
Brazil: September 7 — A Day of Death
Distinguished Brazilian journalist Eliane Brum writes regularly for the Spanish newspaper El Pais. Her latest article is a cry of grief and rage at what President Bolsonaro and his followers have done to their country. She agues…
Spotlight on...Lyanno
Latin urban artist on the rise inspired by contemporary R&B stars such as Trey Songz and the Weeknd, Lyanno became one of Puerto Rico's rising artists in 2018 with featured appearances on hits including Alex Rose's…
Bola de Nieve (11 September 1911 – 2 October 1971)
Ignacio Jacinto Villa Fernández, nicknamed Bola de Nieve (snowball) - pianist, singer and songwriter - was one of the most charismatic cultural figures of his times. Black and gay, and self-confident with it, he disarmed his…
Covid-19 in Latin America – Update 13, 25 August
The incidence of coronavirus and the responses of governments and local communities. Update No.13.
Spotlight on... Gigolo & La Exce
Ronald Rafael Tejeda Santos and Jean Carlos Ferreira Suero, artistically known as Gigolo and La Exce formed the reggaeton, trap and urban music duo from San Juan, Puerto Rico, famous for the singles such as "Nasty,"…
Me and my namesake, Vinicius de Moraes
Vinicius de Carvalho, appointed Director of King's Brazil Institute, pays tribute to the man he was named after, Vinicius de Moraes, one of the most important figures in modern Brazilian music. As a poet, he wrote lyrics for…
Spotlight on... Catalyna
With her distinctive voice, Catalyna is a singer-songwriter from Puerto Rico who has not been on our radar yet until today. the 21-year-old has dropped back-to-back bangers. such as “Alma Desnuda Remix,” featuring Colombian…
Brazilian 'Estrogonofe'
Strogonoff or 'Estrogonofe', in Brazilian Portuguese, is a version of the classic Russian Beef Stroganoff. This sweet and sour dish is popular all around the world, and in Nordic countries stroganoff is a must-have on…
Luis Alberto Spinetta, Icon of Argentine Rock, 1950 - 2012
We pay homage to El Flaco (The skinny one), a man who revolutionised the music scene of Argentina forever with his unique sound, eccentricity and talent and, in doing so, captured the nation’s heart.
Spotlight On... Farina
Colombian singer and songwriter Farina was one of the first artists to do Reggaeton in her country. After Shakira, she was the second Colombian artist signed to Jay-Z's Roc Nation label. Her singles are a melting pot of…
'Britain and the Dictatorships of Argentina and Chile' by Grace Livingstone
Ask anyone active in the British left during the 1970s and 1980s and they are likely to remember stories about Chile: Hawker Hunter jets bombing the presidential palace, the murderous Pinochet regime (1973-1990), Chilean refugees…
Violeta Parra, Chilean Singer and Composer (1917-1967)
'The Mother of Latin American folk' left her mark not only on Chile but on all of Latin America. Her songs and her unyielding dedication to local musical traditions made her unique and her legacy eternal. Today, we take…
Camarón de la Isla, Spanish Flamenco Singer (1950-1992)
Camarón de la Isla was considered by many as the gipsy god of flamenco. Today we remember his legacy and his legendary trajectory that left a mark in Spanish music history, leaving his memory to be respected with great zeal.
Spotlight on...Cazzu
Cazzu has been dubbed the Queen of Argentine Trap, bringing to the forefront the trap movement in Argentina alongside other artists.She is one of the few women in the male-dominated trap scene.
Buenos Aires: the virus reaches the ‘villas miseria’
Ramona Medina, one of the community leaders of Villa 31, a Buenos Aires villa miseria, died from coronavirus after publically denouncing the lack of water and the conditions for maintaining social distancing measures in her…
Beny Moré, Cuban singer (1919-1963)
Regarded by many as the greatest artist in the history of Cuban popular music, the songs and style of Beny Moré feel today as fresh as they did 70 years ago, when he was singing to the dance halls of pre and post-revolutionary…
Spotlight on...El Alfa "El Jefe"
Emanuel Herrera Batista, known as El Alfa El Jefe is a powerful and charting Dominican urban singer He has gained respect in his home country as one of the most influential dembow artists. Since 2012, he has released more than…
Susana Baca
Susana Baca is the greatest international exponent of Afro-Peruvian music, having contributed so much to its worldwide popularity. Known around the globe for her barefoot performances, flowing shawls and divine aura, Baca’s music…
Julio Jaramillo, Singer (1935 - 1978)
Known as the ‘Nightingale of America,’ Julio Jaramillo is considered the most popular Latin folk singer at all time and one of its greatest icons of popular music. 42 years after his death, Julio is still today the most listened…
Spotlight on...Brytiago
Brytiago has become a platinum-selling Puerto Rican singer and songwriter well-known for his many own singles and featured collaborations. He has been an important figure on both reggaeton and trap scenes since his landing on…
Covid-19 in Latin America – Update
Latin America passed the dire milestone of a million cases of coronavirus at the beginning of June. Since then, Peru has surpassed Italy in its number of confirmed cases and infection and death rates continue to rise. Nonetheless…
The FBI, the Fusion Center, and the Far Right in Brazil
In an important new investigation, journalist Natalia Viana reveals how, during Sergio Moro’s 15 month tenure as Justice and Security Minister, the government of Jair Bolsonaro is rapidly enabling the US Federal Bureau of…
La Lupe, Singer (1936-1992)
With a voice initially described as “screaming, disorderly and disrespectful,” heroic was so evocative it provoked some strong reactions but came to be regarded as one of the best Latin vocalists of her generation. She wept, bit…
Mariah
Women in the urban genre are now playing a big role in the Latin Music industry, one of these great promises of female urban music is named Mariah, "La Princesa de Miami" (Miami's Princess).
COVID Toll on Indigenous Elders is Destroying History
"Every time an elder dies, a library is burnt"
Simón Díaz (1928-2020)
When it comes to Venezuelan music, you cannot get any better than Simón “Tío Simon” Díaz. The original creator of Caballo Viejo, the Latin American standard that has been recorded by some many great and was also used as the bases…
Spotlight on...Charly Garcia, The Godfather of Argentine Rock
Charly Garcia is considered to be the undisputed icon of Argentine rock, defining the sound of his generation, the sound of Rock Argentino - an instantly recognizable timbre and sound – that has influenced artists not only in…
JORGE SPITERI - Musician (1951 - 2020)
The Venezuelan composer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, arranger, producer, vocalist and much- loved friend, died on Sunday May 24th 2020, from cancer in North Carolina, USA. Jorge was a pioneer of Latin rock and funk mixed…
Lenny Tavárez
Lenny Tavárez enters the urban genre not only with a great track record but with a distinct motion, expressing the power of youth that characterises him ,his music and a whole generation. After several successful singles and…
THE UNCERTAIN KINGDOM
THE LIFE TREE, directed by Paul Frankl, is a mystical film forming part of this exciting compilation of short films called THE UNCERTAIN KINGDOM.
Jhay Cortez
Topping the charts now under his name, this 27-year-old went from being a songwriter and headlining artist for J Balvin at his Vibras Tour (2018), to then featuring with him on bangers like Medusa (also ft. Anuel AA) and No Me…
Joe Biden: Something Different for Latin America?
US Democratic Presidential candidate promises more of the same for Latin America, argues John Washington.
Mexico: Populism and the Pandemic
As with many other countries led by populist leaders, in Mexico populism and the pandemic have proved to be a dangerous mix where AMLO was slow to take the virus or the medical advice seriously, and the most vulnerable are now…
MORAES MOREIRA - Brazilian Musician (1947-2020)
Antonio Carlos Moraes Moreira, the Bahian singer, multi-instrumentalist and composer known to his many fans as ‘o eterno novo baiano’ (the eternal new Bahian), passed away following a heart attack on 13th April at 72 years of age.
Feid
With "Flow Desde Chiquito” (flow since he was little), Feid has become the latest on the list of Medellin’s home-grown talent.