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Three Artists, Three Takes On Latin Music

Vocalist Dani Carbonell from the band Macaco. Courtesy of the Artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the Artist

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Three Artists, Three Takes On Latin Music

Latin Alternative pioneers Aterciopelados are featured alongside the vocalist from Spain's Macaco and Mexican reggae/ska vets Panteón Rococó this week.

Three Artists, Three Takes On Latin Music

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'Afilando Los Cuchillos' Soundtracks Puerto Rico's Social Movement In Real Time

Bad Bunny (holding flag), singer Ricky Martin (in black hat) and Residente (in blue hat) join demonstrators in protest against Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló in Old San Juan. Joe Raedle/Getty Images hide caption

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Joe Raedle/Getty Images

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'Afilando Los Cuchillos' Soundtracks Puerto Rico's Social Movement In Real Time

"Puerto Ricans are waking up." We explore Residente, iLe and Bad Bunny's sharp-edged takedown of Gov. Ricardo Rosselló and its influence on the protesters in the streets.

'Afilando Los Cuchillos' Soundtracks Puerto Rico's Social Movement In Real Time

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What We Heard At The Best Festivals For Latin Alternative Music

Vocalist Jarina de Marco performs at RudioFest in Chicago. Catalina Maria johnson/Beat Latino hide caption

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Catalina Maria johnson/Beat Latino

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What We Heard At The Best Festivals For Latin Alternative Music

Alt.Latino hits the road to visit RuidoFest in Chicago, NuevoFest in Philadelphia and the Latin Alternative Music Conference (LAMC) in NYC.

What We Heard At The Best Festivals For Latin Alternative Music

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Alt.Latino's Tribute To João Gilberto

Brazilian musician João Gilberto engulfed in adoration in Rio de Janeiro in 2008. ARI VERSIANI/AFP/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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ARI VERSIANI/AFP/AFP/Getty Images

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Alt.Latino's Tribute To João Gilberto

Alt.Latino pays tribute to the father of bossa nova through his music and the words of his fellow musicians.

Alt.Latino's Tribute To João Gilberto

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iLe And Making Movies Discuss Music, Activism And Mixing The Two

Vocalist and composer iLe is one of the artists featured on this week's Podcast Extra. Juanky Alvarez/Courtesy of the Artist hide caption

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Juanky Alvarez/Courtesy of the Artist

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iLe And Making Movies Discuss Music, Activism And Mixing The Two

The former Calle 13 vocalist and the roqueros from Kansas City discuss their new albums and how they channel their passions about the world into music.

iLe And Making Movies Discuss Music, Activism And Mixing The Two

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A Deeper Listen To Anthems Of All Kinds

Members of the Golden Eagles Mardi Gras Indian tribe. A song about about this tradition is part of NPR's American Anthem series. Erika Goldring/Getty Images hide caption

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Erika Goldring/Getty Images

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A Deeper Listen To Anthems Of All Kinds

These songs have the power to say what we feel, even when we can't say them ourselves. We listen back to some of our favorite stories from NPR's American Anthem series.

A Deeper Listen To Anthems Of All Kinds

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Alt.Latino's Best Music Of 2019 (So Far)

Angélique Kidjo's Celia is one of the best albums of the year so far. Laurent Seroussi/Courtesy of the Artist hide caption

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Laurent Seroussi/Courtesy of the Artist

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Alt.Latino's Best Music Of 2019 (So Far)

Six months into 2019, we highlight dream pop, electronic fantasies, West African Cuban music and Latin rock from a salsa icon.

Alt.Latino's Best Music Of 2019 (So Far)

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'Africa Speaks' To Carlos Santana's Past

Carlos Santana's new album, Africa Speaks, features Spanish vocalist Buika (right). Maryanne Bilham/Courtesy of the Artist hide caption

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Maryanne Bilham/Courtesy of the Artist

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'Africa Speaks' To Carlos Santana's Past

Carlos Santana is having a big year: the 50th anniversary of Woodstock, the 20th anniversary of Supernatural, and now a new album featuring Spanish vocalist Buika, Africa Speaks.

'Africa Speaks' To Carlos Santana's Past

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Cuba: While The Politicians Argued, The Musicians Jammed

Cuban musician DJ Jigüe works in his studio in Centro Havana. Felix Contreras/NPR hide caption

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Felix Contreras/NPR

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Cuba: While The Politicians Argued, The Musicians Jammed

The musical exchange between the United States and Cuba goes back to the 19th century. Thankfully, the two countries' political standoff never filtered down to musicians.

Cuba! While The Politicians Argued, The Musicians Jammed!

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The Cast Of 'Vida' Shares The Music Of Its Powerful Latinx Drama

Actor Ser Anzoategui portrays "Eddy" in Vida Kat Marcinowski/Starz Entertainment, LLC hide caption

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Kat Marcinowski/Starz Entertainment, LLC

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The Cast Of 'Vida' Shares The Music Of Its Powerful Latinx Drama

The three women who play the lead characters in the Starz series Vida join Alt. Latino to talk music, drama and La Llorona.

The Cast Of 'Vida' Shares The Music Of Its Powerful Latinx Drama

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Lila Downs Celebrates Mexico's Culinary And Cultural Sides With 'Al Chile'

Lila Downs celebrates the chile on her new album. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the artist

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Lila Downs Celebrates Mexico's Culinary And Cultural Sides With 'Al Chile'

The iconic Mexican vocalist and composer Lila Downs uses music to celebrate the chile pepper.

Lila Downs Celebrates Mexico's Culinary And Cultural Sides With 'Al Chile'

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Alt.Latino Activists: Two Artists Who Mix Messages With Music

Olmeca (left) and Taina Asili (right) mix activism and music. Courtesy of the artists hide caption

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Courtesy of the artists

Our Show

Alt.Latino Activists: Two Artists Who Mix Messages With Music

Artists and activists Taina Asili and Olmeca talk about mixing activism with their music on this week's show.

Alt.Latino Activists: Two Artists Who Mix Messages With Music

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How Angélique Kidjo Brings Out The Africa Of Celia Cruz's Catalog

Vocalist Angelique Kidjo pays tribute to Celia Cruz on her new album, Celia. Laurent Seroussi/Courtesy of the Artist hide caption

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Laurent Seroussi/Courtesy of the Artist

Our Show

How Angélique Kidjo Brings Out The Africa Of Celia Cruz's Catalog

The West African vocalist talks about bringing out the Afrobeat in Celia Cruz's rich Cuban catalog with the tribute album Celia.

How Angélique Kidjo Brings Out The Africa Of Celia Cruz's Catalog

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Samba And Saudade: The Inspirations Behind 'The Air You Breathe'

Carmen Miranda inspires one of the characters in The Air You Breathe, the new novel by Frances de Pontes Peebles. Bettmann Archive/Getty Images hide caption

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Bettmann Archive/Getty Images

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Samba And Saudade: The Inspirations Behind 'The Air You Breathe'

"Samba's beating heart is actually suffering and sadness." The Air You Breathe by Frances de Pontes Peebles uses Brazilian music as a backdrop for an intimate story of female friendship.

Samba And Saudade: The Inspirations Behind 'The Air You Breathe'

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Alt.Latino Encore: Remixing Classics, Fania Opens Its Vaults

Branko mixes classic sounds with new sensibilities in his remix of "Herencia African." Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Alt.Latino Encore: Remixing Classics, Fania Opens Its Vaults

This week on Alt.Latino, we discuss how and whether to remix legendary recordings — and, along the way, feature a new album of remixed salsa classics.

Alt.Latino Encore: Remixing Classics, Fania Opens Its Vaults

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Queer, Punk And Latin: A Discussion About Sexual Identity

Jen Alva, far right, of the band Fea is featured this week talking about sexual identiy in Latin music. Courtesy of the Artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the Artist

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Queer, Punk And Latin: A Discussion About Sexual Identity

A panel of women take on the topic of what it takes to make in in the Latin music business while staying true to your gender identity.

Queer, Punk And Latin: A Discussion About Sexual Identity

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Our Spring New Music Extravaganza — And An Important Question

Alice Bag is one of the artists featured in this week's collection of new music. Greg Velasquez/Courtesy of the Artist hide caption

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Greg Velasquez/Courtesy of the Artist

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Our Spring New Music Extravaganza — And An Important Question

Tons of great music came in during the winter months and time to share the wealth.

Our Spring New Music Extravaganza — And An Important Question

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Who We Found In Austin: The Marías, Liniker, Combo Chimbita And More

Amara La Negra performs for Alt.Latino at South By South West Nickolai Hammer/NPR hide caption

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Nickolai Hammer/NPR

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Who We Found In Austin: The Marías, Liniker, Combo Chimbita And More

The music featured on this week's show expands the notion of just what is Latin music.

Who We Found In Austin: The Marías, Liniker, Combo Chimbita And More

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Amara La Negra On Her Roots, Miami Reality And Barbecue

Alt.Latino host Felix Contreras interviews Amara La Negra over lunch. Marisa Arbona-Ruiz/NPR hide caption

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Marisa Arbona-Ruiz/NPR

Guest DJs

Amara La Negra On Her Roots, Miami Reality And Barbecue

Over a plate of Texas barbecue, Alt.Latino spoke with this fast-rising Afro-Latinx artist from Miami in the midst of her unforgiving South By Southwest schedule.

Amara La Negra On Her Roots, Miami Reality And Barbecue

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Alt.Latino's SXSW 2018 Preview: Amara La Negra, Balún, Bad Gyal And More

Amara La Negra at the VH1 Hip Hop Honors: The 90s Game Changers on September 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, Calif. Maury Phillips/Getty Images hide caption

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Maury Phillips/Getty Images

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Alt.Latino's SXSW 2018 Preview: Amara La Negra, Balún, Bad Gyal And More

Some artists we can't wait to see at the annual music conference in Austin, Texas, representing a wide spectrum of styles and genres.

Alt.Latino's SXSW 2018 Preview: Amara La Negra, Balún, Bad Gyal And More

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The Best Latinx Films Of 2017 Won't Win An Oscar. They Weren't Even Nominated

Farm worker advocate Dolores Huerta is featured in a documentary film to premier on PBS this month. Courtesy of PBS hide caption

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Courtesy of PBS

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The Best Latinx Films Of 2017 Won't Win An Oscar. They Weren't Even Nominated

Latino filmmakers depict compelling histories of two Chicano civil rights figures in new films airing on PBS.

The Best Latinx Films Of 2017 Won't Win An Oscar. They Weren't Even Nominated

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