As the world becomes smaller and music becomes more globalized, Latin music’s vast influence has become undeniable. J.Lo and Shakira captivated the nation with their Super Bowl Half Time performance, and Luis Fonsi’s “Despacito” continues to reign as most played video on YouTube of all time.
Now, EDM is having its moment in the spotlight. Here are four Latin DJs and producers we’re keeping on our radar this summer:
Lucas Lorenzetti, aka Santti, is new on the scene from Tangará da Serra, Brazil, and has already collaborated with the likes of international acts Banda Eva, Cat Dealers, and Vintage Culture. His raw talent and bumpin’ tracks have landed him on the roster of some of Brazil’s biggest festivals like Xxxperience, Laroc, and Rock In Rio.
Jay Blakk and Kiko Deal make up Climbers, a duo hailing from the Baja Cali city of Mexicali. Dubbed as “future stars” from BBC’s Pete Tong, and recently signed to Om Records (past artists include Kaskade, Wolfgang Gartner, and Bassnectar), Climbers have captured the attention of the EDM community with their fresh take on classic house sounds.
Despite having been on the scene for over a decade since his first release, Pablo Fierro continues to evolve his sound and remain on top of a new wave of electronic music. Born and raised in the Canary Islands, his music is defined as tropical, electromagnetic, and powerful.
From Guayaquil, Ecuador, this young producer is all about the underground scene, sharing dance floor deliriums of techno, dub, psychedelic, and low-frequency sounds. When she’s not in the DJ booth, Daniela plays guitar, drums, bass, and piano, which she utilizes in her soundscapes, live and “in the box”.
Amid a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the show must go on in a “different and innovative way” says Univision.
Hosted by Dominican actress and producer Julissa Calderon (Gentefied, Revenge) and Colombian singer Sebastián Yatra, the stars of this year’s Premios Juventud Awards are J Balvin and Karol G as performers and leading nominees with 12 and 9 nominations, respectively. Joining them live from Miami are CNCO, Anuel AA, Camilo, Pitbull, Ozuna, and many more. Co-host Sebastián Yatra will also grace the stage with his duet “No Bailes Sola” with the rising Mexican star of Netflix’s Élite series, Danna Paola.
Featuring 140 nominees across 28 different categories, Univision has announced several new categories for the virtual 17th edition of the awards show such as New Generation Male & Female and The Quarantune. The Agents of Change category has already been slated, honoring Ricky Martin for his work through the Ricky Martin Foundation seeking to end human trafficking, and Becky G for her continued activism for causes like mental health awareness, poverty and gender equality and racial justice.
On a lighter note, Univision is taking a cue from J.Lo after her successful Tik Tok challenge and starting their own with the hashtag #PremiosJuventudChallenge. Fans with the best dance to “Tattoo”, the hit single by the Puerto Rican singer Rauw Alejandro, will be included in the official broadcast of the event.
This year’s show will carry on in a “different and innovative way” amid the pandemic, featuring augmented and virtual reality technologies, Univision stated. The network will follow strict guidelines and restrictions in full compliance with local authorities and public health recommendations.
J Balvin, Black Eyed Peas, Maluma, Ozuna, Rosalía and Carlos Vives will participate in the virtual three-day immersive experience dedicated to Latin music, culture and entertainment.
Latin Music Week 2020 is set to take place October 20-23, and is going completely virtual (and free!), featuring intimate artist conversations, industry panels, workshops and performances by some of today’s biggest stars in Latin music.
“Latin music has become a formidable and undeniable uniting force around the world, so it’s fitting that this year’s virtual Latin Music Week will be globally accessible at no cost to the industry and fans for the first time,” stated Leila Cobo, VP of Latin at Billboard. “While we were disappointed to postpone our April conference, our virtual event will allow us to connect with fans and artists from all over the world no matter where they are. During these very difficult times, we are thrilled to extend an invitation to all who wish to celebrate Latin music and culture.”
Free and open to anyone and everyone, all you have to do is visit billboardlatinmusicweek.com on October 20 – 23 to join in from the comfort of your home. While there is no ticket or registration required, you can RSVP to receive updates regarding the additional artists and industry speakers, programs, and schedules.
We will definitely miss the “LIVE” event this year. Billboard does an amazing job getting us all together; see the below recap of our time there…
It’s been 24 years since Steve Aoki founded his label Dim Mak, which has launched the careers of top-tier acts like The Chainsmokers, Zedd, Bloc Party, and Latino artists Deorro and Carnage. While the label has found most of its success in the electronic realm, their roster has explored all sorts of genres, from punk and garage rock to disco and new wave. Now, the Grammy-nominated DJ and producer is putting down roots in the Latin market with his latest venture, Dim Mak En Fuego.
“I’m honored to be part of a platform for the next generation of Latinx artists,” said Aoki in a press release. “There are so many unique hybrid sounds brewing up right now, pushing music culture forward.” This won’t be the first time the Japanese-American music mogul dips his toes in Latin music, however. In 2018, Aoki collaborated with Daddy Yankee, Play-N-Skillz and Elvis Crespo in the merengue-inspired track “Azukita.” Later that year, he also dropped “Jaleo” with Nicky Jam.
Dim Mak En Fuego is spearheaded by Bryan Linares, Head of Marketing of Dim Mak, in partnership with Christian Herrera, co-founder of California reggaeton party, Gasolina. In a press release, they stated the label will “spotlight a genrefluid mix of trailblazing sounds, working with artists in the Latin underground.”
Their first signee is the self-proclaimed ‘anti-boyband’ from Monterrey, Mexico, AQUIHAYAQUIHAY, launching the new imprint with the release of their pop-R&B track, “Ya No Es Igual”.Check out “Ya No Es Igual” below:
Fun in the sun with your best buds and a bottle of bubbly – that’s what summer’s all about, right? 2020 might look a little different, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get out there and live it to the fullest.
Here’s our list of things you can still see and do in sunny SoCal…
Source: Instagram @visitcatalinaisland
1. Sail or Cruise to Catalina Island
What better time to splurge on that helicopter ride you’ve always dreamed of? I mean, just imagine the views. Once you’re there, you can explore the island by foot, bike, boat, zipline, and even snorkeling. If you’re ballin’ on a budget, Catalina Island Company, aka California’s Island Escape™, is offering to cover your ferry with their Boat’s On Us Package. For more info, visit www.visitcatalinaisland.com
Source: Instagram @winecountrytrailsbyhorseback
2. Explore Wine Country on Horseback
Unleash your inner cowboy/cowgirl! Meet the gentle giants of Wine Country Trails and ride through the Temecula vineyards at Maurice Car’rie Winery. For an even more majestic experience, reserve yourself a sunset tour, and ride off into the sunset to your heart’s content. For more info, visit www.winecountrytrailsbyhorseback.com
Source: Wikimedia Commons
3. Feel the Heat at Deep Creek Hot Springs
There’s no feeling quite like basking in a natural jacuzzi in the middle of the Mojave desert. The hot springs are most accessible from Bowen Ranch via the Freedom Trail, which will take you about 2 miles each way. Those easily offended should proceed with caution, however. The area is known for attracting Angelenos looking to become “one with nature”, in the buff. For more info, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/sbnf
Source: Instagram @paramountdrivein
4. Catch a Movie at a Drive-In Theater
While things are certainly not business-as-usual with seemingly indefinite restrictions for indoor operations, an era of outdoor movie theaters are having a moment in the spotlight. Queue the perfect opportunity for a road trip down nostalgia lane. Drive-in theaters currently showing include Paramount Drive-In, Mission Tiki, Rubidoux Drive-In, and Van Buren Drive-In.
Source: Instagram @lalifehacks
5. Escape to Joshua Tree in an Airstream
Let’s be honest, we’ve all taken a moment to wonder about #vanlife. Maybe it’s lust for the freedom of travel, tempt for the lack of rent, or simply curiosity of the, um, hygiene situation. Whatever your motive, this undeniably hip Airbnb can give you a taste of the lifestyle, and simultaneously be the envy of all your Instagramming friends. Check it out on www.airbnb.com
Breathtaking views, hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, waterskiing… Big Bear Lake is where it’s at. If you’re dying to get out on the water, Serrano Campground provides easy lake access and boat rentals. For avid hikers and bikers looking for a challenge, Pineknot is your best bet for scouting out the more technical routes. Note that on-site showers are currently closed due to COVID-19, so a portable solar shower might be a worthy investment. For more info, visit www.bigbear.com
Source: atlasobscura.com
7. Map a Walking Tour of DTLA’s Arts District
While you may be prohibited from actually entering the buildings, there’s plenty to admire from the outside in Downtown’s Arts District. Play tour guide and set out to see some the city’s best street art, and pick up some craft brews from Angel City Brewing while you’re at it. Preorder from www.angelcitybrewery.com
Source: discoverlosangeles.com
8. Bike Around Griffith Park
Home to the famous Griffith Observatory and objectively the best views of LA’s skyline, you can’t go wrong with Griffith park by any mode of transportation. It is on a bicycle, however, that the entire park really opens up for exploration. With loops available ranging from 3.5 miles to 7 miles, there’s an option for whatever fitness level and/or timeframe you’re working with. For more info, visit: www.laparks.org/griffithpark
Source: flickr.com
9. Visit a Botanical Garden
Tired of people? No better way to escape the madness than to surround yourself in a botanical oasis of nature’s everyday wonders. Some of the most expansive gardens still open in SoCal include The Aboretum, Huntington Library, Descanso Gardens, South Coast Botanic Garden, and Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden.
Source: Instagram @lifehacksla
10. When in Doubt, Hit the Beach
Beaches are now open, but the city asks you to stay with your quarantine crew, as you should with any activity on this list. Still prohibited are beach volleyball, group sports, and any gathering between multiple households. So grab your sunscreen and a mask and get to bronzing that quarantine bod! And be sure to check online for any updates before you make the trip.
Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and now TikTok. While some of us struggling to keep up with the abundance of content flooding the airwaves (myself included, admittedly), many are thriving with the ever-changing technological landscape, otherwise known as social media. It’s become easier than ever to connect with friends and fans, and you better believe Latin music’s biggest stars are getting in on the action. It’s a social media world, and these are the top social media girls (and boys).
Note: With Snapchat’s less-transparent nature, we’ve forgone those numbers for the purpose of this list.
1. Selena Gomez (348.9m total)
The third-generation Mexican-American has fully transcended from everyone’s favorite Disney star to an executive producer, with her name on the popular Netflix series 13 Reasons Why, and most recently, Living Undocumented, a docu-series following eight immigrant families as they face potential deportation. In the process, Selena has racked up a hefty 181 million Instagram followers, ranking her the 6th most followed account on the platform, and the 2nd most followed musician (beat only by Ariana Grande). She also takes the cake for most followed Latina on Twitter with 61 million followers.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B38lB_OCoLz/
2. Shakira (254.3m total)
The “Hips Don’t Lie” hitmaker and co-star of last year’s Super Bowl Halftime Show, Shakira, takes the lead on Facebook with almost a hundred-million likes. The Colombian singer recently performed her song “Sale el Sol” during Global Goal: Unite Our Future, Global Citizen’s benefit concert which brought awareness to COVID-19’s disproportionate impact on marginalized communities.
3. Jennifer Lopez (236.3m total)
This triple-threat Latina from the Bronx is a hit across all platforms, perhaps most impressively on TikTok (formerly called Musical.ly), the relatively new and Gen Z-dominated app. Our Puerto-Rican queen made waves on the short-form video platform with the #JLoSuperBowlChallenge, challenging her 10.5 million followers to post their own renditions of her Super Bowl Halftime Show dance. As for the more seasoned social media sites, Instagram and Twitter, Jenny boasts a following of 124 million and 45 million, respectively.
The singer-songwriter known for his R&B-infused pop tunes reigns as the most-followed Latino musician on the list at 55.5 million strong on Facebook, 43.1 million on Twitter, and 28 million on YouTube. The Puerto-Rican (born Peter Hernandez) has been quiet this quarantine, but we might be able to expect a comeback soon…
Despite lacking personal accounts for two of the five major platforms (Twitter and TikTok accounts operated under the handle @TeamDemi seem to share the burden for marketing purposes), this former Disney star still manages to clock in well over 100 million followers, putting her at a not-too-shabby 5th on the list. On a return from hiatus, Demi released a new single “I’m Ready”, and has remained outspoken on topics like LGBTQ+ rights and equality via her channels.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B_DzqHKhv5x/
Honorable Mention: Daddy Yankee (117.3m total)
With a prolific career dating back to the early 90’s, the “King of Reggaeton” tops the YouTube list at just over 30 million, and is featured on fellow Puerto-Rican artist Luis Fonsi’s record-breaking crossover hit “Despacito”, which currently holds the title of most viewed video on YouTube with a whopping 6.84 billion views.
If you still haven’t gotten your fill, check out the top 5 for each platform below:
The iconic EDM festival promises a “never-before-seen interactive entertainment experience,” coming July 25-26.
When Tomorrowland was forced to cancel their flagship event in Belgium for 2020 due to COVID-19, would-be attendees chose either to have their tickets refunded or wait till the summer of 2021. Now the team behind the world-renown festival has now given us something to look forward to in the meantime.
Tomorrowland Around the World promises “the world’s best technology in 3D design, video production and special effects” for a truly unique and exciting experience. With world-class EDM artists performing across seven virtual stages, the lineup includes Latin DJs: Carnage, ANNA, B Jones, and Mr Pig. Headlining the show are the likes of Steve Aoki, Martin Garrix, David Guetta, and Tiësto.
“Tomorrowland Around the World is the result of a gigantic team effort of hundreds of people who are working around the clock to create a never-before-seen interactive entertainment experience. Since we started this project and all ideas came together, we immediately felt an enormous energy and lots of positivity from everybody involved. For us it’s a bit re-inventing the festival experience, but we truly believe that we can bring the spirit of Tomorrowland and entertainment at the highest level to people and homes around the globe,” co-founder Michiel Beers wrote in an official statement.
Tickets are on sale now, and 20 euros (~22.5 USD) will get you access for the weekend. Head over to www.tomorrowland.com/global for more info, and watch the teaser video below:
You might remember this cringe-inducing video of celebrities singing “Imagine” circulating the internet earlier this quarantine – or maybe you immediately thereafter applied a spoonful of bleach to the eyes in attempt to keep your love for the song intact. Die-hard Beatles fans need not despair. Power couple Carlos and Cindy Blackman Santana might have just restored the reputation of John Lennon’s wistful 70’s hit with their amped-up, guitar-driven cover.
Carlos gives his signature dose of shred-worthy solos while Cindy kills it on the drums and vocals. And it’s for a good cause: All proceeds from streams and sales will go directly to WhyHunger’s Rapid Response Fund providing critical relief to vulnerable communities during COVID-19. The track assists the launch of Songaid, a new type of charity platform that donates via streaming and downloads. Listen to the funky rendition below:
While heaps of businesses deemed ‘non-essential’ are shuttering their doors- some for good- an era of outdoor movie theaters are having a moment in the spotlight. Queue the perfect opportunity for a road trip down nostalgia lane, or really just anywhere that’s not your living room. These four drive-in theaters in the LA area are opening their gates for your socially-distant viewing pleasure:
Dating back to 1947, Paramount Drive-In will transport you to old Hollywood with two new 75-foot screens, Barco Digital projection and Dolby Digital radio sound. An online ticketing system is supposedly on the way, but for now, you’ll have to hit the box office for tickets.
Boasting a fleet of four screens each showing double features on the daily, Mission Tiki is your crew’s best bet for coming to an agreement on a flick. Tikis torched and ready to roll, this theater awaits just outside the LA County border in Montclair.
Make it an all-day affair at this theater and flea market sprawling across 80 acres in Riverside. A partner of United Flea Markets with plenty of space for socially-distancing, Rubidoux is the ultimate spot to shop local vendors to your heart’s content (just keep that mask on).
A sister-theater to Mission Tiki (and their other location in San Diego), Van Buren Drive-In is another Riverside theater just south of Rubidoux Drive-In. With three-screens showing double features, this theater has also resumed their Swap Meets on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and weekends.
Amidst protests sweeping across America, Latino celebrities J.Lo, Daddy Yankee, Sofia Vergara, and more participated in the movement.
If you’re an active user on Instagram, the preeminent photo-sharing app in Zuckerburg’s social media empire (Facebook, Whatsapp), it’s likely you observed and even joined the movement on Tuesday. While it visually took form via black squares flooding your feed, the purpose of the initiative was to collectively stand in solidarity with the #BlackLivesMatter movement in wake of the tragic deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and many other victims of racially-charged police brutality.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CA0-UXsg1DD/
The movement has taken many names, most predominately #BlackOutTuesday and #TheShowMustBePaused, and traces back to two executives at Atlantic Records, Jamila Thomas and Brianna Agyemang.
“The music industry is a multibillion dollar industry, an industry that has profited predominantly from Black art. Our mission is to hold the industry at large, including major corporations + their partners who benefit from the efforts, struggles and successes of Black people accountable.”
Jamila Thomas and Brianna Agyemang (via New York Times)
Evidently, the initiative morphed and expanded far beyond those in the music industry, and was met with criticism regarding the execution of its message despite its progressive intentions. Notably, R&B singer-songwriter Kehlani took to Twitter with concerns of the social media blackout inhibiting the spread of vital information.
my initial thought is it feels dangerous… because once you click on the blm hashtag you’re directed to an overflow of black images, instead of other more useful content people could look at for information. pic.twitter.com/QiaHPeoWGP
The creators, operating under the Instagram account @TheShowMustBePaused, followed up with the statement that “the purpose was never to mute ourselves,” but rather “to disrupt”. Meanwhile, Black influencers and advocates are pushing for less black squares and more usable content,urging people to use the platform to spread educational resources and calls to action.
