Alt.Latino

There is always so much to be said about the Latin Grammys. Some fans and musicians insist that music shouldn't be a competition or that the ceremony is more about entertainment than art. But if you look very closely at the annual nominations, it can be an accurate and informational take on the current state of Latin music.When the nominations were announced back in September, Ana and I noticed the heavy influence Latin American folk music was having on Spanish-language music in a more significant and creative way than in the past. And my fascination with what I call the "down ballot" categories continues to introduce genre-busting creativity that is slightly outside of the mainstream.With the Latin Grammy awards scheduled to take place this week in Las Vegas, we used this episode to dig deep on some categories, and even offer some guesses about who will walk away with a Latin Grammy.Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.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

The Mexican folk celebration of Día de los Muertos transcends borders and cultures these days. It is so widely celebrated that you can buy plastic marigolds and papél picado (the intricately cut designs on tissue paper) and even fake sugar skulls for your home altars on Amazon. And yet that popularity hasn't seemed to diminish the actual intent: an offering to the spirits of our friends and family who have passed, as a reminder that they are still in our hearts.Years ago on Alt.Latino we started a tradition of making those offerings through words and music for a Sonic Altar: songs, dedications, lots of emotions and more than a few tears.This year, we dedicate our altar to the iconic civil rights icon Dolores Huerta by returning to an Alt.Latino episode from Sept. 2017, when she mixed her passion for social justice with jazz. We also make some time for a special personal dedication, and remember some prominent Latin musicians who left us this year: Ruben Rada, Roxana Amed and Willie Colón.Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.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

As we poured ourselves into the El Tiny takeover of the Tiny Desk, a month's worth of new music piled up in our inboxes. So, this week, we dig in and bring the long-awaited debut album from Puerto Rico's Benito-approved ensemble Chuwi, the rap-electronica of Monterrey's alternative experimentalist Nsqk, and a track of resilience in the face of an earthquake's destruction. Plus, Sofía Campos, The Mars Volta, and a deep dive into the glory days of mambo in New York City.Artists, albums and songs mentioned in this episode:(01:00) Chuwi, 'Libertad'(09:33) Carlos Vives, Nidia Gongora, Juliana, "Aquí Seguiré"(12:43) Nsqk, 'mosca'(18:07) The Mambo Legends Orchestra, "La Rumbantela"(24:35) Sofía Campos, 'Minha Beleza'(26:59) The Mars Volta,"Voice In My Knives - Poseedora De Mi Sombra"This podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell. Suraya Mohamed is the executive producer of NPR Music.Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.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

Last week we published a Tiny Desk Concert that ended up being unusual for a few reasons.First of all, it was the final production of our sixth annual El Tiny series. This was a very emotional moment for a lot of reasons. People really love Los Tigres del Norte, to the point that playing their albums feels like sitting with family. And if you’ve seen the introduction I gave the band just before they played at the desk you can see that I wasn’t embarrassed to get emotional when I talked about what the band means to me. That emotional intro led to some changes in our process and format that resulted in a huge response from the audience that went viral. The result was a messy moment behind the scenes here at NPR and more than a little confusion for a lot of you.This week’s episode looks back at last week. First we want to share with you, directly from us, an explanation of what happened.But mostly we want to put the spotlight back on the band and their music because for decades they have been bringing out the kind emotions that got this whole thing started.Give it a listen and enjoy the music. Again. - FelixThis podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell and edited by Jacob Ganz and Otis Hart. Suraya Mohamed is the executive producer of NPR Music.Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.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

The Tiny Desk’s magnetism is its intimacy. We strip back lights and a big stage and get to see artists speak honestly about who they are directly to an audience around the world.This becomes all the more profound during our El Tiny takeover of Latin Music Month, where artists whisper truths and share secrets about community, country, pain and family. Often on production days, artists share with us the importance of each individual song — the stories behind them and why they needed to be played in such an honest space.So, this week on Alt.Latino we wanted to let you all in on the secrets. Alex Ferreira, Draco Rosa and Los Tigres del Norte shared with us, in their words, what a song they played at the Tiny Desk for this year’s El Tiny takeover meant to them. Hopefully, learning what’s behind the songs will help each show mean a little bit more for all of you, too.Artists and songs featured in this episode:(00:40) Mon Laferte, "No Le Regales Tu Corazón"(04:06) Alex Ferreira, "Monte Adentro"(13:43) Draco Rosa, "Vagabundo"(19:58) Los Tigres del Norte, "Somos Más Americanos"This podcast was produced by Noah Caldwell. Suraya Mohamed is the executive producer of NPR Music.Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.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

The music of Tim Bernardes fits as easily in the poetry of the cosmos as it does in the songwriting canon of his country. Brazil has a legacy of some of the greatest most intricate, emotional songwriting there is, and if you ask me, I’d argue Tim fits right into it. So, I invited him in to play a Tiny Desk for our annual El Tiny takeover. And, of course, I took the opportunity to pull him into the studio after – I absolutely needed to know what he’s been listening to. So, here we are again playing my latest and greatest new game: a special version of our typical guest DJ episode, where I ask them to recall different parts of their lives and themselves through music. No prepared songs or ideas. Let’s call this episode a musical tapestry painted by one of the greatest Brazilian singer-songwriters of this era.  - Anamaria SayreArtists and songs mentioned in this episode:- The Beatles, 'I Want To Hold Your Hand'- Os Mutantes, 'Caminhante Noturno'- Milton Nascimento, 'Nuvem Cigana'- Nelson Cavaquinho, 'Eu E As Flores'- Gilberto Gil, 'Luzia Luluza'- Antônio Carlos Jobim, 'Saudade Do Brasil,' 'O Boto'- Caetano Veloso, 'Minha Mulher'- Tim Bernardes, 'Realmente Lindo'This podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell. Suraya Mohamed is the executive producer of NPR Music.Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.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

Jazz has often been called America's musical gift to the world. This week's guests remind us not only of the well-documented ways that Cuba revolutionized that gift, but also how it blossomed in South America.Chilean tenor saxophonist Melissa Aldana and Cuban pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba stopped by after their recent Tiny Desk performance to chat about their own personal histories with jazz and its lineage in their respective countries. The memories Rubalcaba shares about Havana's jazz scene in the 1980s adds another layer to a story we've talked a lot about on Alt.Latino. And Aldana looks back on her youth learning music from her father and grandfather, both of whom were Chilean jazz pioneers.The conversation also covers the music they played at the Tiny Desk, which comes from their recent album, 'Filin,' a reexamination of a Cuban musical movement that lasted from the 1940s through the '60s. Ultimately, this week's episode is time spent with two master musicians to hear how their lives and experiences contribute to their mutual appreciation and love of jazz.Check out Melissa Aldana and Gonzalo Rubalcaba's Tiny Desk Concert here.This podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell. Suraya Mohamed is the executive producer of NPR Music.Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.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

YEИDRY, the Dominican-born, Italy-raised singer-songwriter behind the genre-fluid album Como Agua, traces her life through six formative songs. She recalls her mother’s influence, bachata as a bridge to home, and Radiohead as emotional comfort. She explores immigrant identity, maternal sacrifice, music as therapy, and the many sounds woven into her evolving artistic voice.

Noel Hernandez, Los Texmaniacs’ bassist, and Max Baca, the Grammy-winning group’s bajo sexto innovator, explore conjunto’s rich roots and evolving sound. They trace its blend of German accordion and Spanish storytelling, honor Flaco Jimenez, and discuss the tololoche, regional groove, swing, Tejano, and orquesta. The band also previews music that brings tradition into today’s social landscape.

This week Ana features two very different Brazilian artists that both draw heavily on the '60s and '70s Tropicália genre. Felix presents two very different approaches to Colombian folkloric music and a new Spanish-language singer-songwriter who turns sadness into light.Artists and albums featured in this episode:(01:52) Maglore, 'Fluxo Natural'(07:13) Indus, 'El Mangle'(12:42) Candelabro, 'Deseo, Carne y Voluntad'(17:11) Araña, 'Araña'(21:07) Lucas Bezerra, 'EU MANDEI MEU AMOR PRO ESPAÇO'(25:21) Luca de Dios, 'De Amor y DesamorThis podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell. Suraya Mohamed is the executive producer of NPR Music.Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.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