18 New Songs to Listen to This Week From Key-Key to The Lilas

05.09.25 at 10:28

This is our weekly compilation of bite-sized reviews of newly released songs by our talented music writers. Discover new favorites, read nuanced criticism of the week’s hottest releases, and much more. Who knows, you might walk out of this with a new fave or two. Some of the featured artists include Key-Key, The Lilas, and Juan Wauters. Follow our playlist featuring these tracks and more on Spotify or Apple Music.

Key-Key - “Un Trip”

Honduran artist Key-Key released his newest single, “Un Trip.” The song channels the Caribbean, with Afrobeats flair on a pop soundscape. Starting with tender chords, the track flourishes with light percussion and gentle synths that welcome Key-Key’s mesmerizing flow. All together, “Un Trip” is an enticing track about someone who is smitten with someone new – a tale listeners can often relate to. With a catchy hook featuring lyrics like, “Con la mente llamándote, deseándote bebe / Dime tú qué vamos hacer,” the track is a new go-to for those curious and ready to be more than friends. – Jeanette Hernandez

The Lilas - “Ojos Tristes”

Guatemalan artist Sebastián Villatoro recently dropped Vaquero Tropical, his latest EP as The Lilas, and closing the tracklist is a stripped-down bolero beautifully confected to tug our heartstrings. On “Ojos Tristes,” electric and acoustic guitars weave together a light blanket that wraps Villatoro’s languid croons, which sound like it’s being broadcasted from a past AM radio transmission. Villatoro bares his feelings and sings with the candor of someone who’s been hurt before but refuses to give up on love. You can feel the warmth and hopefulness radiate from your headphones. – Cheky

Juan Wauters - “Dime Amiga”

Sometimes it’s not enough to lend a friend an ear to listen and a shoulder to lean on, which is why Juan Wauters has given us an anthem for these situations. “Dime Amiga” is a lively, acoustic guitar-driven folk track that straddles the line between happy chords and melancholic vocals, providing contrasting elements that make the track feel as compelling as well as nurturing. As an added bonus, the video for the track finds Juan and his young daughter making their way around NYC, hustling to get by together. “Dime Amiga” is a warm hug after a long day. — Marcos Hassan

Catalina y las Bordonas de Oro & Gepe - “Mirada Mía”

Catalina y las Bordonas de Oro have generated some serious buzz throughout the past year for their stunning and nostalgic ballads influenced by the music of artists like Javier Solis. Now the ensemble has joined forces with singer-songwriter Gepe to croon about unwavering desire amid emotional rough patches on their elegant new single “Mirada Mía.” The two Chilean artists take inspiration from traditional boleros by incorporating soft shuffling percussion and lustrous acoustic guitars for a bittersweet but romantic ode to a love that withstands those crushing periods of being apart from one another. – Nayeli Portillo

Rodrigo Alarcon, Pedro Altério and IVYSON - "Até o Sol Aparecer"

Songs about the trials and tribulations of falling in love are among the most common in the music sphere, but what a joy it is when they instead focus on the other end of the emotional spectrum. With “Até o Sol Aparecer,” Rodrigo Alarcon welcomes Pedro Altério and IVYSON into an intimate but optimistic track that waxes poetic about the honeymoon phase of a relationship. The instrumental accompaniment only increases the magical feeling of this deeply MPB-rooted tune by prioritizing bright sounds that contrast beautifully with the low, albeit soft, nature of the singers’ vocals. – Júlia Henn

Paloma Mami - “Hakia”

Prepping fans for her upcoming sophomore album Códigos de Muñeka, Chilean princess Paloma Mami first teased the project with the bittersweet “Mi Kama” music video, where she drives through the city unable to shake the memory of a past lover. Now, shifting gears, she unleashes her inner diva with “Hakia,” a reggaeton anthem brimming with confidence and atrevimiento. The grittiness in her attitude and lyrics matches perfectly with a beat that’ll have your bass bumping when you turn the volume all the way up to chant, “A tus niveles no creo que muchas llegan. No other girl that can do it baby — brilla hasta en la oscuridad.” For the girls, it’s a reminder that you’re one of one. No one comes close to being on your level or shining as brightly as you do. Paloma Mami has stood at the forefront of Chile’s music scene for years, and after a brief hiatus, she’s back, stronger and more unapologetic than ever. – Natasha Melina Argudo

Chocolate Remix - “PIZZA CON CHAMPAGNE”

Club culture has always revelled in its presence as a safe space for different cultures and marginalized groups to find connection through rhythm, and that’s something Chocolate Remix is solidifying through her AFTER MINGA EP. Where others find humor and a little obscurity, Chocolate Remix is contextualizing club classics as gateways for the means of resistance, and the CRRDR remix to “PIZZA CON CHAMPAGNE” is no different. On this remix, Chocolate drops the reggaeton layers and heavily embraces the techno/dance aspect, turning the energy up to the max. Through this project, Chocolate aimed to reimagine the themes present on the EP while highlighting how global club music can fall under the same theme of providing a safe space to flourish, and every remix present maximizes that sense of joy. CRRDR’s reimagining keeps the braggadocious attitude of the original while bringing out his own wild sense of thrill. – Alan Baez

La Indigo - “Luz, Cámara, Acción”

Buenos Aires diva La Indigo is ready for her close-up. With her latest single, “Luz, Cámara, Acción,” she builds on the brazen attitude of previous bangers like “Noche de Mujer” and “Betch,” declaring that a true baddie is ready to serve at any given moment. Popping off over an unrelenting electroclash beat, she says, “Quieren saber todo de mi tea / Y yo solo quiero un record deal,” alluding to the constant sexualization of her trans identity while her biggest concern is securing the bag. La Indigo is the latest young star to emerge from Argentina’s boundary-pushing LGBTQ underground, where the likes of Ibiza Pareo, Chocolate Remix, Ceretti, and Matt Montero are breathing new life into pop irreverence. — Richard Villegas

Gabriel Dinero - “para siempre ??”

London-based Guatemalan artist Gabriel Dinero shares his latest single “para siempre ??,” a lo-fi R&B meets hazed bedroom pop track. After a four-count intro beat, we meet an array of melting guitar riffs and mellowed percussive beats that together create a minimal production that opens up a more intimate and emotive world to be drawn from its lyricism. Allowing for his sultry-esque, charmed vocals to take control, the words take over to transform into processing a love that once was. Disorienting in nature, sudden and quick ends become the glue that holds a million questions together, like can late apologies minimize the hurt and what happens to the unkept promises of “forever?” — Jeanette Diaz

DEER - “SHY IRL”

Following her latest album Aether Infernum Cervus, DEER dropped her newest anti-pop single, “SHY IRL.” Produced by frequent collaborator KORI, the new track intertwines alternative pop elements spearheaded by a groovy bass rhythm. With auto-tune sassiness, the experimental artist creates a Charli xcx-esque vibe while reiterating to listeners that, yeah, she’s shy in person, but she’s hot, so it’s worth getting to know her. Known to toy with heavy synthesizers, electronic, pop, and rock tinges, DEER continues to explore her sonic palette, this time with a short-but-sweet anthem for introverted internauts who prefer to be flirty behind the screen than in person. – Jeanette Hernandez

Lau e Eu - “o sonho de Minelle… (feat. menino thito)”

Hailing from Brazil, Lauckson Melo, aka Lau e Eu, is finally following up his 2018 debut album Selma with a brand new full-length this July. He set off the countdown with a single featuring menino thito on additional vocals. “o sonho de Minelle…” stands at the meeting point between indie pop and R&B, powered by soulful drums and psychedelic guitar work that contribute to the oneiric references in the lyrics. Melo is in pain in the absence of a girl he still loves, and he’s deep in his feelings as he wonders where she went. With Melo barely breaking a whispery register, it feels like he let us into an entry from his diary. – Cheky

Dom Salvador, Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad - "Não Podermos O Amar Para"

A coalition of intergenerational and international talents, producers Adrian Younge and A Tribe Called Quest’s Ali Shaheed Muhammad team up with Brazilian legendary pianist Dom Salvador to deliver a ray of sunshine in the form of a song. On “Não Podermos O Amar Para,” the beats sound crispy yet fit within bossa nova tradition, while its jazzy bassline keeps things moving, and lively, slightly psychedelic arrangements give the track a different dimension. Meanwhile, vocal harmonies lift the track up into the stratosphere, pushed further into heavenly realms by flute and wah-wah guitars. “Não Podermos O Amar Para” balances tradition and innovation in a Technicolor way. — Marcos Hassan

Cuco - “Para Ti”

Cuco has sung it all: smoking the pain away, finding romance at the end of the world, tearing up the town in his Honda CR-V, and most notably, being stuck in the melancholic doom loop that comes as the result of unrequited love. On “Para Ti,” the singer-songwriter takes that familiar formula of being stupidly in love with someone who is just not for you and douses it with the sounds of classic Chicano soul for a dreamy serenade. Whether you’re riding around in an SUV or a vintage lowrider, “Para Ti” is a perfect fit for that point in the summertime where the only cure is a slow, late-night cruise. – Nayeli Portillo

Dámaris Bojor - “Boca de Pitahaya”

In her debut album, Folkpirana, singer-songwriter Dámaris Bojor draws from personal experience by paying homage to the landscapes and characters she grew up around in Sonora, Mexico, and singing them to the combination of traditionally rural instruments and urban references, leaning into folk, hence the name of the project. Heavy on the bucolic sounds of guitars, banjos, violins, and harmonicas, the album reflects on different aspects of the artist’s nostalgic ruminations over her homeland. One of the tracks, “Boca de Pitahaya,” takes a more romantic approach to Bojor’s pioneering style and envelops the listener in its sweet and naive sonic atmosphere as the singer shares details of the joy brought to her heart by an unforgettable love story. – Júlia Henn

Aitana - “6 DE FEBRERO”

If you’re looking for a retro, synth-filled pop heartbreak song that tugs at your heartstrings, look no further than Aitana’s “6 DE FEBRERO.” The lyrics were first revealed to fans in the Spanish artist’s Netflix docuseries Aitana: Metamorfosis and immediately resonated for their raw relatability. If you’ve ever wished you could turn back time to before you met the person who turned your world upside down, this song is for you. Aitana masterfully balances the song’s sorrowful lyrics with visuals that capture the emotional aftermath of heartbreak. Trying to have fun with friends while hiding behind a smile that masks lingering thoughts of an ex. She confronts her feelings without a timeline, allowing herself to be sad when she needs to, and embracing joy with her friends when she can, reminding us that healing doesn’t follow a schedule. In a moment of pure pop perfection, Aitana offers comfort and solidarity, showing us the beauty in putting yourself first. – Natasha Melina Argudo

rafa - "Mamá Qué Hiciste"

With Mother’s Day around the corner, Dallas-based artist rafa is giving you a warm reminder to hold your loved ones. Through the combination of lofi aesthetics and flamenco-styled melodies, rafa captures two specific vibes at the same time: the dainty feeling of hanging with yourself at a busy restaurant and the yearning to see someone who’s become a memory. “Mamá Qué Hiciste” is rafa honoring his mother, giving one of the most intimate performances in his catalog. He captures the cherished memory of waking up to your mother making breakfast and the appreciation for having someone take care of him despite living in an unstable home. “Mamá Qué Hiciste” is dreamy, the instrumental is gentle, and rafa’s vocal performance captures the warm and loving nature that only a parent could provide. – Alan Baez

Miranda!, Tini - “Me Gusta”

Back in 2023, Argentine pop icons Miranda! kicked off a major career resurgence following the runaway success of Hotel Miranda!, a campy record that reimagined their pantheon of classics with viral guest spots from superstars including Lali and Cristian Castro. Sticking to this cross-generational formula but armed with an original repertoire, the beloved duo has unveiled Nuevo Hotel Miranda!, a sugary sequel enlisting pop sensations Nicki Nicole and Kenia Os, as well as legends like Vicentico and Fito Paez. The final teaser for the album dropped this week with “Me Gusta,” featuring pop maven TINI in a throbbing sci-fi romp about the physical symptoms of feeling head over heels. The track comes loaded with EDM synths, vixen bars, and playful hooks primed for club domination, while the Coneheads-meets-Severance music video will be immortalized through hilarious stan gifs across social media. — Richard Villegas

Teri Gender Bender - “¿PORQUÉ TE VAS?”

We are experiencing a Jeanette renaissance — and it’s everything the legacy Spanish singers’ music catalog deserves. Mexican-American Teresa Suárez Cosio, best known by stage moniker Teri Gender Bender, takes a classic for a spin on this latest cover rendition. On “¿PORQUÉ TE VAS?,” the song gets reinvigorated with a harder and more experimental psychedelic rock edge that leans heavier onto its staccato drum beats that really drive the song, while including glimmers of tambourine, a stringed chorus, and synthetic keys. The vocals really center the single back as it carries a tonal callback to the original, while interpolated with the magnetically dynamic energy the Le Butcherettes frontwoman has become known for. — Jeanette Diaz

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