10 Emerging Latin & Spanish Artists You Should Now

For this Hispanic Heritage Month, we bring you some of the young promises who are making waves internationally

Archivado en: DannyLux  •   Emilia Mernes  •   Gale  •   Ivan Cornejo  •   Milo J  •   paopao  •   Villano Antillano  •   Young Miko  •   Yvng Lvcas  •  

The music industry is constantly evolving, and with the influence and dynamism of social media, even more so! That’s why you shouldn’t miss out on some of the emerging artists who are starting to make a name for themselves, taking their own identity and style to the next level, eventually becoming international icons.

For this Hispanic Heritage Month, we have selected 10 Spanish and Latin artists, young talents, who are bringing something new and fresh to the industry, and we highly recommend you keep a close eye on them. Here we go!

GALE

Undoubtedly, 2023 is the year when we are getting to know GALE the most. The Puerto Rican singer and songwriter has had a successful music career as a songwriter, working for the biggest names in the industry such as Shakira, Juanes, Christina Aguilera, Anitta, Myke Towers, and Cardi B, among others.

In May 2023, her album «Lo Que No Te Dije» was described by Rolling Stone as «a glowing collection of songs that puts Gale’s knack for pop melodies and confessional lyricism on display.» Nominated for Best Artist at the 24th edition of the Latin Grammys, her second single «Problemas» has reached a new milestone by entering the Top 15 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart.

The Puerto Rican artist, who attended Billboard Latin Week last week to share a panel with other great artists like Nathy Peluso, Nicki Nicole, María Becerra, and Kany García, has a unique musical style that spans genres like pop, indie, and blues rock.

Saiko

Miguel Cantos Gómez, popularly known as Saiko, is one of the urban artists who has risen the highest in the past year. He started rapping at the age of 14 and in 2020 decided to embark on a solo music career.

With lyrical potential that combines reggaeton and afrobeat, and the outstanding work of his producer, BlueFire, who gives the young talent’s songs an innovative edge, Saiko first made a name for himself nationally with «Polaris» and then with «Supernova.» From there, the iconic hit «Polaris REMIX» emerged alongside his friend Quevedo, Feid, and Mora, an explosive collaboration that reached the top 8 trends on YouTube and accumulated millions of streams on various platforms. How far will the Saiko phenomenon grow?

Young Miko

Puerto Rican reggaeton artist Young Miko has conquered the charts and the Latin market and is now making waves in the United States with a unique flow combined with Americanized trap, giving her a powerful and distinctive style. Rising to international fame with her viral hit «Lisa,» Miko has been a game-changer for the representation of women and LGBTQ+ women in the urban music scene by focusing on feelings like attraction and desire for other girls in her songs. She has also stood out on the LOS40 USA list with the hit «Classy 101,» and the young artist continues to grow internationally as one of the most talented lyricists of the moment.

Milo J

Milo J has undoubtedly been the star of the week with his highly anticipated BZRP Music Session Vol 57 with Bizarrap. The Argentine singer, rapper, and songwriter hails from Morón, Buenos Aires Province, and has gained rapid popularity in the music scene with releases like «Milagrosa» and «Morocha,» and he went global with his track «Rara Vez.» He has also shone with collaborations with top genre artists like Nicki Nicole on «Dispara***» and Duki on «Aeróbico.»

Now, the young promise of Argentine hip-hop has taken it to the next level with the release of his collaborative EP with the Argentine producer, En Dormir Sin Madrid, which delves into the intricacies of fame, recognition, self-improvement, and his most intimate feelings towards himself and those around him.

Villano Antillano

The Puerto Rican artist broke the internet with her BZRP Music Sessions, where the world got to witness the power and talent of La Villana. Self-defined as a non-binary transfeminine artist, she became the first transgender artist to enter Spotify’s TOP 50 Global. Villano Antillano’s style revolves around trap and rap, with songs that touch on social themes, gender equality, and LGBTQ+ community advocacy. She recently released her latest single, «Cuero.» Other popular hits include «Ride Or Die» and «Vendetta,» both surpassing 11 million streams on Spotify.

paopao

Working behind the scenes in the industry makes you learn all you need to know to take the spotlight when you’re ready to. And that’s the case of successful Grammy-winning singer-songwriter paopao. Born Paola Nicole Marrero Rodríguez (Bayamón, 1996), she’s one of those rising Latina stars from the Puerto Rican scene who are now changing the game.

With a groundbreaking style described as a mix of reggaeton and alternative pop, paopao gained recognition in the industry for Chiqui’s song «Ticket de Salida» and has collaborated with well-known names in the industry like Mora, Omar Courtz, or Villano Antillano, among others. She recently made a star appearance in Tainy’s «La Baby» music video, a song featuring Feid, Daddy Yankee, and Sech, from his latest work, DATA.

Ivan Cornejo

At just 19 years old, Ivan Cornejo has already made waves on the Regional Mexican charts, including our own, with his song «Aquí Te Espero,» which has spent six consecutive weeks on Lista LOS40.

Cornejo made his debut at Lollapalooza on August 5th, marking the official start of his ‘Terapia Tour.’ The tour has already made stops in major cities such as New York, Atlanta, Dallas, and Houston, and it will conclude with two consecutive shows in Chicago on November 16th and 17th.

In 2021, at the young age of 17, Cornejo released his song «Está Dañada» from his debut album Alma Vacía. The track went viral on TikTok and made its way to the Billboard Hot 100. As Cornejo himself has noted, the song is a fusion of indie and sierreño, reflecting his musical identity. Naturally, the song draws its inspiration from a breakup. In 2022, he released his second studio album, Dañado. The young star is poised to become one of the leading figures in Mexican music, with six nominations at this year’s Billboard Latin American Music Awards.

Emilia

Emilia Mernes has become one of the princesses of urban pop in Argentina. With a remarkable vocal ability and a simply brutal stage presence, the artist is reaching the pinnacle of the Latin music industry. Her debut album, Tu Crees en Mi, released on May 31, 2022, was certified platinum by the Argentine Chamber of Phonograms and Videograms (CAPIF), featuring successful singles like «Como Si No Importara» with Duki, «Rapido Lento» with Tiago PZK, «Cuatro Veinte,» or «Intoxicao» with Nicki Nicole.

With her recent hit «No_Se_Ve.mp3,» featuring Brazilian artist Ludmilla, Mernes embraces one of the current trends in the urban genre: funk carioca, achieving the remarkable milestone of 110 million views in less than half a year.

YNG Lvcas

Daniel Osvaldo Donlucas Martínez, artistically known as Yng Lvcas, has risen to fame in 2023 after co-starring in «La Bebé – Remix» alongside the iconic corridos tumbados artist Peso Pluma. Both artists have elevated Mexican reggaeton to new heights, even remixing with David Guetta. The hit originally started as a single that Yng Lvcas released in 2021, but this year, it reached the 11th spot on the Billboard Hot 100 in our country.

The artist has continued to make other significant collaborations, such as «Waza» with Justin Quiles and «Slow Low (Remix)» with none other than Jason Derulo. Without a doubt, we need to keep an eye on this young Mexican artist who promises to take reggaeton to another level.

DannyLux

DannyLux (Palm Springs, 2004) has captured the hearts of millions of people since he began uploading his first covers and original songs on TikTok in 2020. At just 19 years old, he has opened for up to eight concerts by the legendary band Coldplay.

Three years ago, he released his singles «24:7» and «Amor Medicinal,» and in 2021, he released his debut album «Las Dos Caras del Amor» and his first EP, «Love </3.» In the same year, his song «Jugaste y Sufrí» reached number 1 on Billboard’s Latin composers’ charts, a remarkable achievement considering his young age!

He has recently released his latest album, DLUX, a new studio work in which he claims to have poured all his feelings.