Dive into the groove-inflected soundscapes of ‘Sin Señal’, the latest offering from rising Argentina-based outfit Bandalos Chinos. Accompanied by a retro music video directed by Tomás Terzano, the track encompasses an ever so relaxing and chilled out atmosphere as those funk-filled guitars and sensational synths carry those equally majestic and dreamy vocals with ease. Check out the fabulous single and video, which follows previous cuts ‘Mi Manera De Ser’ and ‘AYNMG’ here.

Consider yourself introduced to Buenos Aires, Argentia based duo Defensa who team up with Sara Hebe on their infectious new single ‘Carajo’. Accompanied by a powerful music video directed by Joaquín Güiraldes, the track embodies a slick electronic beat which sees the pair’s soft and smooth musings joined by a frenetic and explosive verse courtesy of Hebe. Packed with an energy and ferocity that bursts from the moment you hit play, ‘Carajo’ is one of those tracks that’ll instantly fire you up and get you moving.

Weste was born after the encounter of two great exponents of the Latin American music scene. On one hand, Clara Truco, Argentine member of Femina, and on the other, Igna Perez, from the neighbouring country of Uruguay, member of Mushi Mushi Orchestra. What began as a simple game involving folkloric instruments of the world with electronic experimentation, ended up consolidating in 2014, after the addition of three musicians from several of the best Latin-American music projects: Gonzalo Garcia from Budha Sound on the bass, Pedro Bulgakov from Diego Frekel and La Cosa Mostra on the drums, and Fermin Echeveste from Morbo and Mambo on the winds.

Weste rounded off 2018 with the release of their latest single titled ‘Razones’, a peak into their third and soon to be released LP. Exploring a more jazzy sound with remnants of hip hop, slow tempo and a light groove which generate a chill atmosphere, where the trumpet appears as the key player, the pair have delivered an absolute gem.

In the Aymara language, “Churupaca” is a giant adaptable, multi-talented insect that can swim, fly, jump and hunt, amongst other skills; thus, the Buenos Aires neo-orchestra found the perfect name for their project. Formed by a diverse group of musicians of various disciplines, Churupaca stand out for their acoustic sentimentality and the romanticism of their lyrics. Together, members Juana, Fefo, Ricardo, Darío, Joaquín and Pablo gave birth to their second record this year, entitled “Antes de Mañana” (“Before Tomorrow” in English). The fifteen-track masterpiece guides us on a journey through countless textures and styles from across Latin America and the world, with folk and soul influences alongside classic elements of the tango, burlesque and waltz. The album’s instrumental exuberance is defined by the dramatic qualities of the wind and string sections, the sumptuous accordion melodies and Juana’s emotive, longing vocals, creating a rich, multi-layered body of work to be savoured.

An ensemble of woodwind instrumentation and beatboxed rhythms distinguish the sound of ‘Sistema’, a four track EP released last year by Eric Mandarina. An experienced musician, actor and all-round entertainer, since 2004 he has been studying self-taught percussion, classical guitar and acoustic drums. His latest proposal is a journey that mixes elements of dub and reggae with analogue house bass and funk-infused drum pulses, as lyrics loaded with mundane questions seek to demonstrate the systematic operations that we oppose.

Tomás Justo delighted listeners this year with his debut solo album ‘Ronco y Bruxo’. A former member of successful acts Onda Vada and Michael Mike, the composer and vocalist moved away from constant touring life to create his most sincere and romantic work to date. In addition to taking care of the bulk of the composition and production of the album’s 11 songs, Justo also handles most of the instrumentation, playing guitar, bass, synthesisers and a range of analog and digital percussion, resulting in a unique blend of electronic folk and progressive pop.

Berlin-based, Argentinian producer and feline fanatic Catnapp combines rap, breakbeat, drum and bass and more to create an intense, nostalgic atmosphere. Fat beats are driven by lyrics confessing the deepest childhood memories over huge, compressed pads and synths, resulting in a unique, original sound. ‘No Cover’, her most recent release, is an aggressive two-track EP engendered by feelings of deceit, disappointment and anger. Heavy breaks and broken glasses give ‘No Cover’ an air of invincibility, belligerence and empowerment.

The daughter of a renowned exponent of Argentinian tango, Juana Rosario Molina was raised with classic record collections and guitar lessons. In the mid-70’s, due to military disputes, the Molina family fled the country to go into exile in Paris, where teenage Juana’s musical scope expanded vastly. Nonetheless, when Juana was able to return to her native Argentina, she followed her actor mothers steps by beginning a television career. Her popularity rose exponentially and within three years she already had had her own successful comedy show, airing across Latin America and making her one of the most popular comedians in Argentina. Suddenly, at the peak of her fame, Juana took the hard decision to leave her successful work as an actor in order to pursue a career in music. After multiple releases, in 2017 she delivered her seventh and most solid LP ‘Halo’, which derives its name from one of the most famous folklore myths of Argentina and Uruguay; a halo of “evil light” that floats above the ground where bones were buried. The record evokes the occult in its music as much as in its lyrics. As in previous deliveries, her sound oscillates harmoniously between nature, folklore, humanism and fearless electronic experimentation.

Last year, Buenos Aires psychedelic rock/blues band Los Espíritus released their third album ‘Agua Ardiente’. A few months later, while still touring the album, they released a three track EP called ‘Guayabo de Agua Ardiente’. The group describes this extension as containing the songs that were “too spaced out to be inserted in the official album but also too good not to be shared”. This EP ends with the aching guitars and deep, rasping vocals of ‘Ruso Blanco’.