This yr he guarantees to be some of the thrilling editions of the Latin Grammy.
While the Latina Recording Academy is getting ready to disclose the nominations for the twenty sixth version of the prize on September 17, the eligibility period-Dal June 1, 2024 to 31 May 2025-Includes a sequence of high-profile albums that not solely have contributed to the growth of Latin music in progress globally, but additionally pushed the ahead actions with their radical decisions and such sounds.
Now an important a part of Latin pop DNA, the city style continues to redefine and problem himself, whereas the novel strains of Música Mexican have deservedly earned a privileged place on the desk as by no means earlier than. The fields of people, rock, digital and tropical are nonetheless increasing and artists resembling Bad Bunny, Rauw Alejandro, Becky G, Fuerza Regida and Natalia Lafourcade are arguing for the prizes with among the most formidable albums of their careers.
Def Assistant Editor Suzy Exposito and the author who contributes Ernesto Lechner focus on their forecasts on the songs and albums which can be extra more likely to be appointed. The following dialog has been modified for size.
Ernesto Lechner: This appears to be a simple yr by way of two apparent candidates for the historical past of the Latin Gammy. “Debí Tirar Más Photos” by Bad Bunny is the kind of album that defines not solely the yr wherein it got here out – 2025 – but additionally all the decade. And “Cancionera” by Natalia Lafourcade “Cancionera” finds Grammy’s favourite perennial on the peak of his occupation. Returning to Benito’s masterpiece, his conceptual gravitas is nearly bigger than the songs themselves.
Suzy Exposito: I’m actually capturing for the album of the yr for this. The quantity of thought and intention that has included on this file. The cultural which means of the songs, not solely by way of the historical past of Puerto Rico, however the best way wherein it’s dedicated straight with the Caribbean diaspora generally via the sauce.
El: I like how lovingly it deepens the sauce additionally embrace plena. Back to Rafael Cortijo – The roots, the very essence of Boricua tradition. And the album has this high quality much like Beatles wherein it’s extremely commercial-a disco n. 1, the album that everybody is listening to-but there isn’t any compromise on the creative entrance. It is an formidable and totally realized affirmation.
IF: Is some albums by Benito simply one other Bad Bunny album? I do not suppose it delights in filling as the opposite artists do.
El: The photograph of the plastic chairs on the quilt could possibly be taken on the outskirts of Lima, or San Salvador or Medellín. Benito makes such an inclusive and pan-life declaration. Which leads me to nominate the monitor of the title, “Debí Tirar Mas Fotos”, as an ideal contender for Song of the Year.
IF: When I heard it for the primary time, I began crying. It is a really sentimental track. I used to be just lately in Puerto Rico and went to a plena jam session. It was taking place on the road and other people of all ages performed collectively, singing conventional songs, drinks in hand. There was one thing actually stunning and timeless in that widespread expertise.
El: An identical ardour for the permeated music of “Cancionra” of Lafourcade. Recorded reside on analogue ribbon, it has a kind of uncontaminated wooden in wooden. Embodies this mystical character, the cancionrara, And it is a very mature album. I like “Cocos en la Playa” – a energetic and fantastic tropical track that’s so cute and genuine. For my cash, it is going to be a battle between these two albums in all the primary classes.
IF: I really feel that Natalia Lafourcade is the conservative selection on the Latin Gammy, and it appears weird to say. This is a lady who was producing pop-rock within the 2000s. He is a virtuous and a grasp of his occupation, however his appointment is predictable as a result of he now represents the Gold Standard for Latina Academy.
El: It is actually the most secure selection between the 2. In addition to Benito and Natalia, there are some albums that would very properly seem in the primary classes, and certainly one of them is Cazzu’s “Latinaje”.
IF: That album is such a chunk. I favored to see Cazzu detach from the sound of the Latin lure that he outlined and mixing with different issues. He is a superb singer -songwriter and his transformation is fascinating. I feel that is the yr wherein many younger folks return to their roots after which they do one thing new.
El: I had a dialog with Cazzu a number of months in the past and advised her that “Latina” made me really feel claimed. As an Argentine companion, I’ve at all times considered being an integral a part of Latin America. He demonstrated it with this stunning love letter to so many important genres. There is Salsa, Merengue, South American folks and “Dolce”, a splendid hall hall on that infamous purple gown that has turn into viral. And he did all the things so sincerely.
IF: It could possibly be troublesome for her, as a result of she got here like an MC. I ponder if the Latin Academy will know wherein classes to position it, since that is such a multi-genener album. I imply, she is a global lady.
El: And, in fact, Rubén Blades has a brand new album, and it is stunning as at all times. “Photos” is one other luxurious Salsa session of the good band. He combines new compositions with songs that Rubén had given Fania artists to his companions within the 70s and now recorded them alone.
IF: It is a superb transfer on his half. “Hey, bear in mind these songs? Yes, I wrote them!” It appears ridiculous to say that Rubén is one other protected selection, however I can see it in all the good classes. Which leads me to a different artist who made an affect album on the sauce: Rauw Alejandro and “What Nuestra”.
El: I like the Afro-Craibic environment on “what Nuestra” and the seedy duet with the star of Bachata Romeo Santos on “Ké?” I really feel that this has been obscured a bit by Benito’s “Debí Tirar Más Photos”. My favourite album Rauw Alejandro stays “vice versa” of 2021 with the improbable “Todo de Ti” influenced by the 80s “Todo de Ti”.
IF: My favourite track on “What Nuestra” is “Se Fue”, the duet with Laura Pausini, who can be like a moody track from the 80s. Raúl has questioned his nostalgia for previous types of music. Michael Jackson is certainly one of his most influential artists.
By the best way, we must always point out Fuerza Regida and their ninth studio album, “111xpantia”. They have by no means been appointed For a Latin Grammy, so I’m cheering for them as a result of they’ve skilled in a extremely daring method. Their principal singer, Jesús Ortiz Paz, confirmed many intentions behind his inventive selections in addition to making the identical runos or mining by the previous rappers because the 90s. Their music is brazen; Sonicly, he pushes the boundaries.
El: You won’t ever have enjoyable with this new wave of stars of Música Mexican, contemplating the unimaginable melodic richness of their songs and the immediacy of the lyrics.
IF: In that notice, I feel it’s time for Ivan Cornejo to get a nod of the Latin Grammy for “Mirada” – manufacturing has this ethereal high quality that appears so mature and progressive for the style. I additionally wish to applaud damagelux for its formidable “Leyenda”, which is a psychedelic model of Sierreño music, at George Harrison.
El: How about becky g? Last yr I used to be requested to put in writing about “Encuentros”, and I solely needed to give up to the class of this unspoiled session of Música Mexican. His voice sounds large on this album.
IF: I actually hope that he doesn’t take care of it within the classes of Música Mexican, as a result of it is a very mature album for her. He grew up singing Mariachi music together with his household, so it’s a stunning second in full circle for her.
El: “Encuentros” can be a candidate for the right album of the yr as a result of he celebrates the music of his grandparents however on the identical time transcends it. I like the truth that Becky stated he by no means seemed again after having recorded his two conventional albums in Rancheras and luxurious Mexican pop.
This leads me to a extra normal statement: I feel we’re experiencing an period of absolute splendor, and the Latin nominations of the Grammy are destined to replicate this. It is as if each single Latin American nation had blossomed, carrying its most elegant garments and organizing some stunning holidays. The wealth and amplitude of the music which can be recorded all through the continent is out of the rating.
IF: I agree. Creatively, the final two years have been essentially the most thrilling for Latin music for a very long time. I feel we are going to bear in mind the Twenties for the daring decade it’s.
