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An Aural Mapping of Nostalgia
One of the most critically and commercially successful bands to emerge from Latin America, Café Tacvba have come to define the essence of Mexican rock. Ahead of their European Tour this September, Shyal Bhandari speaks with…
Aziza Brahim - born in Africa, schooled in Cuba, resident in Spain
Aziza Brahim's music adeptly travels the expanse between her Western Saharan roots and Barcelona, her current home. Aziza is a poet and an eloquent spokesperson for the Saharawi people and their ongoing struggle for…
Things That Matter to...Anderson, lead singer of Afro-Reggae
Anderson, 29, was born and raised in Vigário Geral, one of Rio de Janeiro’s most violent favelas. His mum is a dinner lady and his dad, a tax-driver. Anderson’s first jobs involved doing small favours for criminals like wrapping…
A Talent Show Star with a Difference
Since winning the Eurovision Song Contest in 2017 (with the highest ever score to date) and giving Portugal its first-ever win in the contest, Salvador Sobral has proved to be much more than just a talent contest winner. The jazz…
Milton Nascimento's Fantasy Island Tracks
If you were stranded on a desert island, which tracks would you absolutely need to get you through those times of despair? Our castaway this month is Milton Nascimento, one of the most significant Brazilian musicians of the last…
THE OCTOBER REGGAETON RECAP
It’s hard to tell what’s dropping faster, the leaves from the trees or the singles and albums from these reggaeton stars. This month is all about the opposites as a formidable new duo discuss the ultimate love while another…
Things That Matter To...Mandinga
Hailing from Bucharest, Mandinga have come a long way since representing Romania in the Eurovision Song Contest back in 2012. Integrating the sassy Spanish lead singer Bárbara Isasi, this energetic, funky Tropical-Urban fusion…
Porteña Princess
Once upon a time there was a girl from Buenos Aires, who played Disney princesses during her weekend shifts as children's party entertainer. Until one day…armed with a guitar and her phone, she became a Latin pop princess…
Woman on the Verge: Ona Mafalda
"I am what I do," is how self-described compulsive composer, inevitable lyricist and optional instrumentalist Ona Mafalda identifies. Her music often leads to comparisons with artists such as Lorde, Mitski, Florence…
Salsa’s Unsung Heroes
Ever since the days of Mozart, the most talented artists and innovators who provided the very stuff that made their music cool, were often exploited in their lifetimes and died in poverty, their genius unrecognised and their work…
The Real Girl from Ipanema
With an urban pop repertoire that glides through Portuguese, Spanish and English, and the looks, moves and charisma to match, it’s no wonder that Anitta is pipped to be the next global female superstar and dubbed as the next…
HEARTSONGS
Lila Downs is back – with not one but Dos Corazones – a new song which she will be debuting live in London this this month. She tells Elizabeth Mistry how her first UK visit in eight years will be an opportunity to talk about…
A Fan’s Dream Comes True
What happens when the UK’s most famous music fan and his long time idol, arguably Latin America’s most gifted guitarist, get together? Corina Poore visited Jools Holland and Jose Feliciano to learn about an English presenter’s…
Street Elegance
L-Gante is one of the most exciting, original and successful urban artists to emerge from Latin America in recent years. Emerging from the working-class suburbs of Buenos Aires, the boy from el barrio came out of nowhere and…
LATIN LONDONER #23 Mike Kalle - Urban Latin Artist
Born in London to Colombian parents, Mike Kalle is the leading light of the young, creative Latino community. Referred to as the godfather of UK Latin Hip Hop, Mike won a LUKAS two years running as Urban Latin Act of the Year.…
LATIN LONDONER #21.....Omar Puente - Jazz Musician
Jazz violinist and 2017 LUKAS winner, Omar Puente, has performed to audiences worldwide. First violinist at the Cuban National Symphony Orchestra before leaving Cuba in 1997, he toured with Buena Vista’s Ruben Gonzales all over…
Prodigious Child
Silvana Estrada grew up in rural Mexico in a home where music and instruments were made; both of her parents are luthiers. She was raised singing Mexican son jarocho before studying jazz and absorbing the music of the likes of…
Ismael Miranda Tunes That Rock the Dance Floor
Born in Puerto Rico and raised in NY, Ismael Miranda was part as of the original “Fania All Stars” line up, as well as being the lead voice for Joey Pastrana and Larry Harlow’s band and then leading his very own crew, with a…
Things That Matter to...Alfredo Rodríguez
Widely considered to be one of the most gifted and exciting jazz pianists of his generation, Alfredo Rodríguez’s high-octane, warm and joyous musicianship won him at first the mentorship of Quincy Jones then a Grammy nomination.…
Divine Sensuality
From his lyrics that verge on magical realism, to his intensely sensual melodies, the undecipherable enigma that is Juan Luis Guerra has defined a generation who have danced to his music and dreamed his dreams. Latino Life steals…
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…
Top 10 Salsa Hits of the Noughties
As lovers of Salsa here at LatinoLife, we've been loving putting together a Top 10 series on Salsa Hits of the decades, from the golden era of the 70s, through salsa romantica and erotica of the 80s, the big hitters of the…
LOVIN’ LATIN LONDON - The Musicians
London’s Latin American, Spanish and Portuguese communities are well into their second and third generations. Some came here decades ago, as political refugees or economic migrants, and those born and bred here form part of the…
Football’s Bohemian
After a very successful career in the Spanish and Italian football leagues for Valencia, Lazio and Barcelona, Gaizka Mendieta felt the urge to experience the most acclaimed league in the world. At 29, the Bilbao-born Spanish…
TEGO CALDERON: Beyond the Genre
In the history of Latin Music there have been a lot of big stars. Yet we can still count on both hands the artists that have gone beyond the genre they were famous for to become true artists, representatives of a time and an era…
Surrogate Latina #5: Sara Mc Guinness, Pianist and Bandleader
In 2018, Sara Mc Guinness was the first non-Latinx to win the LUKAS Musician of the Year. So respected and revered is Sara amongst Latin musicians in the UK that, will very little self-promotion, she garnered the most votes in…
Let The Juice Loose!
Hailed as the most exciting new face in Latin music, Cuban singer, composer and producer, Cimafunk offers a subtle and bold mix of funk with Cuban music and African rhythms. Jose Luis Seijas talks to Cuba’s latest cool cat to…
Things That Matter to…Sara Correia
Widely regarded around the world as one of Fado music’s fastest rising stars, Portuguese singer Sara Correia’s profile has continued to rise sharply this year following the release of her acclaimed third studio album '…
....Best Mexican Albums of 2014/15
Some of the Latin America's best music is produced in Mexico. Here is Latino Life's top ten selection of best Mexican Albums of the Last year
Maluma @ Wembley Arena
London's Latinas got their fix of Latin America's hottest pop property at Wembley on September 24th
Mexico's Ranchera-Pop Anti-Diva
Blending traditional Mexican ranchera sounds with elements of the Pop and Rock she grew up with in Tijuana, Julieta Venega first landed on the Mexican Rock scene in the nineties and has since won a Grammy, been nominated for two…
Odd One Out
Hailed as one of the most promising jazz musicians of her generation, Chilean saxophonist Melissa Aldana is somewhat of an anomoly. Amaranta Wright meets Blue Note’s latest signing and discovers an incredible journey from a…
FINDING MILTON
Milton Nascimento is one of the most influential Brazilian musicians — now in his 80s, he has only recently retired from the stage. Flavia Moraes' documentary 'Milton Bituca Nascimento' is a road movie which…
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…
At the request of their fans, Jacob Forever and Nacho release the remix "Te liberé"
The Cuban Jacob Forever and the Venezuelan Nacho are premiere! After several days of promotion in social networks, Latin urban singers have just given the green light on YouTube to their new collaborative song.
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