NPR Music - Alt.Latino: Xavi, Simon Grossmann, more

Episode Date: August 13, 2025

Alt.Latino host Anamaria Sayre and frequent guest Isabella Gomez Sarmiento share their favorite Latin pop earworms of the moment. Featured artists and songs:• Simon Grossmann, "Copa Del Mundo"• Xavi & Kapo, "Bien Pedos"• Ana Frango Elétrico, "A Sua Diversão"• Piek & Letón Pé, "Prendan Un Fokin Abanico"• Letón Pé, "Madrugá"• Martox, "Si Es Verdad"• Lena Dardelet & Martox, "A mí de ti"• stivijoes, "Solo"• stivijoes, "No he nacido rico"The audio for this episode has been produced by Noah Caldwell. Suraya Mohamed is Executive Producer of NPR Music.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

Okay, so it's my favorite part of the summer. Felix has finally gone away on vacation, which means I get to take over and talk about my new music. And of course, once again, I'm bringing on the amazing Isabella Gomez Arimiento to do it with me. Hey, Issa, thanks for coming today. Hi, I'm thrilled to be here. I'm thrilled to be Felix Contrares today. I always love a good Felix 2.0 moment, especially when it's you, Issa. I aim to please.

And you know I love to stage a Felix coup. So, well, here we go. Are you ready to do the honors with me officially? I'm ready. From NPR music, this is Alt Latino. I'm Anna Maria Sear. And I'm not Felix Contreras. I'm Isabella Gomez-Armiento.

Let the chisme begin. Isa, you got my assignment. Summer songs. Not all my songs are summer songs, but I would love to hear some of yours. So what do you have for us? Well, I'm a good student. I know you are. I would never let you down with an assignment.

So to start things off, going to a place I think you might know. It's called Puerto Rico. No, never been. But this is actually a Venezuelan artist. This is the song, Copa del Mundo by Simone Grossman. So, Andes that's

Accave To get A carribe To vacation So Simon's raspi, Raspi And perver

the of the Bezos That we're In the process Saling Mons chamos So

Simone's Raspby Raspby voice Is one I turn To all the Time. I think it shines its brightest

In this kind of low-key beach anthem. And I mean, just for context, for people who don't speak Spanish, the whole song is using soccer as a metaphor for bleep-bleep explicit activities, which is just like maybe the most romantic thing a Latin American man can do. I was going to say. In Venezuela, that's what we call Lavia. In English, you would call it Riz.

But yeah, I just, I love the song. You can, like, hear the breeze. It's got a hook that's just a bunch of whistling. I just saw Simone recently with his band playing on the side of the street in New York City and it was a really like electric show and it was kind of a chaotic setting for it but I feel like he still was able to sort of bring this tropical centering energy so that's how I wanted to open the show. Wow, Issa, thank you for taking what I said so seriously.

This is exactly what I was looking for. Of course. I love how all of these men are. Venezuela men because I said I wasn't going to talk about Danny Ocean's new album today, but I will briefly reference the fact that for all of them, it's like, we're on a boat or we're on the sand and we're Asiena Amor Full. And that's the whole thing. That's the song.

That's kind of the only thing you're taught about romance in Venezuela is like, there's beach, there's kissing. A man is singing to you with a guitar, maybe. It's not inaccurate. It's not inaccurate. It sounds very Puerto Rican, too. and I think you're exactly right about the production of it, which again, this is this like perfect little marriage of the Caribbean sounds

that obviously you know this, but Rahuayana, a lot of them, their work is now happening in Puerto Rico. You know, this is happening repeatedly more and more and more. And I think that like the tradition of it makes sense, the current sound of the island and of Venezuela make sense together. So, you know, I'm obsessed with Simone Grossman. So this was a full, perfect way to open the show for me. That was Copa del Mundo by Simon Grossman.

Tell me what you brought. What is your take on summer right now? Okay, Bien Pedos. It's a song I brought. It's a Javi Kapol song, and I cannot wait for you to hear this. I'm sensual. Momasita, she let's real.

So in a story, because today's a pistia. It's a culazo with carita angelical. Okay, so I'm a river to end up uproarriva, the note's Okay, so, I mean, first and foremost, it's a nice pop banger, but there's actually really so much to be set

about the song. I mean, one Javi to me, has one of the most impressive dynamic vocals that I hear these days in pop music. I mean, he started a music Mexicana. He actually started, I don't know if you remember this, Issa. His first album was full covers. Like, it was Cancionis for My Mama, and it was literally just Corrios covers. And so I was like, wow, this man, his voice is so magnetic. I mean, I say, man, he's like, he was 19, I think at the time he released that. So magnetic, so gorgeous, which sounds nothing right, like his age at all. Very, um, Bele, kind of in that sense. But all to say, I was kind of waiting.

I was like, I don't know, he has the voice, but can he do the songwriting? His first actual album of all his own music, amazing. I return back to it all the time, great straight ahead, Corridos, kind of the contemporary musica Mexicana sound, until now. I mean, this is like a full Afrobeats capo moment,

but with all of the accents of, of the Musica Mexicana space. Like, you can hear the chachetas, for example, which is like the traditional Musica Mexicana horns. You can hear all of these various kind of like interspersed little moments, but in a way that really fits in with this kind of explosive Afrobeats pop sound that we're hearing all over right now. Totally.

And I will say it's surprising for Capo too because I do think like he does this Afrobeats tropical thing well. And the Musica Mexicana collab is a little bit of. unexpected for him, but it really, really works. I think it's just that Javi, and I have heard Javi's voice on some reggaeton tracks that have not been released yet. And I think it's just that he can really successfully kind of make any style work around his voice, if that makes sense. So with a Kapo, who didn't deviate that far from what he does, besides adding some of those like instrumental accents, like the core of this song is really Afro beats. Yeah. It's a Javi who, who can really fit in to anything.

And it reminds me a lot, Issa. I don't know if you ever heard or we talked about the interview, Felix and I did with Edgar Barrera, but it reminds me a lot of the way that he described his construction of the Maluma Carin Leone song, where he was like, I took the sounds, I took three elements that sounded like Maluma to me and three elements that sounded like Karin to me. And that's kind of how I built. Like his style is actually pretty simple around production. and that's how I built that sound.

This feels like that. Both of their personalities, their backgrounds, their styles are in this. But again, like I said, it's really Javi being able, I think, to shape shift into something really, really interesting and distinct for himself. Totally. I'm excited to see what he's got up his sleeve. I could listen to that voice all day long. That was Bien Pellos by Javi and Capo. Okay, Issa.

I want another summer banger. Let's hear it. Okay, we're sticking with my South America motif. Now we're going to Brazil. Love a theme. Felix would be proud. Yay. Okay, so this is Anna Frango Electrico,

and the song is Aswa Diversal. So that's just like an insanely groovy boss indie pop. It's got like, you know, the congas, the drums. There's like a little pocket piano action in there. And the thing that really always catches me off Garvey. about Anna. They're one of my favorite artists in the Brazilian scene right now, but their voice always catches me off guard because it's so sugary in a way that like rises above the production but doesn't dominate the entire song. Like it's such a pleasant listening experience. I feel like

I'm floating on a cloud anytime I listen to their music. And according to band camp, they've got Marcos Waije on backing vocals, which is a huge freaking flex. And I think maybe the biggest cosign that Anna is part of a really cool new wave of Brazilian artists right now. Well, and the thing that I love about this, Issa, is as we know, Brazil can be pretty insular, both in terms of audience language, but really stylistically. And that's just the nature of how they do things, right? It's like they don't import or export culture. They're very much like, let's keep this contained within our country.

We have enough to sustain ourselves. And there's so much about Anna that feels like it, they are. pulling in from outside. Like there is clearly a level of influence that's it's very obviously bossa heavy and boss a base but there's such a level of influence of what we hear in a lot of like the other alternative scenes like I could hear like borrowing from some of the Argentine indie scene like a little bit of what is around them in South America which I love I mean it's really like you don't get to hear that that often and so when you do it sounds extra unique. Yeah it's

funny because it is kind of doing like Latin funk in a way and like thinking of someone like Cheopardo who just released an album of Brazilian sort of Latin funk inspired anthems. I think you and Felix talked about that project on the show recently, but also thinking about like what Los Amigos Invisibles was doing in the 90s, which obviously Cheo was a part of that. And then watching someone like Anna come and sort of embrace both aspects of that and turn it into something new. Like it's just it's all referencing itself, but it's not tired.

It's just a really fun song. Everyone's been in their funk era lately. Absolutely. It's a funky time. And I'm not mad about it. That was Aswa Diversao by Anna Frango Electrico. Okay, so I think it's time to take a break. I don't have a good segue.

That's Felix. But we're going to take a break and come right back. And we're back, Issa. It is, I guess, officially my turn again. All right. What do you got for me? Okay. So this was me.

better understanding my own assignment. This is Leiton Pei's new single. Now, I realized when I listened to her new single that I had actually missed a single that I just now became obsessed with from April. So I'm going to play that one first. It's called Prenden Un something that I cannot say on the radio, Avanico. Okay, so I am so consistently impressed by how Le Tonpe keeps growing. She did this song in particular with Piek, who's a Spanish DJ, who I super love. He did a song recently actually, so with Nesquick, which, you know, is one of my favorites. Oh my god, yeah.

I know. And so obviously the combination of them is absolutely incredible. A lot of people call her Latin pop R&B, which to me is usually just a term they throw out when someone's making cool music. So this is a single off of a new album that's coming in November. I want to play you the one she released just last week. It's called Madruga. Oh, that's really, that's really fun, That's right.

Yeah. So what's funny about this song is I heard it and I was like, wow, this just really sounds very me. Like she's obviously Dominican singer living on the island. She's also actually an actress. And I was like, something about this just sounds very Mexico City to me. Something about these light horns. It's a little bit 80s.

It kind of sounds like Nicole Hortz, if you've ever heard her, who lives in Mexico City. And I looked at the production credits. And of course, it's Julian Bernal, who is one of the most prolific in the scene right now in Mexico City. He does a lot of production for, like, Else Yelmar, like these types of artists based there. So very interesting to me to hear her kind of,

adopting the styles of these different producers that she's working with, but also very much continues to kind of define her own voice. Like there is a consistency here to how she's presenting her music, what she's doing with her sound, but still keeping it diverse and interesting. And I just, she's one of these ones that I'm just waiting for the moment when it's like, oh, everyone knows who L'IMP is. Totally. Well, it's interesting you say that because I feel like the first song, Avanico, I was like, okay, it's giving club, it's giving another club, it's giving you Biza, and then you explain Spanish DJ. But now, like, Madro guy is like, I don't know, it's like a sexy little after party and a speak-easy.

It's so sultry and dark, but, like, kind of brimming with energy. I really like it. It does show that versatility and also how a vocalist can sort of adapt themselves to their producer's style without losing themselves in it. It is still very much grounded in her sound. Right, because that's always, you know, people talk about that a lot, like a one artist, who just goes in to work with the producer and then becomes whatever the producer is. But there, to me, is a very consistent. Like, you can hear what a taste maker she is in her work

and how she kind of handpicks the right collaborators to make diverse, yet really compelling and really, like, there is a stylistic thread here, even though she's able to do it all, kind of. Totally. I mean, they're in conversation with each other, for sure. I can't wait for everyone to hear the rest of the album because I listen to the album. It's really amazing. I'm excited.

That was, Prendan Un bleep can't say the word Abanico and Madruga by Leiton P. Okay, Issa, I'm really excited about your next pick, actually, and also it is consistent with what we're doing here. So go ahead. What's your last song? It is very consistent.

We're sticking with the DR. We're staying on the island. As we should. Exactly, exactly. My last song is, If It's Verdad by Martoms. I want to know if it's true all what I say to tell you.

Me, you're flying, I can't see the stars, vented with me to the moon and let me a wea ya me they've been to turn to

all the other that's just if it's really, if it's really, if it's true,

that's the I think that's the way we can't improvise, I've seen what I've seen what I'm I mean, I'm in love.

I'm obsessed. Amazing. Amazing. This is a producer-singer duo out of the DR, like I mentioned. And they haven't even released a debut album yet. They have an EP in a bunch of singles. I discovered them a couple of years ago because they did this electronic cover of the Juan Wiesquera classic song, Amapola, that just totally transformed it and gave it new life.

And this track in particular, If Yes Verda, I feel like it's got like a little Electro Meringe vibe, but it's very subdued. Like, it reminds me of, you know, fan favorite, Rousowski, and his song Malibu,

talking about a summer banger, because it has those, like, really sparse, but, like, lush harmonies and choruses. And the melody is, like, so energetic, but somehow contained at the same time. I just, like, want to live inside those little drops, it just, it's, I'm completely hooked on this song. I think subdued merengue, which is the most hilarious oxymoron ever, is exactly what this

sounds like to me. Like it's, it's exactly the right kind of like very subtle, very soft, very simple. They're simple in their style, which is always, to me, what makes it work. Like, they're never shoving it in your face. It's just like beautiful lyricism and just a really nice, ta, ta, ta, ta, ta, ta. And thank you. I feel like I almost, I messaged you telepathically because this gave me an excuse to play their single from last year that I still listened to all the time that I'm obsessed with with French Dominican singer Lena Dardelet that I never played. So I'm going to play it for you today.

Take it away. Take it away. This is called Ami Dei, Ati, De Me. That this is our secret And between you and I When I'm talking to go And so on't you It's a lot

And that's what we've got And that's curate Other Bessus, but no better this Enfermeda That way in the That's the way is the Despelas, me put me to

baller. It's your skin, color coffee, and you to care that me Isn't that lovely

I'm still that You also It's When I'm To go Lovely. It's still that same Really simple

Like you get to the chorus And you almost Expect it to go bigger And then it's really Satisfingly not bigger Like it's just It almost gets smaller Yeah

Right It's like deconstructing In itself But then the voice like keeps you going. That's amazing. Exactly. Exactly. It's like you pull back a little bit. And then it's just the, and they bring in the shaker there. And it's like, it's exactly what you're describing with this other song. They do this really light touch somehow feels big enough sound. It's amazing. Thank you for taking me to the island, Yisa. Oh my God, of course.

And I will say on the point of the subdued merengue, like merengue is, I mean, I'm a merengue head, so I always think it's having a moment. Always. But I do think. Merengue never out of style. I don't care what people say. Felix said to me recently that merengue was like so old school no one cares about it and I was like, are you kidding me? Well, Felix did not live the projecto una cover that we saw as tropical do in Central Park. Merengue will never die. So, sorry, sorry, feelings. Not to slander him while he's gone. Forever. That was, si is Verda, by Martox, and? And, Ami De Ti, Ati,

Me by Mortoks. Okay. I'm breaking style a little bit. I'm not going to lie. I made the theme and I'm breaking the theme. But I've been looking for an excuse to bring this artist in and I haven't yet with Felix

because it just didn't feel right. And then when I was like, okay, Issa's coming. Now it's time for me to talk about this. Should I be honored or offended? I'm going to leave that up to interpretation. I don't know. Okay.

So this is, a Spanish artist. His name is Stevie Joe's. He's from Catalunya, so just outside of Barcelona. And I love that that specific detail about him because everyone's always talking about the scene in Madrid, I mean, including myself, you know I have my Spanish

producer obsession. But a lot of actually the really interesting sounds that I do here in Spain are not in Madrid. I know a lot of really cool independent artists who are making different kind of experimental things in Catalonia in a different way. So this

This guy, I first fell in love with him from this single that he released that I'm going to play first. And it's called Solo. And so I've been following him ever since, but I want to play you a little bit of this one. No, I see what I'm past, what I'm happy, nor any, three, those days, are grisa, the night are longas. I've been 24 months and a day, thinking in pass me for house. And to tell to my father, mil veces, that no see what I'm going, and I see what I'm pasted a winter.

Cered in a piece that never me kiss and that me has been a fireno. Okay, He has a couple EPs, but it's mostly been singles, and there hasn't really been a full album-style project yet. He's been making music since 2021 only. So now I'm going to play you his most recent single. It's called Noe Nacido Rico. No, me kept other to want to, how can't with what pook, that me quid to be constant. I'm near to lose the reason.

Because I per die a my tio, has more than a year for cancer, and my mother, I've got a 10, she'll have a depression. And, I've seen a time, I found a photo of her in a cajone, and record the last few that I said that would be a cantan we're gonna to work much for delante, but,

Moma, this life has been our decision. I've not been a new, I've been born a a new one has been a and I've been rich, that we don't have

a panelae in the middle of the salon, even for dinner, we'd have to move to bar no other sites, even those sites, the car's, Even if you had to work as a while

before a while I'd like a while you're gonna'n't the plane, who'd say, that this that I've got in the peaches a little jauree, and that I don't want nothing to do, if I've got a t'etho, and that's a-drazo and co-a a traus a traw of a tart that not is my,

and the important, and if you're gonna'ra's gonna no, I'm gonna'rable, and I'm gonna'n't to my family and to pay me a prima and a university, and that's a day, I'll go to the people,

I'm gonna, that one that I'm gonna, Like I said, Issa, always going through it. Oh, my God, mic drop. You know, he has some of this really interesting creativity with his production that is vaguely reminiscent of the Rousie Adi-K seeing all these producers in Madrid, you know, renamed Ruzowski, Ralphie Choo. But to me, he's a little bit closer to, do you remember that kind of like rockery style guy,

Carlos Ares that I was playing a lot last year. Yes, he was like Spanish Oasis. I do remember him. Exactly. I think he's a little bit closer to that side of things, or maybe like an Inigo Quintero almost. He has the popy quality. It's like a pop that's not quite pop.

And I just, I don't know, every single one of his songs has really like a captivating quality to me. Yeah, very maximalist production, but in a really elegant way. It's not doing too much. I mean, also I think the lyricism is really, really strong. So it's kind of like it matches the vice. but matches the heaviness, but also kind of manages to lift the energy a little bit.

I 100% agree. And I can't wait for the album. I don't know when it's coming or if it's ever coming, but I hope it's coming. Well, we'll wait and find out. That was Noe N'Henacido Rico and Solo by Stevie Joes. And that wraps us up, Issa. I think you really, really did exactly what I asked for, which is amazing. Thank you for indulging me.

Thank you for having me. You have been listening to Alt Latino. Our producer is Noah Caldwell. And the executive producer of NPR Music is Soraya Mohamed. I'm Anna Maria Sayer. And I'm Isabella Gomez-Armiento. Thanks for listening.