Patafunk – Relax

Patafunk

You know that summer has come to an end when the morning traffic drive is accompanied by those lumbering yellow beasts known as school buses, steadily employed in the catch-and-release of dreary-eyed youths.  No matter which vehicle window you groggily sit behind, one of the best concepts of summer that hopefully everybody was able to enjoy at some point is that of RELAXATION.  Venezuela's Patafunk has captured this concept in their newest video "Relax," which is off the 2011 album … [Read more...]

New Artist Spotlight: Monique Abbadie

monique2(1)

Today I unveil the first of a new series of posts - published on a case-by-case basis - featuring the top brand-new artists who are just waiting to be discovered and brimming with the passion of untested talent.  In an era where social media and youtube have been known to turn no-name singers into superstars, we might just encounter the rise of America's next big celebrity.  So with the post concept introduced, let me turn your attention to Monique Abbadie, a drop-dead gorgeous singer from … [Read more...]

Resonant Thoughts Carnival: Why do I Hear Spanglish On The Radio?

Pitbull & Shakira

2012 has been a promising year for the future of Spanglish music in the United States, introducing us to the rise of a new generation of bilingual artists.  While the voice of Latin Crossover artists was once limited to a handful of well-known pop stars such as Ricky Martin and Carlos Santana - both fantastic musicians in their own right - it is my view that the growth of the US Hispanic population, combined with the mainstream acceptance of the mid-2000's reggaeton fad and a thirst for new … [Read more...]

Danny Fornaris – No Me Hace Falta Na

Danny Fornaris

While Puerto Rican producer-turned-recording artist Danny Fornaris has only released three singles to date that could potentially be placed on an album, each song is beautifully produced and introduces a new musical influence to listeners.  I acknowledge that Danny began as a reggaeton producer and his vocals can be heard on underground tracks with artists such as LG and Auudi, but it wasn't until the release of "Estoy Enamorado," from Don Omar's Meet The Orphans compilation album, that I … [Read more...]

International Boyz – Mami Dime A Ver (MP3 Download)

International Boyz

The New York Dominican trio of AGL, Ronny Junior, and Yulio Cartoon - collectively known as International Boyz - brings an exciting new fusion of bachata, R&B, pop, and tropical influences to an ever-evolving Latin music scene.  Barely out of their teens, these young singers are brimming with passionate enthusiasm and a charismatic image that has them poised for success both on and off the stage.  While it is too early to know exactly where the trio will take their sound, tentative early … [Read more...]

Twin Cities Event: Villa Rosa CD Release Party at The Pourhouse (August 9, 2012)

Villa Rosa

On a relatively quiet Thursday night in downtown Minneapolis, patrons slow streamed into a mid-sized new venue called The Pourhouse.  While large flat-screen TVs broadcast the Olympic games on nearly every wall, this night's customers were here for another reason: the release of the new CD Exotic Paraphernalia by the popular underground Twin Cities duo Villa Rosa. Villa Rosa consists of Maria Isa, a young "SotaRican" (Minnesota-Puerto Rican) in her mid-twenties, and Muja Messiah, a … [Read more...]

Eli Jas – Deseandote (MP3 Download)

Eli Jas 2

Today has #TeamEliJas in a frenzy, thanks to the release of Eli Jas' second single, "Deseandote."  This talented young singer, New York's Princess of Bachata, came hurtling onto the scene last spring with the release of her song "Tu Me Haces Volar" and the early recognition she received from MTV 3 (and Spanglish Noise of course - click here for the interview!!).  The fact that she is a female bachata singer aside, what truly makes Eli Jas special is the emotion she oozes into every phrase, her … [Read more...]

Tito El Bambino – Dame La Ola

Tito El Bambino

Tito "El Bambino" is perhaps one of the most recognized artists to arise from the genre of reggaeton, and I largely attribute this success to his ability to test out new musical genres and reach out to a global Latin audience.  While the overall nature of his lyrics has remained fairly consistent over the years (love, dance, music, and women), his vocals and melodies have matured with the progression of time, abandoning occasional flirtations with dissonance in favor of pop elements. Tito's … [Read more...]