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Mabe Fratti: The cellist on the importance of imperfection and going to extremes

Mabe Fratti is this week's guest on Alt.Latino. Concepcion Huerta hide caption

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Concepcion Huerta

Alt.Latino

Mabe Fratti: The cellist on the importance of imperfection and going to extremes

Anamaria Sayre sits down with the experimental, Guatemalan cellist Mabe Fratti to discuss the admiration she's developed for imperfection, finding a musical community in Mexico City and how religion sparked a personal rebellion.

Mabe Fratti: The cellist on the importance of imperfection and going to extremes

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Karol G: Why the Colombian superstar will never stop being a 'happy heartbreak girl'

Karol G is this week's guest on Alt.Latino. Rich Fury hide caption

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Rich Fury

Alt.Latino

Karol G: Why the Colombian superstar will never stop being a 'happy heartbreak girl'

While coming up with the concept for her new album Mañana Será Bonito, Colombian superstar Karol G had an epiphany that would change her life: what if she was just more herself? Anamaria Sayre sits down with global superstar Karol G to chat her latest evolution.

Karol G: Why the Colombian superstar will never stop being a 'happy heartbreak girl'

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The unstoppable appeal of Peso Pluma and the Regional Mexican music scene

Peso Pluma and Becky G performed their hit single, Chanel, during the 2023 Latin American Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 20, in Las Vegas. Mindy Small/Getty Images hide caption

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Mindy Small/Getty Images

Music

The unstoppable appeal of Peso Pluma and the Regional Mexican music scene

Peso Pluma seems to be dominating these days. He delighted audiences at Coachella, made history on The Tonight Show, and he's got hit after hit after hit on multiple music charts.

Alt.Latino's Best New Music Round-Up: Bad Bunny, Grupo Frontera, Becky G and more

Bad Bunny and Grupo Frontera are featured on this week's episode of Alt.Latino. Eric Rojas hide caption

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Eric Rojas

Alt.Latino

Alt.Latino's Best New Music Round-Up: Bad Bunny, Grupo Frontera, Becky G and more

This week, Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras round up their favorite music from the last few months, kicking things off with a surprising collab from Bad Bunny and regional Mexican group Grupo Frontera. Plus, new music from Becky G, Gaby Moreno, Esteman and more.

Alt.Latino's Best New Music Round-Up: Bad Bunny, Grupo Frontera, Becky G and more

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Why regional Mexican's current explosion catapults the genre to new heights

Bad Bunny (center) recently made waves with "un x100to," a collaboration with the regional Mexican band Grupo Frontera. Eric Rojas hide caption

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Eric Rojas

Music

Why regional Mexican's current explosion catapults the genre to new heights

This week a collaboration between Bad Bunny and Grupo Frontera, in addition to a historic chart placement for Mexican artist Peso Pluma, pushed regional Mexican music to international attention

Why regional Mexican's current explosion catapults the genre to new heights

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La Santa Cecilia celebrates its quinceañera with a new album

Los Angeles band La Santa Cecilia is celebrating 15 years together. They recently traveled to an estate in Baja California to record a new album with friends. Humberto Howard hide caption

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Humberto Howard

Culture

La Santa Cecilia celebrates its quinceañera with a new album

Many of the songs on Cuatro Copas, Bohemia en la Finca Altozano are part the group's personal history, growing up in downtown LA, surrounded by Mexican musicians who taught them how to sing and play.

La Santa Cecilia celebrates its quinceañera with a new album

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La Brega: Bonus Track — Songs for the Future of Puerto Rico

Photo by Christopher Gregory-Rivera, show art by Fernando Norat. Christopher Gregory-Rivera/Christopher Gregory-Rivera/Fernando Norat/WNYC Studios hide caption

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Christopher Gregory-Rivera/Christopher Gregory-Rivera/Fernando Norat/WNYC Studios

Alt.Latino

La Brega: Bonus Track — Songs for the Future of Puerto Rico

From our friends at WNYC Studios and Futuro Studios, today we're sharing an episode from the latest season of the podcast La Brega — which traces the history of Puerto Rican music across eight transformative songs.

La Brega: Bonus Track — Songs for the Future of Puerto Rico

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Daddy Yankee's 'Gasolina' is the National Recording Registry's first reggaeton song

Daddy Yankee retired last year after a career spanning more than 30 years. In that time, reggaeton has become one of the most profitable genres in the music industry. Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Rihanna's Savag hide caption

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Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Rihanna's Savag

Music

Daddy Yankee's 'Gasolina' is the National Recording Registry's first reggaeton song

On Wednesday, the mega-hit single became the first reggaeton song to be inducted into the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress.

Girl Ultra: On Mexico City's 'haunted' energy and why she secretly loves sad songs

Girl Ultra is this week's guest on Alt.Latino. Salvador Hea hide caption

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Salvador Hea

Alt.Latino

Girl Ultra: On Mexico City's 'haunted' energy and why she secretly loves sad songs

Across her evolving discography, which includes everything from R&B ballads to danceable electronic beats, Girl Ultra has solidified her approach to deep, dark songs of love and heartbreak. In this episode, Anamaria Sayre sits down with the up-and-coming Mexico City singer to talk lost loves, why the city is "haunted" and how she copes with a nostalgic heart.

Girl Ultra: On Mexico City's 'haunted' energy and why she secretly loves sad songs

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Camilo Lara: How Mexico's musical 'double agent' seeks a universal dance floor

Camilo Lara is this week's guest on Alt.Latino. Andres Navarro hide caption

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Andres Navarro

Alt.Latino

Camilo Lara: How Mexico's musical 'double agent' seeks a universal dance floor

Anamaria Sayre sits down with world-building producer and Mexican Institute of Sound frontman Camilo Lara to talk about using his fearless intuition to help artists find their voice in the burgeoning hub of Latin music.

Camilo Lara: How Mexico's musical 'double agent' seeks a universal dance floor

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Radio Ambulante: Getting Down

From our friends at Radio Ambulante, today we're sharing a thought provoking episode from their latest season. Cristina Marchán hide caption

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Cristina Marchán

Alt.Latino

Radio Ambulante: Getting Down

From our friends at Radio Ambulante, today we're sharing a thought provoking episode from their latest season. Puerto Rican Patricia Velasquez has spent her whole life listening to reggaeton. It's part of her identity. But when she was questioned about the content of the songs, she began an investigation that would lead her to create something completely new about the musical genre. This episode is in Spanish.

Radio Ambulante: Getting Down

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Julieta Venegas: Why the Mexican pop icon wouldn't call herself a pioneer

Julieta Venegas is this week's guest on Alt.Latino. Agustina Puricelli hide caption

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Agustina Puricelli

Alt.Latino

Julieta Venegas: Why the Mexican pop icon wouldn't call herself a pioneer

Anamaria Sayre sits down with Mexican pop icon Julieta Venegas to discuss her role as a trailblazing female vocalist and mom to a daughter with impeccably cool music taste.

Julieta Venegas: Why the Mexican pop icon wouldn't call herself a pioneer

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A tough question led one woman to create the first Puerto Rican reggaeton archive
Cristina Merchán (Miti Miti)/Radio Ambulante

Editors' Picks

A tough question led one woman to create the first Puerto Rican reggaeton archive

Patricia Velázquez spent her whole life listening to reggaeton. But when she was questioned about sexism in the songs, she began an investigation that would lead her to create something new.

A tough question led one woman to create the first Puerto Rican reggaeton archive

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For Puerto Rico's Villano Antillano, femininity is a shield — and a superpower

Villano Antillano grew up surrounded by salsa, rock and reggaeton in Puerto Rico. With those influences under her belt, she's become one of the most exciting rappers in the Latin music scene. Courtesy of La Buena Fortuna hide caption

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Courtesy of La Buena Fortuna

Music Interviews

For Puerto Rico's Villano Antillano, femininity is a shield — and a superpower

The rapper's first full-length record is a testament to the way she's been able to interact with her femininity through her creative process.

For Puerto Rico's Villano Antillano, femininity is a shield — and a superpower

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On Kali Uchis' soulful new album, love has many dimensions

Love, good karma and a bit of old-school funk are ingredients for a happy life, says Kali Uchis. Cho Gi-Seok hide caption

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Cho Gi-Seok

Music Interviews

On Kali Uchis' soulful new album, love has many dimensions

NPR's Scott Simon speaks with singer-songwriter Kali Uchis about her soulful new album 'Red Moon in Venus' and the inspiration behind it.

On Kali Uchis' soulful new album, love has many dimensions

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Antonio Sánchez & Bad Hombre: Tiny Desk Concert

Antonio Sánchez (right) performs a Tiny Desk concert with Bad Hombre band members BIGYUKI (from left), Lex Sadler and Thana Alexa Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, at NPR’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. Michael Zamora/NPR/Michael Zamora/NPR hide caption

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Michael Zamora/NPR/Michael Zamora/NPR

Tiny Desk

Antonio Sánchez & Bad Hombre: Tiny Desk Concert

Sánchez observes the world with a drummer's sensibilities. Here, he and his pals in Bad Hombre explore the rhythm of language in a set of tracks from Sánchez's latest album.

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