As African beats have taken over our playlists and feeds there was one song that was everywhere and we do mean EVERYWHERE, I’m sure you already guessed it - - - “Essence” by WizKid featuring Tems. Easily that song could have been named song of the summer or maybe even of the year. Tems, the 26 year old Nigerian singer, writer, and producer featured on the song is on everyone’s list of collabs. Dubbed “the future” by Rolling Stones she is the hot commodity for hit makers. You know you’ve made it when Drake calls you to be on his latest album. Currently on her first solo tour, Tems admits her musicality is something she has no control over as, per her words, she “hears thousands of melodies in her head”. Her talent may come naturally to her but after a recent experience while being incarcerated with about 50 women in Uganda due to Covid violations her mission became clear - create healing music while at the same time making change for Africans. We are sure that her impact will be felt all over the world.
The most impactful art is usually composed by someone who bears it all. Someone who isn’t afraid to be vulnerable and freely express themselves, and new comer Bangladeshi-Irish singer Joy Crookes is that someone. Her soulful ballads land as if you are reading pages from her diary or like listening in on an intimate conversation between her and her friends. She poetically touches on topics like generational trauma, saving her friend from suicide, and even politics in her own way. Her aesthetically pleasing music videos are packed with representations of her mixed heritage and the country where she was raised, the U.K. There is no doubt that Joy is the full package and is headed towards being the voice of her generation.
A group of young fierce females who are joining forces to have their voices heard are the first all women rap group from Roma, Pretty Loud. Based in Serbia, a country which still upholds outdated traditional gender roles, their songs and lyrics are rebellious protests against the trials, pressures, and tribulations experienced by the women of Serbia. As female oppression is something that rings true for women all over the globe they hope that their lyrics resonate with those in need of hope and strength to find their own way.
Many celebrities call themselves multi-hyphenates but if there is one artist that can truly make that statement and has the track record to back it up, it is Lido Pimienta. Based in Canada, this Afro-Colombian musician, artist, song writer, and curator is the jack of all trades and master of all. Lido’s visuals, her distinct sense of style, and her stand out electro-cumbia pop songs make her one of one. Starting off as an independent artist, her career took off after winning the highly acclaimed Polaris Music Prize in 2017. The variety of her inspirations stemming from rappers like MIA & Cardi B. along with her cultural influences have taken her sound through various phases but each one were distinctly her own. In her latest album “Miss Colombia”, she narrates her Canadian/Colombian identity and mixed Afro-Latino & indigenous family roots. In her own words, this album is “a representation of where I am now and where I’m ready to go next.” We are more than willing to go on this musical journey with her.
One evening, during that year we were all stuck at home, I was deep in the YouTube wormhole of NPR’s Tiny Desk videos. As I reminisced on all the live concerts I used to attend, I came across Lous and the Yakuza. My mind could not comprehend a single lyric that I was hearing but when I tell you, my soul understood every tune and note. Her French flow so smooth like butter set to sultry trap like beats had me enamored with the entire performance. The Congolese-Belgian singer, songwriter, model, and rapper, who’s real name is Marie-Pierra Kakoma, has explained that she chose to call herself Lous (meaning soul) and the Yakuza (meaning a person outside the norm) as it is a testimony of her resilience. Her music is her way of expressing the traumas she’s endured while still remaining hopeful. A self proclaimed disrupter, she is here is to make some noise as the voice of her generation and I for one will be supporting her all the way through.
At the ripe age of 13, Angolan-Portuguese Afro/R&B artist Carla Prata was a star in her family’s home country of Angola but her ultimate goal was to become a global superstar. Returning to the UK where she was born and raised, she instantly captured fans by the age of 15 with her ability to crossover from English to Portuguese while honing in on her musical influences of artists like Frank Ocean and the Weekend. Now at 22 years old she has shown that she in not letting up and right on track of her goal of global musical domination with her recent performance on Colors. With tracks like “Owner” and her upcoming new single “Run Me Down” dropping on October 29th we have no doubt that we’ll be hearing Carla all over the world.
Have you ever stumbled upon a song and fell so hard for it that you end up being mad at yourself for not knowing of the artist sooner? Those were my exact feelings when coming across Dominican-Italian singer Yendry. In trying to find a song for one of my IG stories, I was recommended her single “Nena” which she performed on A COLORS SHOW. Her angelic voice immediately captured me and at that very moment I became a fan. I’m not the only one who has slept on Yendry in the past as she was a contestant on Italy’s X-Factor in 2012. Although she did not make it to the end, that experience gave her the platform she needed to create her own path in the industry. Her broad influence from Juan Luis Guerra to Nino D’Angelo created her unique sound of pop, R&B, reggaeton, and flamenco. Her latest single, “YOU” featuring reggae legend Damian Marley along with her recent Tiny Desk performance does not disappoint and will leave you wanting more.
Another Latino singer who should already be in your playlist rotation is Manuel Medrano. This Colombian singer-song and winner of two Latin Grammys taught himself how to play the guitar and began writing at the ripe age of 16. The popularity of his cover videos on YouTube and the release of his independent single “Afuera del Planeta” in 2015 attracted the attention of Warner Music Group who signed him immediately. Reminding us that well done music videos still exits, his latest video for his single “Tengo Que Llegar a Tiempo” if full of suspense and rock vibes.
If you’re looking for Dembow with a flare of feminism, MULA band is here for you. This Dominican trio is here to show us that Dembow is not just “ for the boys”. Their playful yet at times dark sounds draw from perrico ripiao like beats creating a sound all their own. The group composed of twin sisters Anabel and Cristabel Acevedo and Rachel Rojas state that their odd band name is a representation of two very different sounds coming together as one. Remember their names because they are here to stay and change the course of Dembow.
Anytime a group of Latinas come together you know it is going to be a good time. Add some amazing vocal skills, drop dead gorgeous looks, and dope dance moves and you get - Bella Dose! The world’s first bilingual Latin girl group will make you forget the Spice Girls ever existed. Not only do they write and compose their own music, these ladies engineer their own songs as well. The personalities of Brianna Leah Curiel, Melany Rivera, Thais Rodriguez, and Jennifer Hernandez all shine through on their own. With 1.9 million followers on Tik Tok since their debut in 2018 we know that this is just the beginning for Bella Dose.
In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month the Peralta Project has collaborated with BK2LA Studio to co-curate “LA BODEGA” available on Spotify and Apple Music.
BK2LA Studio is a creative agency that specializes in music and visual media. The studio based in Brooklyn was founded in 2015 by Steph Austin.
If you are like us and long for music that feels like “90’s R&B”, Dominican singer Maria Isabel has got you covered. This Nuyorquina who is influenced by bachata and merengue brings us poetry set to the sultry beats. Making waves in the industry around 2020, she has been featured on the cover of Rolling Stones Mexico, Billboard Argentina, and Vogue - the definition of marking the scene from jump! In July, she released her second Spanish single “No soy para ti” directed by another fellow Latino dominating the music scene, Alfred Marroquin. We cannot wait to see and hear what more Maria has to come!
T.V. Land is looking very different these days as large networks are now giving us equal platforms on which to tell our stories. Award shows are following suit in the recognition, like the Emmy’s, which were held on September 19 from Los Angeles, CA. One historic nomination went to the extraordinary African American and Puerto Rican actress MJ Rodriquez, who became the first trans woman nominated for Best Actress in a Drama for her formidable portrayal of Blanca Rodriguez on the iconic ballroom culture period drama show, Pose. All though she did not take home the prize, we all know that this is just the beginning of the many nominations for MJ who not only can but, she can sing hunny! The music video for her upbeat new single, “Something to Say” is out now. Check it out!
Sarah Palafox, a.k.a Sarah La Morena, an Afro-Mexican singer of regional Mexican music, became a viral sensation back in 2020 as the internet hadn’t seen a Black woman singing in Spanish with a mariachi band. Little do they know that there are 1.2 million people who identify as Afro-Mexicans. Often overlooked, this marginalized group is a true example of the broad spectrum of the Latino community. Sarah was heavily influenced by her upbringing by her adoptive parents in Zacatecas, Mexico and the music that was always playing everywhere she went in her neighborhood. Now signed to Joyas Musicales, she is working on her new EP and album. Her most recent cover music video, “Amor Eterno”, included a touching dedication to the lives lost in the pandemic by way of photos submitted by her fans of their deceased loved ones. We are ready to see what else Sarah La Morena has in store for us & the world!
Remember those events where you used to go see your favorite music artist play live with a group of your friends? Those things called concerts that seemed like a distant memory. Guess what? After a year of virtual concerts and verzuz battles which we all watched via our phones & T.V. (and don’t get us wrong we did enjoy staying safe and watching these from the comfort of our homes) live in person concerts & music festivals are back! One that we’re particularly excited about which is happening at the end of this month and celebrating its 10th year anniversary is The Governors Ball. Head to Citi Field for the three day festival which is going to be packed with today’s hottest music artists like Colombian and fellow New Yorker super star J.Balvin headlining Saturday’s show and Princess Nokia - hip hop’s Puerto Rican royalty from the L.E.S. who is performing Sunday.
What happens when you get three Dominicans together who love hip hop - you get Whitest Taino Alive. This rap trio made up of DaBeat Ortiz, Jon Blon Jovi, and Dominicanye West (with hilarious artist names) provide us with tropical trap tied together with funny and clever pop culture references that we can all recognize. This month they dropped a new single, “Dia Lindo” ft. Loui Santana & Flaqy Lafontaine. Run it up!
Another fellow Dominican rapper taking over the Billboard charts is Tokischa from Baja Mundo who dropped a new single “Linda” along side one the baddest pop stars in the game, Rosalía. This infectious track paired with a an alluringly music video, which opens up with a cameo from legend Fefita La Grade, is full of sex positivity and pays homage to the place which most Latina’s spend most of our time in, el salon. Hit play and get ready for el perreo!
In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month the Peralta Project has collaborated with BK2LA Studio to co-curate “LA BODEGA” available on 
