Anitta Releases ‘Funk Generation’ & More New Music Latin

Luisa Calle, Ingrid Fajardo, Griselda Flores, Sigal Ratner-Arias and Isabela Raygoza
·7 min read
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New Music Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs and albums recommended by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors. Check out this week’s picks below.

Anitta, Funk Generation (Republic Records & Universal Music Latin Entertainment)

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No one does funk like Anitta. Singing in Spanish, Portuguese and English, the trilingual superstar doubles down on her efforts to globalize Brazilian funk with Funk Generation. The enthralling 15-track set (her third trilingual album) is a masterclass, as Anitta serves cheeky, club-ready dance songs that will have you grasping for air — a nod to her set opener “Lose Ya Breath.” A fierce proponent of funk, Anitta has no intentions of adapting this music to mainstream or pop, she does quite the opposite introducing mainstream to a genre that breaks all the rules and thrives on experimentation. For collabs, she casts a wide net that catches artists including Brray, Bad Gyal, DENNIS, PEDRO SAMPAIO and Sam Smith.

“My new project is very special, because it signifies my intention to create an international funk album, something I’ve always dreamed of,” Anitta says in a statement. “It’s fulfilling to see that funk is now a source of inspiration and art in the global music scene — a genre with value, awards, and admiration.” The set comes on the heels of her upcoming first-ever North American trek, set to kick off May 21. ¡Vai, Anitta! — GRISELDA FLORES

Marc Anthony, Muevense (Sony Music US Latin)

If anyone knows how to craft tropical anthemic hits, it’s Marc Anthony, and his latest album Muevense testifies to this. Its title, in fact, is designed to make listeners move to the festive rhythms. Renowned for revitalizing salsa music in New York City and well beyond, the Grammy-winning performer shines all on his own in this 10-track release, with the exception of the ranchera single “Ojalá Te Duela,” which features regional Mexican music royalty Pepe Aguilar. From the invigorating opener to the infectious energy of “Ale Ale” — which already has the makings of a summer 2024 anthem, following its debut at the Latin American Music Awards — and other songs like like “Si Te Enamoro,” “Amarte a la Antigua,” and “Pasemos a los Besos,” the artist showcases his vocal prowess, allowing his pipes to soar unlike any other.

“A new Marc Anthony album is always cause for celebration, and it speaks to the timelessness and consistency of his voice and his musical collaborators that at any moment you can turn on any radio station and within the same commercial-free music block, hear a song he recorded last year next to a song he recorded 30 years ago,” writes Lin-Manuel Miranda, “He is our Sinatra, and when we hear him, we also hear the echoes of all the unforgettable moments in our own lives.” We couldn’t agree more. — ISABELA RAYGOZA 

Aitana & Sebastian Yatra “Akureyri” (Universal Music Spain S.L.)

Aitana and Sebastián Yatra return to music together, and apparently also as a couple, with their third collaboration “Akureyri”. The moving pop ballad, which would address their reconciliation months after confirming their breakup, talks about an intense emotional connection between two people who are going through a difficult time; in addition to the desire to escape reality, they are fantasizing about a future together and forgetting the worries of the present. The cover of the release is reminiscent of the Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, which is about a couple who undergo a procedure to erase the memories of their relationship. The video, directed by Felíx Bollaín and produced by Habemus Roma, was recorded in analog in the city that titles the song, Akureyri, in Iceland. Additionally, it includes various clips of the couple during their trip to the location last year in the post-credits scenes. — LUISA CALLE

Mau y Ricky, Guaynaa, “Gran Día” (Why Club Records)

Mau y Ricky are pure sunshine in “Gran Día,” featuring Puerto Rican artist Guaynaa, an uptempo feel-good pop song with optimistic lyrics about the good and simple things in life. “Today is going to be a great day because I’m going to kill it/ Money guaranteed, baby, today is going to rain, no, no, no, no/ If you run out of battery, I want to give you a new one/ A life from another league, I’m hotter than yesterday,” they sing.

Released under their new independent label Why Club Records in collaboration with Warner Music Latina, “Gran Día” is the latest single off their upcoming album Hotel Caracas, an homage to their native Venezuela, where the brothers recently returned in search of their identity after moving with their family to the U.S. when they were children. The music video, beautifully shot by director Daniel Durán, was filmed in the Venezuelan Llanos during their trip, and features the humorous voice of Venezuelan iconic radio host Luis Chataing. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS

Luis Fonsi & Laura Pausini “Roma” (UMG Recordings)

Luis Fonsi makes an essential stop in his new album El Viaje’s journey to reunite musically with a special friend, after 16 years of collaboration. His longtime friend and collaborator Laura Pausini arrives to unite her powerful voice with Fonsi’s in the magical collab “Roma.” This beautiful ballad, written by Fonsi, along with producers Andrés Torres and Mauricio Rengifo, was announced during one of Laura’s world tour concerts in Miami last month. This single is accompanied by a video filmed in black and white at an airport, directed by Carlos Perez, and portrays the reunion of an eternal love, like those couples who always find a way to meet again. — INGRID FAJARDO

Belinda & Natanael Cano, “300 Noches” (Warner Music México)

Belinda’s corridos tumbados era gets a co-sign from the subgenre’s pioneer, Natanael Cano. The two team up for “300 Noches,” Belinda’s latest single, which cements her commitment to música Mexicana. The track is striking both lyrically and sonically: It starts off with a soft piano tune and Belinda’s evocative delivery, setting the tone for this truly heartbreaking song. “I waited so long for you to realize you had left me behind/ What do I do now to forget?” she sings, almost wailing.

Then, the requinto guitars take center stage, transforming the ballad into a corrido tumbado, or a corrido coquette (a term coined by Belinda). Doesn’t take long for Cano to join Belinda, as he sings with sorrow about not being able to move on from a broken relationship, while clearly the other person already has. “I can’t be a king without my queen,” he declares. “I loved being able to collaborate with Beli for this song,” Cano says in a statement. “I’m a fan of hers and I’m excited to see more female artists raising the flag of corridos tumbados. Belinda put her ‘coquette’ touch on it and it was magical.” — G.F.

Bruses & Humbe, “Bestia”

Tijuana poetess/producer Bruses and Monterrey singer-songwriter Humbe join forces to unveil a nuanced blend of electro alt-pop that delves into the intricacies of battling one’s inner demons while embracing a glimmer of hope. The pair confront delicate subjects, merging complex elements with finesse. With lines like “They speak ill of you, my monsters/ They want to meet you/ I look for love in places where no one can see me/ Kiss kiss in the dark,” Bruses delivers her verses with a captivating blend of vulnerability and serene defiance.

“‘Bestia’ is a song where Humbe and I found each other,” she says in a statement. “His light and my darkness complemented in a way that I never heard before.” Bruses recently signed with RCA, and will be performing at the Central Park’s SummerStage in celebration of the LAMC for their 25th anniversary on July 10th. — I.R.

Listen to more editors’ Latin recommendations in the playlist below:

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