Prezident Markon’s New Singles Round-Up (Ana Carla Maza, El Labarinto del Coco, Natalia Bernal, Darumas, Tagua Tagua and many more)

Apologies to anyone left wondering about the identity of the good-looking geezer atop last month’s singles round-up. It’s Alex Cuba. This month, with thanks to frazescreative, it’s that international all-female power trio of renown, DARUMAS. Read all about ’em in this month’s exciting round-up of new singles.

Ana Carla Maza: “Diana”

We’ll start this month with the Cuban cellist based in France whose new album, Caribe Deluxe, comes out next month. It’s a story of “overcoming challenges, believing in yourself, and moving forward with strength” and it’s sung in Spanish and French by this wonderful ebullient performer whose live concerts are things of sheer infectious joy (as one might deduce from this highlights reel).

El Laberinto del Coco: “Todo Se Nubla (feat. Génesis & Jomar Santana“)

Talking of ebullience… here’s a vibrant “bomba fusion” band from Puerto Rico with a tasty single that seems to combine various native bomba rhythms with hints of reggae. The lead vocalist is one Génesis Dávila, who bears no relation to the British prog-rockers that we all know and love, and the rap is delivered by the band’s trombonist, Jomar Santana (who similarly bears no relation to either Carlos or Tiganá). Although they’ve been together since 2017, they’ve not yet released an album. I look forward to the day.

Carwyn Ellis & Rio 18: “Impossible”

I don’t know if the Welsh wizard can justify a place in these pages simply because his band is named after his visit to (and ensuing love affair with) Rio de Janeiro, but the singer-songwriter and keyboard artist has cropped up here before. He’s a delightful individual and this is a gorgeous song, so why not? Let’s give the lad some leeway – particularly as the new album, Fontana Rosa, comes out in May.

Natalia Bernal: “Caravaneros”

Also out in May is En Diablada, a new album by this Chilean singer with a beautiful voice and a dramatic sound. This single is all about “caravan riders” and the “ancient cultures that give life to the Atacama desert” where I believe she hails from. Based on this beguiling number, I shall certainly be covering the album at an appropriate time.

Raúl Monsalve y los Forajidos: “Como el Sol”

From one well disguised slice of South American jazz to another. This extraordinary single by the Venezuelan band based in France (or last I heard, in any case) is a heavily disguised version of John Coltrane’s “Little Sonny”, re-imagined as an Afro-Venezuelan percussion-storm that highlights the talents of Gustavo Ovalles, who has played with such big-hitters as David Murray, Omar Sosa and Seckou Keita. It’s taken from the band’s latest album, SOL, which is hopefully as good as 2020’s Bichos.

manny moura: “Enough”

She doesn’t look old enough to be out of pigtails… The lower-case artist is a Brazilian singer-songwriter based in L.A. In this single with a deliberately (one hopes) heaped spoonful of saccharine, she shares life’s disappointments and opens the door to a new era. It will be intriguing to know what awaits on the other side.

Tagua Tagua: “Lado a Lado (feat. White Denim)”

Here’s another Brazilian singer, Felipe Puperi, the creative force behind Tagua Tagua, whose 2020 album Tanto I still listen to if I can find it. The single finds our double-moniker rocking to a groovy beat in the company of the US group, White Denim. It’s a track taken from his third album, out in mid May, and it’s symptomatic of his wish to get his audience dancing more. The video’s filmed off the north coast of São Paulo, a million figurative miles from the megalopolis that remains his source of creative inspiration.

BALTHVS: “Year of The Snake”

It’s the return of the capitalised unpronounceables – with a new single dedicated to or based on or inspired by the Chinese Zodiac sign of the wood snake. With its very electric guitar and its throbbing base, it comes from their forthcoming fifth album and sounds like something I can’t quite identify, but lodged somewhere deep and long ago in my cranium.

Oscar Ortiz: “Amigos Para Qué”

To Mexico – and don’t spare the horses. Nor the big hats. This single follows the success of “First Love”, Oscar Ortiz’s collaboration with Edgardo Núñez, which earned him a BMI Latino award. It’s a slow cumbia about quickened emotions. Can one remain friends after a break-up? Answers please on a Stetson to…

Mexican Institute of Sound: “The Sound of Mexico City”

Sticking with Mexico – the big city this time – here’s someone who has featured in this column before. Camilo Lara is one of the several DJs and artists served with the task of remixing the FIFA 2026 World Cup theme to create “sonic IDs” for the 16 host cities across Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. Our man at the mixing console has chosen to add a little tasteful loping cumbia rhythm to Mexico City’s ID. Sorry the suits at FIFA won’t allow you to watch it here, but you can catch it on YouTube next time you’re there.

El Dusty: “Aye Papi”

And while we’re attuned to the cumbia beat, here’s trusty El Dusty’s Tejano-infused take on the rhythm in a glorious single that features Rachetón and Harlay. No, not a firm of solicitors based in Corpus Christi, Texas, where this spicy dish was cooked up, but contributors of the vocal refrains.

Rocksteady Romantics: “Soy Tu Títere”

Here’s a song that I’ve loved for years and years, but I’ve never heard it sung in Spanish in a rocksteady stylee before. It’s the B-side of a 7” single by the group on Discos Martos, a sub-label of Rocafort Records of Barcelona. The A-side dub track is splendid, too, but this one would get the composers, Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham, dancing in their Muscle Shoals care-homes.

Mon Laferte: “Otra Notre de Llorar”

Another single this month about the pains of relationships. I blame social media. Here’s the Mexican/Chilean chanteuse Monserrat Bustamante Laferte with her contribution to the groundswell. As her voice rages from the delicate and wistful to the defiant and hopping mad, she “grapples,” I’m told, “with the slow fading of a relationship, her mind replaying cherished moments while her heart still yearns.” Shades of Lorraine Ellison’s tortured classic, “Stay With Me (baby)”.

Darumas: “Puerta Abierta”

This combination of Latin-pop, funk and disco by the “band formed by three amazing girls” (according to Vedala, the Chile-based vocalist with Haitian roots) reaches the parts that other amazing female trios cannot manage. Powered by the Argentine bass player Aldana, the new single by the Latin Grammy-nominated powerhouse trio is a blast from the past and an unbridled pleasure. There’ll be another Latin Grammy nomination before too long, you mark my words.

Adrian Younge: “Nós Somos As Estrelas”

Something else a little retro-sonic… Here’s the producer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and Jazz Is Dead co-owner with a cinematic single taken from the upcoming Something About April III, the third and final part of Younge’s trilogy of psychedelic soul. Featuring a 30-piece orchestra and a choir-load of Brazilian voices, there’s no expense spared. Younge’s even learning Portuguese to cement his love of Brazilian culture and enable him to write the lyrics for single and album.

Frente Cumbiero: “Negro Gato”

And while on the subject of paying homage to the music of Brazil, may I suggest for your delectation this take on a track Roberto Carlos made famous in the ‘60s, by the psychedelic cumbia quartet from Bogotá. Faster and more frenetic (obviously) than the original, the song details the titular cat’s struggle to survive on the streets of the Colombian capital. Poor creature, great song.

Mandinga Beat: “Mãe Me Diz (feat. Helio Ramalho)”

Blending Ijexá, Afropop, reggae, and Afro-rock, this single from the Brazilian band pays tribute to the wisdom of mothers and the women who serve as guardians of ancestry. “Through oral tradition,” I’m reliably informed, “they preserve African philosophies in Brazil, Cape Verde, and throughout the Afro-diasporas.” Nice subject, nice number.

Serelepe, Pop & Jazz Orquestra, Lia de Itamaracá, Luccas Martins, Eloá Puri – Ciranda do Albatroz

This lovely number seems to have been created by more Brazilian artists than you can shake a baton at. A true celebration of Brazilian tradition and innovation, it merges the hypnotic rhythms of ciranda — brought to life by Lia de Itamaracá — with rich jazz arrangements and modern interpretations. A new twist on a venerable tradition.

Astropical: “Fogata (Leo)”

The union of two countries, Colombia and Venezuela, and two bands, Bomba Estéreo and Rawayana, as Astropical has resulted in an eponymous album from which this single is taken, “a celebration of life, of love and connection that transcends time.” It sparkles sweetly. (Leo) by the way (if you haven’t guessed) is the sparkly star-sign.

Dylan Fuentes: “Que Pava”

Talking of stars, señor Fuentes is a Colombian rising one. His new single it seems is “more than just a song.” I asked for some explanation. “It’s a reflection of my journey, my way of loving, and the rhythms that shaped me. It’s about realizing what you have only when it’s gone and seeing someone else appreciate it. This track is an unforgettable mix of emotion, culture, and raw truth.” Cue Dinah Washington: Un-for-gettable, that’s what you are...

Enrique Bunbury: Las chingadas ganas de llorar

Time for one more; I’m sorry, I’ve kept you up far too long. But this is worth the wait, I promise you. Our Mr. Bunbury is a Spanish artist, but this second single from his forthcoming album has a lovely Cuban feel to it. So heck, I’m gonna flag it up and field the questions about whether one can truly call music from Spain “Latin” later. You might like to know that he’s a vegan with an evident penchant for big hats.

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