KCRW’s Global Beat is a series highlighting emerging artists from around the world. Our second season takes us to México, hosted by KCRW DJ Raul Campos alongside our curators, México City DJ and music supervisor Junf, director of Festival NRMAL Moni Saldaña, and NPR’s Betto Arcos.
Festival curator extraordinaire Monica Saldaña joins Raul Campos to talk killer new tunes to keep you ahead of the curve in 2023.
Saldaña always comes correct, but she’s really outdone herself this week with a pandemic-born project that’s giving us trip-hop with a modern twist, a couple of alt-rock mainstays combining forces to bring us an electro-darkwave fantasy, and a pop-star-in-the-making coming soon to a certain world famous desert music festival near you.
Speaking of festivals and killer Mexican sounds, the lineup for this year’s Vive Latino in Mexico City recently dropped and it’s demanding your immediate attention.
More: Global Beat México: Avant-folk, daytime disco, hip-hop bridge builders
Sueño A Marte – “Sailor”
Sueño A Marte began in 2020, when the options for showcasing their work were (ahem) limited. The CDMX-based project features Mariela Millán on vocals and drums alongside production from multi-instrumentalist Maurizio Terracina.
Saldaña describes falling in love with the duo’s quirky energy from her very first moments spent with “Sailor.” It’s giving major “6 Underground” feelings, only with even more of an ineffable indie spirit. And don’t sleep on our Global Beat: México Spotify playlist this week, because we’re bringing you Sueño A Marte’s latest single “Medianoche” as a bonus.
Juan Son – “Angelical (Feat. Transgresorcorruptor)”
Formerly of beloved Guadelajara-based indie rock band Porter, Juan Son is stepping out to craft his own beguiling electropop x darkwave sound. His success in this endeavor comes thanks to his teaming up with experimental producer Transgresorcorruptor.
The latter has spent years developing sounds with notable Mexican alternative influencers ranging from Zoé to Hello Seahorse, and that influence shines across this latest collaboration.
Bratty – “Continental (Feat. Nsqk & Méne)”
¡Viva Festival SZN! Mexican pop-star-in-the-making Bratty is trekking her way to the hallowed grounds of Indio Polo Fields to play Coachella. This year, her ascent is realized as she brings her perfect pop dreamscapes — complete with her pillowy-soft vocal tone — to both Coachella ‘23 Saturdays. This is what we mean when we remind you that the true goods are in the smallest font on the poster.
More: Global Beat México: Indie for dogs, feminist psych-rock, bedroom-pop-for-the-soul
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