All Songs Considered: Alt.Latino – New Songs from Spain, the D.R. and More

Date: September 24, 2025
Hosts: Felix Contreras & Ana Maria Sayer

Episode Overview

In this lively episode of Alt.Latino, hosts Felix Contreras and Ana Maria Sayer dive into a fresh batch of Latin music discoveries spanning genres, geographies, and generations. Felix and Ana Maria share and discuss tracks from Spain, the Dominican Republic, and the United States, spotlighting artists who fuse genres or revive traditions, and exploring the musical and cultural connections between Latin America and the wider world. Expect artist backstories, critical takes, playful banter, and thoughtful reflections on identity and artistry in contemporary Latin music.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Making Movies – "La Marea" feat. Mireya Ramos

[00:52–04:16]

• Background:

  • The track comes from the short film A Little Family Drama, with Enrique Chi from Making Movies composing and Steve Berlin (Los Lobos) producing.
  • Ana and Felix discuss the touch of producer Steve Berlin—famed for distinctive but adaptable musical approaches.

• Vocal Comparisons:

  • Felix hears a similarity to Luz Elena Mendoza's controlled, layered vocal production:
    “Maybe it’s just part of the Steve Berlin approach... He just mixes all these different sounds, it’s always distinct, always creative.” —Felix [03:33]
  • Ana distinguishes Luz Elena’s earthier sound from Mireya's "softness and those harmonies" but agrees on Berlin’s signature layering.

• Quote:

  “He's got a lot of production credit under his belt, and he just mixes all these different sounds, just different influences, and it's always distinct, and it's always very, very creative.” —Felix Contreras [03:33]

2. Teo Planel – "El Mundo de Lante" & "Como Pensarte Mal"

[04:16–09:06]

• Introduction:

  • Ana highlights these tracks from Spanish producer-singer Teo Planel’s upcoming debut album Damien.
  • Teo’s sound, she notes, is thematically and emotionally rich, with a voice "full of the guts, the soul, the heart." [06:39]

• Lyrics/Theme:

  • “El Mundo de Lante” stems from a biblical concept—God giving you possession of the world to take without fear—but Planel explores it through a romantic frame.
  • Ana notes Planel’s songs feel varied and distinct, but the debut album “connects the dots”.

• Quote:

  “It’s one of those that’s just like completely in the clear. Full of the guts, the soul, the heart. It’s all right there.” —Ana Maria Sayer [06:39]

• Felix’s Playlist Test:

  • Felix contemplates playlist pairings—imagining Teo alongside Draco Rosa and Bruce Springsteen. Ana teases a future release to match. [08:46–09:03]

3. Ramona and the Holy Smokes – "Esta Herida" & "I Want You To Be My Man"

[09:26–16:44]

• Personal Connection:

  • Felix discloses he played music with Ramona (a former NPR employee) in DC’s local scene, noting her dynamic as a musician and bass player.
  • The band melds Spanish-language conjunto and honky-tonk country; their album is out Sept 26.

• Genre Fusion:

  • Ana and Felix discuss language and cultural interplay. Ramona texted Felix about her inspiration:

    "The Honky Tonk life chose me... Once I started writing my own material, it just came out in that three chords, in the truth kind of way." —Ramona Martinez (quoted by Felix) [11:28]

  • Musically, Ramona uniquely blends conjunto touches (accordion, bajo sexto) with steel guitar and classic country rhythms.

• Voice & Identity:

  • Ana finds it fascinating how artists’ vocal personas shift between Spanish and English:
    “I’m told all the time I have different personalities depending on which language I’m talking in. And when you hear it in the music, it’s like more distilled...” —Ana [14:12]
  • Felix contrasts Ramona’s “slightly deeper” Spanish-language voice with her English honky tonk singing.

[Break/Ad Omitted]

4. Lorea – "Se Me Va La Cabeza de Traste" & "Mi Alma Sobre La Mesa"

[19:05–22:59]

• Discovery:

  • Ana, on a “campaign” against formulaic ‘vibe-centric’ albums, praises Lorea (a Spanish artist from near Santander) for clear intentionality in production and song structure.

• Musical Commentary:

  • The song translates roughly as “My mind is going crazy after you”; Ana lauds how every layered sound meaningfully explores that idea.
  • “Every sound is supposed to be there and has its own purpose and has its own feeling of high and low and emotion...” —Ana [20:31]

• Felix’s Reaction:

  • “You did it again. You turned me on a team. New artist.” [22:55]

5. Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Yainer Horta & Joey Calderon – "Kisás Kisás Kisás Cha Cha Cha" (Tribute to Benny Moré & Nat King Cole)

[23:14–28:19]

• Concept/History:

  • Felix presents a standout from a new album imagining a meeting of two icons: Cuban big band leader Benny Moré and American crooner Nat King Cole.
  • Explains Nat King Cole’s 1958 Spanish-language recordings—done without speaking Spanish, but wildly popular in Latin America.

• Cultural Crossings:

  • “It’s the 1958 equivalent of going viral... An interesting cross-fertilization of African American culture, mainstream pop culture and just Latin American standards.” —Felix [26:50]

• Impact:

  • The new tribute album, recorded in Havana’s iconic EGREM Studios, channels both legends; Felix praises its “rich story” and musical execution.

6. Martox – "Enganchao de Ti"

[28:19–30:43]

• Highlight:

  • Ana brings a preview from the Dominican duo Martox’s forthcoming album, celebrating their Caribbean sound and recent rise.
  • She notes this and Lorea’s song share “Depresso” emotional themes but with entirely different energies.

• Notable Moment:

  • “The singles are already—I’m already hearing them on the dance floors in Puerto Rico. So, you know, that’s when you know...” —Ana [30:36]

• Felix’s Closing Note:

  • Appreciates ending the episode with a jauntier, upbeat number after several slower tracks.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Steve Berlin’s Musical Vision:
  “He just listens to everything. He’s got a lot of production credit under his belt, and he just mixes all these different sounds, just different influences, and it’s always distinct, and it’s always very, very creative.” —Felix [03:33]

• On Vocals in Different Languages:
  “I’m told all the time I have different personalities depending on which language I’m talking in. And when you hear it in the music, it’s like more distilled...” —Ana [14:12]

• On Going Viral in 1958:
  “Even...I don’t know if it makes people cringe now...but Anna, these records were so popular throughout Latin America...It’s like the 1958 equivalent of going viral.” —Felix [26:50]

• On Song Discovery:
  “You did it again. You turned me on a team. New artist.” —Felix [22:55]

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Segment / Artist | Song(s) | Starts at | |-------------------------------------|----------------------------------|-------------| | Making Movies ft. Mireya Ramos | "La Marea" | 00:52 | | Teo Planel | "El Mundo de Lante", "Como Pensarte Mal" | 04:16 | | Ramona and the Holy Smokes | "Esta Herida", "I Want You To Be My Man" | 09:26 | | Lorea | "Se Me Va La Cabeza de Traste", "Mi Alma Sobre La Mesa" | 19:05 | | Gonzalo Rubalcaba/Yainer Horta/Joey Calvo | "Kisás Kisás Kisás Cha Cha Cha" | 23:14 | | Martox | "Enganchao de Ti" | 28:19 |

Tone & Feel

• Conversational and playful, with Felix and Ana Maria bouncing ideas, memories, and jokes.
• Deeply curious and analytical—the hosts consistently probe not just musical style but also meaning, intentionality, and cultural context.
• Passionate advocacy for musical discovery, new artists, and giving credit to innovation in the Latin music space.

This episode of Alt.Latino is both a dynamic playlist and a thoughtful conversation on how Latin music continues to expand, surprise, and connect across borders, generations, and genres. Perfect for music fans eager to explore, or those curious about the stories and history embedded in every song.