Hispanic Heritage Month Playlist: 5 Artists You Should Listen to and Why
With songs curated for every mood.
Hispanic Heritage Month, which is from September 15 to October 15, is all about highlighting the impacts Hispanics have had on culture and community in the United States. Evidently, music plays a big role in that. Music shapes our lives, sometimes even more than we realize; when you’re having a bad day, throwing a party or cleaning on a Saturday morning, the right song can make all the difference. In honor of the annual celebration, we’ve curated five of the hottest artists along with their best singles and why they’re worth checking out.
Karol G
Karol G is making a huge impact in music. For years, reggaeton has mostly been male-dominated. In the early days of the genre, Ivy Queen was the only female mainstream artist. However, she walked so others, such as Karol, could run. The Colombia native is taking over with her sex appeal, charisma and catchy tunes. If you’re going through heartbreak and need a song that can become your anthem, listen to “Tusa” featuring Nicki Minja. But if you’re more in the mood for something nostalgic and sultry, check out Karol’s most recent single, “Gatúbela.”
Bad Bunny
Bad Bunny has also changed reggaeton as well as traditional Hispanic culture in a major way, and he’s done that solely by being unapologetically himself. Sure, he always drops the hottest music, but what makes Bad Bunny so special is his ability to break the mold when it comes to machismo and music genres. He wears what he wants, redefining gendered clothes and he experiments with his music, dabbling in reggaeton, trap, pop, rock, merengue, dembow and more. If you’re in the mood for some Spanish trap AKA old school Bad Bunny, listen to “Diles” feauturing Farruko, Arcángel and Ñengo Flow. But if you’re looking for something more reggaeton-sounding, check out “Me Porto Bonito” featuring Chencho Corlene.
Sebastian Yatra
Sebastian Yatra is keeping romance alive in modern latin music. His songs are a combo of pop ballads and some singles influenced by reggaeton — hints of both can be heard in his breakout track “Tracionera.” While it’s clear Yatra is a talented vocalist with incredible charm, what makes him stand out are his song lyrics, which reminds us all that chivalry isn’t dead. If you want to add some romance to your life, check out “No Hay Nadie Mas.” But if you want something more upbeat, listen to “Tacones Rojos.”
Gale
If you like pop, Gale is your girl. The Puerto Rican musician is the brain behind a lot of your favorite artists’ hits, such as Cardi B, Christina Aguilera, Shakira and Anitta, considering she’s written a lot of their anthems. However, recently, Gale transitioned from an in-demand songwriter to a full-fleshed singer. If you you’re looking for an honest breakup song, listen to “Inmadura.” But if you’re in search for the perfect pop beat, check out “Problemas.”
Emilia Mernes
Emilia Mernes AKA Emilia is an Argentinian singer-slash-songwriter, who made her debut in the cumbia-pop group Romabai in 2016. Since then, she’s branched out on her own with pop and reggaeton music. If you’re a fan of Destiny’s Child, check out “La Chain” as its an interpolation of the trio’s “Independent Women.” But if you want to get a fresh feel of her style, listen to “Bilion.”
