New Sizzlin’ Summer Latin Music for your Playlists

Check out new music – from singles to album releases – from Austin, Texas, musicians.

On the album “Valerosa,” Lesly Reynaga reflects on the spirit and experiences of Latinos across the ages. Photo courtesy of Mark Guerra Photography

We’re celebrating Austin-based Latin music artists who’ve been busy creating new music for us this summer. Here’s a roundup of some recently released albums and singles to check out: 

Lesly Reynaga

From Latin pop to songs grounded in her mariachi roots, artist Lesly Reynaga released her first full-length album in August titled “Valerosa.” Keep your eyes on this rising artist who last fall made Austin City Limits Music Festival history by becoming the first artist in the festival’s 20-year history to feature a full mariachi band. She recently debuted at Lollapalooza in Chicago. 

Catch her at Waterloo Records for a free in-store performance and record signing on Aug. 25 at 5 p.m. This is part of The Drop monthly music series presented by the Austin American-Statesman and KUTX. 

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Paula Maya

Award-winning Brazilian musician and singer-songwriter Paula Maya this month released her 11th album “Mar da Minha Terra.” The album celebrates many of the artist’s milestones including 30 years since moving from Rio de Janeiro to the U.S. to pursue her music career. Celebrate the album release with Paula Maya & Bossa Nova Plus on Aug. 24 at Barrel O’ Fun from 7:30 p.m-10 p.m. Find the album across digital platforms or download here.

“Mar da Minha Terra” marks artist Paula Maya’s 11th album. Photo courtesy of Paula Maya

Miguel St. Michael

Austin celebrates Pride Week in August. The perfect queer cumbia anthem this summer comes from Miguel St. Michael. The local Mexican-American singer released his latest single “La De Mala Gente” featuring RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Cynthia Lee Fontaine and non-binary rapper Babiboi. It’s a must for every party and inspired by the life of Austin drag performer and activist Kelly Kline. Catch the artist on Aug. 26 at Central Machine Works starting at 8:45 p.m. 

“La De Mala Gente” was written by Miguel St. Michael and produced by Grammy Winner Fabian Hernandez. Photo courtesy of Miguel St. Michael.

El Combo Oscuro

Psychedelic cumbia outfit El Combo Oscuro brings us a sonic treat with their latest single “Sol y Tierra.” Join the band at High Noon on Sept. 1-2 to dance to their infectious rhythms. El Combo Oscuro, which emerged during the height of the pandemic, has found ways to connect us all through their music. 

El Combo Oscuro has recently been inducted into the Austin Music Foundation’s Artist Development Program. Photo courtesy of El Combo Oscuro

Nemegata

Fierce power trio Nemegata offers a new release heavily influenced by the band’s native Colombia, but brings a psychedelic spirit in their latest single “Ni Con Palo Ni Con Bala.” “It is the sound that comes down from the mountains, from the houses of the barrios, from the migrant diasporas in foreign countries, from non-conformity,” said the members of the band. You can catch Nemegata this fall at the ACL Music Festival. 

Nemegata is heavily influenced by their native Colombian traditions such as cumbia, bullerengue, gaita music, Colombian Andean songs, as well as 1960s and 1970s mind-bending psychedelia from Africa, South America, and the Caribbean. Photo courtesy of Juice Consulting

Caramelo Haze

Nothing heats up the summer like music from Caramelo Haze, made up of accomplished producers, songwriters, and multi-instrumentalists based between Austin and Chicago. Their new EP “HOYESTÁNAQUÍ Lechehouse Sessions” blends Afro-Colombian folklore with South Texas soul. Find Caramelo Haze at ACL Music Festival later this fall.

Caramelo Haze’s new EP “HOYESTÁNAQUÍ Lechehouse Sessions,” is a collection of brand new versions of songs from their debut album “NOESTÁSAQUÍ.” Photo courtesy of Nacional Records

Are you an artist releasing new music? Let us know at news@austinvida.com.

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Author
Nancy Flores

An award-winning local journalist, Nancy Flores leads Austin Vida as its editor and publisher. She’s the founder of Cultura Media, Austin Vida’s umbrella organization, and was recently named one of “Austin’s Top Latina Entrepreneurs to Watch,” by the digital news outlet Austonia (now called ATXtoday).

Nancy grew up in the border town of Eagle Pass, Texas, and is the proud daughter of Mexican immigrants. She has specialized in writing about underrepresented Central Texas communities, most recently reporting for the Austin American-Statesman and Austin360. Her contributions to Austin’s Latino community recently earned her the Award of Excellence in Media Arts from the city’s Mexican American Cultural Center. In 2019, Remezcla named her among the nation’s “Latino Columnists You Should Be Reading.”

Nancy revived and reimagined Austin Vida during the pandemic to amplify, inform and celebrate the Latinidad of our local community with culturally-competent news and culture that centers the voices of nuestra gente.

A graduate of St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas, Nancy received a College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) scholarship, and earned a BA in Communication with a Minor in English Writing.

She’s also an alumna of the Hispanic Austin Leadership Program, the Google News Startup Bootcamp program, the Leadership Academy for Diversity in Digital Media program presented by Poynter and The Washington Post, and was part of the inaugural cohort of the Tiny News Collective, which continues to serve as Austin Vida’s nonprofit fiscal sponsor.

Nancy served on the board of directors for the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, and helped relaunch its local Central Texas chapter. She is the founding president of the St. Edward’s University College Assistance Migrant Program Alumni Association.

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