At one point during the ‘90s, the term rock en español became too narrow and myopic. As a category, it failed to encompass the dizzying variety of styles that bands like Mexico’s Café Tacvba, Colombia’s Aterciopelados and Argentina’s Babasónicos displayed in their music.
By the beginning of the new millennium, a new trend had emerged: fusing electronica with the authentic folk roots of individual countries — from Peru’s Novalima and Brazil’s Bossacucanova to Argentina’s Gotan Project and Mexico’s Nortec Collective.
It was in this exhilarating moment of change that the term "Latin alternative" became part of the mainstream. For over two decades now, the genre has been celebrated with a yearly conference that takes place every summer in NYC. Today, Latin alternative navigates an even broader ocean of sounds — from punk and hip-hop, to EDM and even mainstream pop.
Latin alternative sounds are also the basis of a nationally syndicated radio show and yearly conference. [Editor's note: The author of this story produces "The Latin Alternative," and the show's co-host is involved with the Latin Alternative Music Conference.]
More than a style, Latin alternative is a state of mind. Here are five artists who continue pushing the genre further.
Glue Trip
While having its feet planted firmly on the future, Latin Alternative is also nourished by the past. Hailing from the port city of João Pessoa in northeastern Brazil, Glue Trip is obsessed with the spirit of psychedelia and has amassed enough of an international following to warrant a European tour this fall.
Just like Os Mutantes did in the late ‘60s, the quartet fuses the hazy melodies of psych-pop with a Brazilian sensibility. With its exotic flute line and otherworldly vocals, "Água de Jamaica" was one of the best Latin singles of 2021. The band’s dazzling new album, Nada Tropical includes a guest spot by 78-year-old veteran Arthur Verocai on the gorgeous "Lazy Dayz."
Francisca Valenzuela
Born in San Francisco, Chilean American singer/songwriter Francisca Valenzuela exemplifies the Latin Alternative’s elusive qualities. A pop star in Chile, she brings to mind the quirky passion of Kate Bush — not only because of the theatrical panache with which she sings and plays the keyboards, but also because of her talent for storytelling through song. Her restless vision draws from alt-rock, jazz, dance and balada.
"Tómame," from 2020's La Fortaleza, is a thumping electro-pop compendium of erotic delights. 2022’s semi-conceptual Vida Tan Bonita included "Detener El Tiempo," one of the most profound Latin pop-rock tracks of the decade. This year’s Adentro shines on the strength of "Nada Para Ti," a smoldering breakup power-ballad with Mexico’s Ximena Sariñana.
[Editor's note: Francisca Valenzuela's song "¿Dónde Se Llora Cuando Se Llora?" from Adentro is nominated for Best rock/pop song at the 2023 Latin GRAMMYs, alongside Bunbury's "Alaska," León Larregui's "Amantes," Julieta Venegas' "Caminar Sola," Lasso's "Ojos Marrones," and "Señorita Revolución" by Bruses.]
Rafa Pabön
The Latin alternative movement is connected predominantly with rock. But with the current globalization of reggaetón and Latin trap, a number of urbano artists began making music that clearly ventures outside of the box. Fittingly, Puerto Rican singer/songwriter Rafael Pabön left no stone unturned in his quest for new avenues of expression on his latest, Galería.
Released in April of this year, Galería shows Pabön can rap and emote like a serious reggaetonero, but he also goes reggae on the duet with Gomba Jahbari "Manifestación de Amor," and embraces neo-flamenco on "Ay Amor," with the husky voice of Spanish diva Buika. The silky montuno of "Leyenda" features former Los Van Van vocalist Mayito Rivera, but the record’s most revelatory track is probably "Rosa" — a sweet merengue with touches of Indian sitar and tabla.
Silvina Moreno
A Berklee College of Music graduate, Buenos Aires singer Silvina Moreno has recorded duets with transcendent alternative artists such as fellow Argentine Kevin Johansen and Colombia’s Juan Pablo Vega.
A songwriter of staggering sophistication, she has a wicked sense of humor that adds lightness to the 2017 gem "Lord Inglés," about a Latina woman spurned by a British man — complete with a comedic, harpsichord-filled bridge. Other songs are informed by her luminous vocalizing and a stately sense of nostalgia, as in "Esperanza," a bouncy track with Uruguayan murga band Agárrate Catalina. For the lush 2022 session Selva, Moreno recorded a traditional bachata — "Ley De Atracción" — that demonstrates her encyclopedic understanding of foreign genres. It is this cosmopolitan breadth that confirms her as one of the most promising names in contemporary Latin.
Son Rompe Pera
The grand cumbia orchestras of the ‘60s and ‘70s would be extremely proud of Son Rompe Pera. Formed in the municipality of Naucalpan, Mexico, the quintet favors a percolating blend of cumbia with punk, ska and rock – made even more distinct by the traditional sound of the marimba. Son Rompe Pera’s cred shines through its determination to stay close to the roots of cumbia while borrowing touches from other genres.
The band’s full-length debut, 2020’s Batuco, featured a collaboration with like-minded Chilean group Chico Trujillo on the spiraling "Cumbia Algarrobera," a minimalistic take on the comedic "Calculadora" — a hit for both Orquesta Aragón and Oscar D’León — and an electrifying, marimba based cover of Lalo Guerrero’s Chicano classic "Los Chucos Suaves." Their self-assured sophomore effort, 2023's Chimborazo opens with the reckless grooves of "Selva Negra" — and also collaborated with Mexican veterans Inspector on the lilting, retro ska nugget "Te Faltó Corazón."