movement and this song is a treat,” Cimafunk said in a press statement. “It’s a VERY Cuban song with the grace and flow of how we speak.” — JESSICA ROIZ
Juan Gabriel, “Nunca Es Tarde” (Virgin Music Group)
This ranchero classic by the iconic Mexican singer-songwriter, written by Juan Gabriel for the Spanish singer Rocío Dúrcal during the golden age of this incomparable composer-performer duo, is reborn almost five decades after its original release as the third single from Eterno, the upcoming posthumous album by the so-called Divo de Juárez, scheduled for September. It’s an emotional version that includes vocals recorded by Juan Gabriel shortly before his death in 2016, as well as a new mariachi arrangement by maestro Guillermo Hernández Galicia, his arranger, musical coordinator, and director of the mariachi that accompanied him for nearly 23 years.
Originally released in 1978, “Nunca es Tarde” is a tribute to love through saying farewell, in a hopeful tone of gratitude for that special person that has passed away. The song is accompanied by a music video with AI-generated images, showing a traditional Mexican lottery whose cards allude to the singer-songwriter and the sentiment he seeks to express in this passionate musical piece. — NATALIA CANO
Luna Luna, “Ven y Ven” (Luna Luna Music)
Texas indie pop band Luna Luna delivers a flavorful cumbia perfect for summer in their new single, “Ven y Ven.” With a contagious, laid-back rhythm, the song speaks of longing for the return of an old lover who seems to be doubting the relationship. “Come, come and give me your love/ Don’t wait anymore/ I’m yours, yours, yours now/ What’s going on,” goes the infectious chorus. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS
Diferente Nivel, Carolina Ross, “No Soy Tu Prioridad” (JEM Records)
If there’s a female voice in Mexican music that wraps you with its sweetness, it’s that of Carolina Ross. And on “No Soy Tu Prioridad,” her first collaboration with Diferente Nivel, the singer manages to convey a deep melancholy, as the artists talk about a relationship worn down by a lack of interest. “I prefer you to tell me the truth/ That it tastes like a lie when you say ‘I love you more’/ Because I know it’s an habit that can’t be fixed/ It’s become very clear to me now, I’m not your priority,” Ross and the band’s lead vocalist, Arturo Balderas, sing passionately in this norteño pop ballad driven by guitar, piano, and accordion. The result is an extremely romantic collaboration in regional Mexican music. — TERE AGUILERA
Check out more Latin recommendations this week below:
