The new sound of the global Latin Underground

This is a new era of Latin music; a time of incredible creativity flowing from the streets and studios of Mexico City, Buenos Aires, New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Havana, São Paulo, and Barcelona. The sounds are progressive hybrids of hip hop, rock, reggae, dance, house, electronica, ska, and roots — all in a distinct Latin idiom. These artists cut through the stereotypical with vibrant new explorations in music.

About some of the artists on NEW LATIN XPRESS |

Lila Downs
BBC 3 Radio Award for World Music nominee and principal voice in the movie Frida, Lila Downs is an artist who reflects through her music the most personal side of her Mixtec ancestry. Her intense performances and provocative lyrics have captivated audiences around the world and have made her a legend in her native Mexico. Transformed by the lyrics she sings, Downs penetrates the soul and the mind as she retells the often bittersweet stories of her ancestors and homeland. She is an artistic phenomenon to be experienced.

Manu Chao
Manu Chao’s music is Latin Alternative, even before the name for such a thing existed. The one-time leader of the French rock band Mano Negra, Manu turned away from the French music scene and faced head-on the sounds of Latin America and the Caribbean. Now, after years of traveling, he is back in his native land with a multitude of projects, all with a distinctly Latin flavor, testifying to his militant commitment to the expression of popular music.

Si*Sé
Formed two years ago by singer Carol C and programmer/DJ U.F.LOW, Si*Sé brings together the atmospheric vibes of electronica with the crackle of live instruments. The results are riveting: “It’s about mixing stuff up that’s not usually mixed together,” says Carol C. “We’re a band from New York City and we try and combine all of its musical traditions including hip-hop beats, Latin rhythms and down-tempo electronic music because that’s what we hear everyday of our lives. It’s a prelude to the future.”