Juan Formell (1942-2014)
Simplemente...without Juan Formell Cuban music wouldn’t be the same. Those of you who ever couldn’t stop humming Abre que voy, Me Pone la Cabeza Mala, or Me Mantego after an amazing party know very well what we mean…
LatinoLife Essentials: The Cuarteto Starter Pack
If you’re new to cuarteto, here’s your crash course. Ten tracks that trace the genre’s DNA — from barrio roots to TikTok fame. Unfortunately no videos available for Leonor Marzano or Quarteto Leo, so we start with La Mona Jimenez…
Jose Luis' Top Ten Latin Summer Hits 2017
We’re still recovering from the plethora of Latin hits that dominated the sound waves this summer – with ‘Despacito’ breaking records around the world (if we hear it again, it'll be too soon). To celebrate having four…
Paco Peña's Fantasy Island Tracks
If you were stranded on a desert Island, which tracks would you absolutely need to have to get you through those times of loneliness and despair? Man cannot live on sun and fish alone right? Our castaway, Flamenco guitar legend…
Mother Earth
At a time when Shakira, Carlos Vives, J Balvin and Maluma are some of the hottest artists in the planet, it is easy to forget that it was an indigenous folklore singer who kicked the global door open for Colombian artists. Totó…
The Sunday X-Perience Bank Holiday Top Ten
The Sunday Xperience has become THE party to go on Sundays due to its vibe and dancing crowd, but it is all down to the music played there, a mix of Reggaeton with doses of Dancehall, Afrobeats, Baile Funk and Salsa. Ahead of a…
J Balvin performs @ The Endz Festival June 2019
Colombian Reggaeton superstar lights up South London
"I wouldn’t mind dying if there were guitars in heaven"
Tiago Pereira talks about his latest documentary on Portuguese regional music: Chamarita - the country rock of the Azores.
Cuchi Cuchi all over the world
With over 20 years of acid-jazz influenced funky songs, cool riffs, and absurd lyrics Los Amigos Invisibles are one of the world's coolest cult outfits. Starting in the 1990s Chulius, Cheo, Odnam, Maurimix, Catire and…
Top 10 Hits to Kick off your 2020
With 2020 well under way, here's our list of tracks trending in the Latin clubs and kicking off our year.
Edwin Sanz ‘Overflow’ (Alex Wilson Records)
Following his great debut San Agustín, Sanz delivers another solid Salsa album. This album is a daring production for Sanz, going into a more mature sound, with three English songs and an array of guests including his producer/…
Top Ten Autumn Hits 2019
We really didn't want to accept it, but even we have to admit that summer is well and truly over. But although the days are getting colder and shorter, that just means the nights, and parties, get longer! These sizzling…
Cuba’s Magical Music Train (and its Driver)
How many musicians can boast a 40 year global music career? Cuba’s Juan Formell and Los Van Van are up there among the rare few, on a never ending Magical Mystery Train Journey which has them touring constantly around the world,…
VARIOUS ARTISTS "ALGO SALVAJE Vol 2” (Munster Records)
‘Something Wild’ is the translation of this title, the second volume of Munster Records project compiling Spanish rock, indi, pop and other underground music from the 60s. Living under the Franco’s regime, Spanish music of the…
Latinolife's Best Party Tracks of 2016
As the Reggeatón beat continues to generate global party anthems, and mainstream music sees Latin influence on an unprecedented scale, we thought we'd pay tribute to this incredibly appealing and uniquely Latin beat, with…
The Kid is Back
Kid Creole & The Coconuts created a generation of Latin music lovers in London in the early 1980s when he jetted in with a string of outstanding live shows and great albums. Now he's back. Due to perform at the Barbican…
Top 10 February Hits
We are just a few weeks away from the star of the spring, so let’s start to get warmer with the hits that have been on repeat everywhere this February!
Mala ‘Mirrors’ (Brownswood Recordings)
South London producer Mala’s latest production on Brownwood records is every bit as good as his previous album ‘Mala In Cuba’. This time Mala went deeper south and dug into the sounds of Peru: from the Afro sounds of the Cajon to…
Top Ten Latin Hits of May 2017
Party season is upon us and here is what's hot in the clubs right now. Enjoy these summertime jams...
Los Amigos Invisibles @ Islington Town Hall
The renowned Grammy winning Venezuelan band LOS AMIGOS INVISIBLES hit London with a bang on Sunday 21st Nov with an energetic show at the Islington Assembly Hall.
North Brazil meets South London
Having collaborated with titans of Brazilian music such as Nana Vasconcelos, Gilberto Gil, Daniela Mercury, Carlinhos Brown and Hermeto Pascoal, as well as jazz legends Stanley Jordan and Joshua Redman, Letieres Leite, one of…
Top Ten Contemporary Reggaetón Tracks
Originally from Panama, Reggaetón’s roots can be traced back to the late 1990s, borrowing elements of reggae, rap, and hip-hop, and initially performed in underground venues. As the indisputably catchy beat and swagga soon spread…
Cuban Jazz, Simple As That!
Described as “one of the greatest Cuban pianists of the Twentieth Century” by the great Chucho Valdes himself, Cuban Jazz connoisseur and long time fan Royer Alfonso, talks to HIlario Durán ahead of his concert at Ronnie Scotts…
Baroque’n’Roll
Lina Tur Bonet, Baroque violinist and somewhat of a classic superstar, talks to Latinolife about music video, are collaborations and other crazy projects that are stretching the boundaries and opening possibilities for Baroque…
Flamenco Fusion's Force of Nature
Ojos de Brujo's frontwoman and songwriter Marinah goes solo with her first album, Baile de las Horas, which she performs at Rich Mix in April."The change is what I needed: to get out of Ojos and do something different.…
FROM HIGHLIFE TO BAILE FUNK: The Rhythmic Bridge Between Accra, Salvador & London
London's club nights are vibrating with something ancient and new. It's a sound where the warm bells and brass of Highlife and Afrobeats collide with the pulsating, heavy bass of Brazilian Baile Funk—an intoxicating…
Alma Antigua - The Young Guatalaman with Vintage Charm
Described by The New York Times as having a ‘tangy, bluesy voice with the feistiness of Edith Piaf,’ there is something definitely old-worldy about the Guatemalan singer-songwriter who has a Latin Grammy, tours with Ricardo…
Top Ten Dance Tracks To Kick the Year Off
Blast those February blues away with the hottest tracks of the moment
Latinolife's Spring Break Party Playlist
From Nicky Jam, J Balvin, Zion & Lennox and Prince Royce to De La Ghetto, Bad Bunny, Arcángel, Ozuna, Bad Bunny, Wisin and Karol G, these are the guys making the hits right now. ENJOY!
‘Duologue’ by Alfredo Rodriguez & Pedrito Martinez
What happens when two titans of contemporary Cuban music collide? A rare work of art that sends shivers down the body to its very soul...
'Loop Explorations’ by Camilo Menjura
What started as a one-off experiment for a choral music festival became the latest album by the much-loved London-based Colombian singer-songwriter and choral master Camilo Menjura. Loop Exploration is the result of Menjura'…