All Songs Considered: Alt.Latino – "Zen and the Art of New Music"

Date: December 3, 2025
Hosts: Felix Contreras & Ana Maria Sayer

Episode Overview

This episode of Alt.Latino immerses listeners in the vibrant world of new alternative Latin music released at the tail end of 2025. Despite already preparing end-of-year lists, hosts Felix Contreras and Ana Maria Sayer showcase tracks that exemplify how Latin artists continually evolve, revisit, and redefine their sounds. The episode is threaded with playful banter, sharp musical analysis, personal anecdotes, and thoughtful cultural commentary—exploring how today’s artists weave their identities and heritage into fresh sonic landscapes and how the Latin music scene bridges nostalgia, innovation, and activism.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Revisiting and Evolving: Diles Que No Me Matan – "Manos de Piedra"

• Artist: Diles Que No Me Matan

• Track: "Manos de Piedra" (re-release)

• [01:03–04:11]

  • Ana introduces one of Mexico City’s most exciting alternative bands and highlights the re-release of an older track, "Manos," now reimagined.
    • “They're probably one of Mexico City's most exciting alternative bands.” – Ana [01:08]
    • The new recording reflects the band’s growth and changing perspectives.
    • Ana emphasizes the value of artists revisiting their own work:

      “For a band to actually take it back into the studio, revisit it, and come up with something a little bit distinct... It’s a nice way, I think, to stay in conversation with the music, with the people listening to it.” – Ana [02:48]

  • Felix connects the title to boxer Roberto "Manos de Piedra" Durán but notes, “I was listening for some boxing references in the song. I didn’t hear it...” [03:53]

2. Ethereal Transformations: Diana Lopez – "Sun Frequencies"

• Artist: Diana Lopez

• Track: "Sun Frequencies"

• [04:27–08:24]

  • Felix spotlights Diana Lopez, whose work has evolved from DIY singer-songwriter to ethereal, spiritual soundscapes.
    • He details her trajectory, noting the “ambient, sonic landscapes” and how her newest EP, Echo, layers intricate sounds with “simple beauty.”

    • “Her music struck me at a time when I wasn't looking for it, and it just, it just stayed with me.” – Felix [07:07]

  • Ana underscores Lopez’s unmistakable voice as the through-line in her stylistic evolution.

    • “Like, there’s maybe a stylistic shift... but that voice, it’s unmistakable. It stays.” – Ana [07:33]

  • Backstory: Lopez originally aimed to be an actress; she pivoted to music after an impromptu college showcase.
    • “She had so much fun doing that. She gave up on acting... and we all benefit from that.” – Felix [07:55]

3. Distinctly Mexican Pop: Umbe – "Fantasmas"

• Artist: Umbe

• Track: "Fantasmas"

• [08:24–12:49]

  • Ana highlights Umbe, a 25-year-old Mexican artist unafraid to break pop conventions:
    • Releases a 22-track album, with unusually long songs for a young pop star.
    • “This is pop from Mexico. Very overtly, but not, like, in a way that feels like that’s what he’s trying to do. It just. It's just what it is.” – Ana [10:35]
  • Felix brings a generational & cultural lens:
    • Observes Umbe’s virality on TikTok, with "Fantasmas" providing the soundtrack to everything from family reunions to emotional milestones.
    • “That song is everywhere... It’s remarkable to me how many different ways that people use that particular lyric and that song and the feeling to reflect their own lives.” – Felix [11:16]
  • Fun moment: Ana, not on TikTok, is surprised to hear about the song's viral life.
    • “I just want to take a moment, acknowledge the fact that you are currently teaching me about a TikTok trend.” – Ana [12:01]

4. Multigenre Storyteller: Renny Lopez – "Any Chance"

• Artist: Renny Lopez

• Track: "Any Chance" (from the album A New York Lie)

• [15:02–18:28]

  • Felix revisits an old favorite—a multitalented artist whose 11th album stretches between Latin rhythms, country/Americana, and New York’s eclecticism.
    • “To me that's an example of his resilience and his creativity. I'm a big fan.” – Felix [16:26]
    • Shares an endearing memory of the "Songs from the Stoop" YouTube series.
    • Lopez’s lineage: son of a renowned salsa trumpet player; sound shaped by salsa, funk, disco, country, and confessional songwriting.
    • “The whole city is like a character or a mood or a sensibility in each track.” – Felix [17:18]
  • Recommendation: “More people should know about this guy.” – Felix [18:15]

5. Fresh Funk from Colombia: Duplat – "Vete del País"

• Artist: Duplat

• Track: "Vete del País" (from Dulce y Amarga)

• [18:34–21:15]

  • Ana describes Duplat’s blend of rock, reggae, funk, and jazz influences.
    • “There’s something really beautiful to me about his sound...It’s fun. It's fresh. The horns, the bass, like, all of it just feels really nice and right to me.” – Ana [19:29]
  • Felix contextualizes the 70s-funk resonance, referencing Nile Rodgers and Chic: “It's very 70s funk.” – Felix [20:48]
  • Deeper meaning debated: The lyrics (“get out of the country”) could be a romantic breakup or veiled political commentary on Colombia's turbulent times.
    • “It's another example of people making political statements without making political statements.” – Felix [21:33]

6. Tejano Christmas Legacy: Ruben Ramos (feat. Gaby Moreno) – "El Año Viejo"

• Artist: Ruben Ramos "El Gato Negro" feat. Gaby Moreno

• Track: "El Año Viejo" (from upcoming album Los Días del Calor)

• [21:56–29:39]

  • Felix pays tribute to Ruben Ramos, a “pillar” of Tejano music since the 1960s.
    • Ramos’s sound—"well before the industry started calling it Tejano”—mixes cumbia, corridos, and a Texas sensibility.

    • “He's been making this music for so long...Ruben Ramos has been singing that since then. He never stopped performing.” – Felix [24:10]

    • Shares excitement about a new tribute album (out Feb/March), helmed by Carrie Rodriguez, featuring Ramos and other Austin musicians.
  • Ana and Felix discuss the evolving yet distinct worlds of Tejano and regional Mexican music:
    • “Tejano is markedly not regional Mexican music. It’s not norteno music, which is what Grupo Frontera is doing. They're very...they live in different worlds.” – Ana [26:43]
    • Felix notes their mutual influences but underscores the immense musical diversity of Texas.
  • Felix’s involvement: Hints he may perform at the upcoming tribute concert and be featured with Ramos’s musical family.
    • “She's been working on this project for a while... I've been fortunate to be part of that.” – Felix [25:55]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Joke to open the show:
  "The Buddhist master went to the hot dog vendor and said, make me one with everything. Get it?" – Felix [00:19]

  • Ana fails to get the joke, setting the tone for playful, warm exchanges throughout.

• On music evolution:
  “You release a song and it takes on all these different lives and forms.” – Ana [02:30]

• Dissecting TikTok phenomena:
  "I was gonna say, Felix, isn't this the project that you yourself might be making a guest appearance on?" – Ana [25:47]

• On Tejano and regional Mexican music:
  "They live in different worlds, but I think that, like, one influences the other...it's just really just a lot of fun to listen to...big, giant musical country that is Texas." – Felix [27:54]

Important Segment Timestamps

• [01:03] – Introduction of Diles Que No Me Matan’s "Manos de Piedra"
• [04:27] – Diana Lopez, backstory and stylistic growth
• [08:24] – Umbe's "Fantasmas" and discussion of new Mexican pop
• [15:02] – Renny Lopez: influences, legacy, and New York storytelling
• [18:34] – Duplat’s sound and sociopolitical questions in "Vete del País"
• [21:56] – Ruben Ramos’ "El Año Viejo": Tejano’s roots and resurgence; Texas musical identity

Overall Vibe & Takeaways

The episode is a lively, deeply knowledgeable exchange between Felix and Ana Maria—balancing seasoned perspective and youthful excitement with a genuine curiosity about Latin music’s constant reinvention. Their chemistry is engaging, often punctuated by lighthearted teasing, especially over generational divides (e.g., TikTok trends).

Listeners walk away with an expanded playlist and a richer understanding of how Latin artists are threading their roots, personalities, and zeitgeist into music that’s both instantly familiar and constantly “new.” The episode also invites reflection on cultural context, generational change, and the role of music as both personal and political expression.

Recommended for:
Anyone curious about the evolution of Latin alternative music, the interplay of tradition and modernity, or those seeking authentic musical storytelling across the Americas.