Alt.Latino

NPR

The global Latinx community is evolving and growing fast. Alt.Latino is here to celebrate it and all of its nuances through music. Each episode, NPR Music's Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre sit down with a different living legend or rising star to discuss Latinx culture, heritage, and the shared borders of our experiences. Let the chisme begin!

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Our Editor's Take

Alt.Latino is a podcast that explores Latin American music. It allows listeners to discover music from diverse regions of the Latinx world. The podcast is passionate about spotlighting the Latino arts, and often does so with live performances.

Host Felix Contreras leads listeners through a musical journey each week. The show focuses on different types of Latin alternative music. Everything from cumbia to Cuban music appears on this podcast.

He has been hosting Alt.Latino since 2010, but has been working for NPR in various capacities since 2001. He is one of the most respected Latin music journalists working today.

Contreras's co-host on Alt.Latino is Anamaria Artemisa Sayre. She has produced a number of Tiny Desk concerts for Latin artists at NPR. She has also worked as a contributing journalist on Weekend Edition and All Songs Considered.

NPR's Alt.Latino continues the legacy of public radio that it is so well known for. For decades, the organization has continued to showcase stories and artists. Many of these come from underserved communities. As a result, they continue to champion diversity in all of their programming.

Alt.Latino plays familiar music, such as Santana, as well as less well-known pieces. These can include things such as Mexican and Cuban folk music. The show has a stated goal of trying to platform artists who might otherwise not get attention.

This new and revitalized version of Alt.Latino sees the show in premiere form. The two hosts have an excellent interplay with one another. There is an age gap between the two, which also leads to some exciting contrasts on-air.

New episodes of Alt.Latino air weekly on Wednesdays.

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Reintroducing: Alt.Latino

Reintroducing: Alt.Latino

Longtime host Felix Contreras introduces the program's new co-host, Anamaria Sayre — and gets a blessing from her abuelita.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Episodes

Alt.Latino's best new music round-up: Angélica Garcia, Young Miko and The Mavericks

Alt.Latino's best new music round-up: Angélica Garcia, Young Miko and The Mavericks

Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras round up their favorite new music, from Puerto Rican rapper Young Miko's boundary-pushing new music, to Alejandro Escovedo's genre-bending rock and Angelica Garcia's electro-cumbia.Songs featured in this episode:• Young Miko, "Tamagotchi"• The Mavericks, "Moon & Stars (with Sierra Ferrell)"• Angélica Garcia, "Juanita"• Alejandro Escovedo, "Castañuelas"• Nella, Yendry, "Veinte Años"• Sheila E., "Bemba Colorá (ft. Gloria Estefan and Mimy Succar)"Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Joaquin Cotler. Hazel Cills is the podcast editor and digital editor for Alt.Latino, and our project manager is Grace Chung. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Tracing the history of Latino artists making country music

Tracing the history of Latino artists making country music

The release of Beyoncés Cowboy Carter has sparked a national conversation about who gets to sing country music and the complex roots of the genre. Which got Alt.Latino thinking — what about the Latinos in country?This week, Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras travel to Austin, Texas to speak with AmeriChicana musician Carrie Rodriguez about the difference between violin and fiddle, strings and "strangs," and who gets to play country music.Songs featured:•Carin Leon, Leon Bridges: "It Was Always You (Siempre Fuiste Tu)"•Cuco Sanchez: "La Cama de Piedra"•Merle Haggard: "Big City"•Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys: "San Antonio Rose"•Robert Earl Keen: "Feelin' Good Again"•Chip Taylor, Carrie Rodriguez: "Dirty Little Texas Story"•Eva Garza: "Quiero Verte Una Vez Mas"•Rick Trevino: "Doctor Time"•Ruben Ramos: "Crying Time"•Sammy Arriaga: "Tennessee Whiskey - Spanglish"•The Mavericks: "There Goes My Heart"•Louie TheSinger: "Come and Take It"•Carrie Rodriguez: "I Dreamed I Was Lola Beltran"•Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Joaquin Cotler. Hazel Cills is the podcast editor and digital editor for Alt.Latino, and our project manager is Grace Chung. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

What do we really want from Shakira?

What do we really want from Shakira?

Shakira just released her first album in seven years, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran, and most listeners and critics have high praise. But this episode of Alt.Latino puts the record to the test.Felix Contreras, Anamaria Sayre and NPR's Isabella Gomez Sarmiento talk about what makes a Shakira record a Shakira record, how pop artists reinvent themselves and loving your favorite artists even if you don't always love their music.Songs featured in this episode:•Shakira: "Puntería"•Shakira: "La Fuerte"•Shakira: "Obtener un Si"•Shakira: "El Jefe"•Paul Simon: "You Can Call Me Al"•Shakira: "Cómo Dónde y Cuándo"•Santana: "Smooth"•Shakira: "Cohete"•Karol G, Shakira: "TQG"•Miles Davis: "Bitches Brew"•Shakira: "Monotonía"•Shakira: "Escondite Ingles"Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Joaquin Cotler. Hazel Cills is the podcast editor and digital editor for Alt.Latino, and our project manager is Grace Chung. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Alt.Latino's best new music round-up: Elsa y Elmar, Julieta Eugenio, Esteman and more

Alt.Latino's best new music round-up: Elsa y Elmar, Julieta Eugenio, Esteman and more

The weather's heating up and so are the music releases. The hosts of Alt.Latino share their most quintessentially them picks, with Latin jazz across the board from Felix and indie pop-rock bops from Ana. The two sit down to ping-pong favorite picks back and forth from different parts of the country — plus, Felix puts Ana's picks to an impromptu test.Featured tracks:Lara Project, "Extraños"Julieta Eugenio, "Breath I"Esteman, Villano Antillano, "Noches de Verano"Rodrigo Recabarren, Pablo Menares, Yago Vazquez, "Santiago"Elsa y Elmar, "entre las piernas"Hurray for the Riff Raff, "Hawkmoon"Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Joaquin Cotler. Hazel Cills is the podcast editor and digital editor for Alt.Latino, and our project manager is Grace Chung. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A deep dive into Cuba's rich musical history, reported from Havana

A deep dive into Cuba's rich musical history, reported from Havana

Is it really a good idea to take a vacation with your coworkers? If you're part of the Alt.Latino team, it is. Last month Alt.Latino co-host Anamaria Sayre decided to join Felix Contreras on a planned trip to attend the 39th annual Havana Jazz Festival, an international event that attracts fans of both Cuban music and jazz from around the world. Spread out among several historic venues around the Cuban capital city, the team spent eight days taking in the sights and sounds of one of the oldest cities in Latin America. Hours before they returned home, Felix and Ana recorded this episode reflecting on everything they heard and the legacy of Cuba's musical diversity.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Alt.Latino's best new music round-up: Residente, La Yegros and El Cuarteto de Nos

Alt.Latino's best new music round-up: Residente, La Yegros and El Cuarteto de Nos

As the chill remains in the air for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere and the heat of summer warms up the South, we take time to listen to new music from both parts of the world.Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre round up their favorite new music, including Southern Cone rock and cumbia, atmospheric vocals from the U.S. and even some delicate yet emotionally powerful music from the Catalan region of Spain.Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Joaquin Cotler. Hazel Cills is the podcast editor and digital editor for Alt.Latino and our project manager is Grace Chung. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

We round up the greatest boleros ever, with help from artists and listeners

We round up the greatest boleros ever, with help from artists and listeners

Nothing captures the agony of love, loss, hope and redemption like the song form known across all of Latin America: the bolero.Last December, UNESCO declared the bolero "an intangible cultural heritage of humanity" and "an indispensable part of the Latin American sentimental song." And given that Valentine's Day is coming up, Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre did something special this week, in honor of this news: they asked some of their favorite artists and show listeners to share their most-loved boleros, and break down exactly what makes them so special. Join Felix and Ana as they laugh, cry and sing a little to the love songs of the ages.And be sure to check out the playlists we made for this episode, feature Ana and Felix's picks, as well as the selections from featured artists and listeners, on Spotify and Apple Music.Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Joaquin Cotler. Hazel Cills is the podcast editor and digital editor for Alt.Latino and our project manager is Grace Chung. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Ana Tijoux: On why it took 10 years to release her new album 'Vida'

Ana Tijoux: On why it took 10 years to release her new album 'Vida'

Vocalist Ana Tijoux has been a frequent guest on Alt.Latino. That's because ever since her US debut, 1977, was released in 2010, Tijoux had been at the forefront of Latin music that celebrates creative innovation, themes of social justice and fierce independence.In this week's episode the Chilean musician talks to Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre about why that spirit of innovation has been more or less silent for the last 10 years, and how her new album, Vida, is not only a chance to catch up, but also a deeply moving look back. Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Joaquin Cotler, with production support from Suraya Mohamed and Isabella Gomez Sarmiento. Hazel Cills is the podcast editor and digital editor for Alt.Latino and our project manager is Grace Chung. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Alt.Latino's best new music roundup: Helado Negro, Gaby Moreno and Ana Tijoux

Alt.Latino's best new music roundup: Helado Negro, Gaby Moreno and Ana Tijoux

In the earliest days of the show, Alt.Latino's mailbox was usually piled high with CDs of new music from both emerging and well-known artists.Now, Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre's email and social media accounts continue to open up new musical worlds at Alt.Latino and — in turn — all of you. The show starts 2024 with some great tracks from names you may know and a couple of bands that Felix and Ana think deserve wider recognition.Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Joaquin Cotler, with production support from Suraya Mohamed. Hazel Cills is the podcast editor and digital editor for Alt.Latino. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Alt.Latino's favorite music of 2023

Alt.Latino's favorite music of 2023

While 2022 may have been a year completely dominated by a certain sad summer reggaeton album, 2023 drew its power from a set of familiar sounds that took on new prominence: tubas, accordions and a whole lot of lively, sneakily danceable beats. As we've been talking about on Alt.Latino for some time, Mexican Regional music broke through in a big way this year, and we found it incredible to witness the most boisterous and uncompromising sounds from that long tradition make their way across the world and to the top of the charts. A strong feeling of authenticity to place and experience was palpable across the spectrum of Latin albums released in 2023, from the most popular to those deserving of more attention. To review all there was to love about Spanish-language music this year, hosts Felix Contreras and Anamaria Syare sat down with producer Isabella Gomez Sarmiento to discuss the ways musicians danced fearlessly across genre lines while showing up as their complete selves more than ever before.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Regional Goes Global, Part 3: How a magical Mexican town keeps banda tradition alive

Regional Goes Global, Part 3: How a magical Mexican town keeps banda tradition alive

You know all those tubas and brass instruments you hear behind your favorite regional Mexican hits? That's banda sinaloense and this week Alt.Latino wraps up the Regional Goes Global series with a visit to Sinaloa, Mexico, the birthplace of the genre.Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras visit the picturesque town Mocorito, a pueblo magico where tradition and pride in the musical heritage runs deep. That's the case even among members of the drug cartels, which are responsible for some of the country's societal ills. It's a complex story as passionate and heartfelt as the music that stretches from the hills of Sinaloa to this side of the U.S.-Mexico border.Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Joaquin Cotler, with production support from Lilly Quiroz, Suraya Mohamed, Josephine Nyounai and Natalia Fidelholtz. The editor for this episode is Jacob Ganz, and our project manager is Grace Chung. Hazel Cills is the podcast editor and digital editor for Alt.Latino. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Regional Goes Global, Part 2: A band finds its voice amid a storm of controversy

Regional Goes Global, Part 2: A band finds its voice amid a storm of controversy

For the second episode of Alt.Latino's regional Mexican music series, hosts Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras interview the rising family band Yahritza y Su Esencia in its hometown of Yakima, Wash. The two discover that the U.S.-Mexico border looms large in this regional Mexican moment, especially for Yahritza y Su Esencia — not strictly because of the music's obvious Mexican roots, but also the ways in which the border can create an "us" and "them" dynamic. The band's struggles with musical and personal identity also reflect the real struggles that millions of U.S.-born folks with Mexican heritage face. And what started as a musical journey for Ana and Felix has now become a personal journey.Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Joaquin Cotler, with production support from Janice Llamoca, Shelby Hawkins, Suraya Mohamed and Natalia Fidelholtz. The editor for this episode is Jacob Ganz and, our project manager is Grace Chung. Hazel Cills is the podcast editor and digital editor for Alt.Latino. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Regional Goes Global, Part 1: Finding Peso Pluma's music revolution in Nashville

Regional Goes Global, Part 1: Finding Peso Pluma's music revolution in Nashville

Earlier this year, Peso Pluma — a 24-year-old who grew up in between Guadalajara, Jalisco, and San Antonio — became the first regional Mexican artist to hit No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 chart. Something in the music industry was changing. Streaming numbers for regional Mexican shot up astronomically, as the musical stylings of banda and norteño made their way onto the Coachella main stage and burgeoning stars like Peso Pluma began to book their first U.S. tours in major markets. But what accounted for regional Mexican's rise? And what does the genre's continued popularity say about not just changing trends in the Latin music industry, but the changing shape of America? For the next three episodes of Alt.Latino, Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras dive into the regional Mexican explosion, revealing the complex relationships both Mexicans and Mexican Americans have with identity from either side of the border. In this first episode, Felix and Anamaria travel to Nashville, Tenn., to witness Peso Pluma's performance and to try to understand the root of the phenomenon, through their own personal experiences and the people they meet along the way.Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Janice Llamoca and Joaquin Cotler, with production support from Shelby Hawkins, Suraya Mohamed, Natalia Fidelholtz and Lauren Migaki. The editor for this episode is Jacob Ganz and our project manager is Grace Chung. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Marinero: How the diversity of the Bay Area shaped the artist's approach to music

Marinero: How the diversity of the Bay Area shaped the artist's approach to music

Recently Ana and Felix traveled to NPR member station KQED in San Francisco to meet Alt.Latino listeners and interview the musician Marinero, who has deep musical and familial roots in the Bay Area. This week's show is a recording of that live interview, full of great music as well as lots of laughs.Audio for this episode of 'Alt.Latino' was edited and mixed by Suraya Mohamed. Our show editor is Hazel Cills and our project manager is Grace Chung. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Maluma: On becoming a dad, hustling across genres and reggaeton's rise in Colombia

Maluma: On becoming a dad, hustling across genres and reggaeton's rise in Colombia

The Colombian singer Maluma has a lot to be excited about these days — a world tour, a new album and a shot at exploring a different part of his humanity: being a parent.The artist has often felt a sense of responsibility: to support up and coming artists he seeks out on social media and to showcase a more joyful, loving side of Colombia to the world. And, now, responsibility is about to take on a whole new meaning.Following a tear-filled performance at the Tiny Desk, the artist sat down with Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre to talk about what it means now to have two loves of his life.Audio for this episode of 'Alt.Latino' was edited and mixed by Suraya Mohamed. Our show editor is Hazel Cills and our project manager is Grace Chung. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Becky G: Why the Mexican American pop star always identifies as '200%'

Becky G: Why the Mexican American pop star always identifies as '200%'

Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras sit down with Becky G, right after her forthcoming Tiny Desk performance, to talk about the cultural mash-up of her music, her philosophy for working with women in the industry and representing her Mexican heritage at Coachella.Audio for this episode of 'Alt.Latino' was edited and mixed by Isabella Gomez Sarmiento. Our show editor is Hazel Cills and our project manager is Grace Chung. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Dissecting the Latin Grammy noms, from Regional Mexican snubs to Edgar Barrera love

Dissecting the Latin Grammy noms, from Regional Mexican snubs to Edgar Barrera love

Anamaria Sayre, Felix Contreras and producer Isabella Gomez Sarmiento sit down to talk some real chisme this week — a special episode dedicated to the Latin Grammy nominations. Was there really a regional snub and what does it say about the way we choose to elevate our own art?Audio for this episode of 'Alt.Latino' was edited and mixed by Suraya Mohamed. Our show editor is Hazel Cills and our project manager is Grace Chung. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

It's 'El Tiny' season — and Alt.Latino has the lineup

It's 'El Tiny' season — and Alt.Latino has the lineup

This week, Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras preview the artists coming to play Tiny Desk performances for their 'El Tiny' takeover, including indie explosion Kali Uchis returning home to Colombian beats, pop star Becky G debuting some Mexican regional soul and "La Caballota" herself Ivy Queen boasting pure boricua pride.Audio for this episode of 'Alt.Latino' was edited and mixed by Cher Vincent. Our show editor is Hazel Cills and our project manager is Grace Chung. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Omar Montes: Why the Spanish artist thinks the best school for flamenco is the street

Omar Montes: Why the Spanish artist thinks the best school for flamenco is the street

Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras sit down with Spanish artist Omar Montes to talk about why he'll never lose his flamenco influences, expressing the oppression of his Romani ancestors in his music and why the rhythms of reggaeton and flamenco aren't so different. This interview is in Spanish. Please find an English version of the conversation on our website.Audio for this episode of 'Alt.Latino' was mixed by Janice Llamoca, with help from Isabella Gomez Sarmiento and Natalia Fidelholtz. Our show editor is Hazel Cills and our project manager is Grace Chung. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Alt.Latino's Best New Music Round-Up: DannyLux, Kali Uchis and Dario Acosta Teich

Alt.Latino's Best New Music Round-Up: DannyLux, Kali Uchis and Dario Acosta Teich

This week, Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras round up their favorite music from the last few months, including Mexican bedroom pop from Bratty, jazz from Argentinian composer Dario Acosta Teich, a new song from rising regional star DannyLux and more.To hear more of Alt.Latino's favorite music, follow our Spotify and Apple Music playlists.Audio for this episode of 'Alt.Latino' was edited, mixed and produced by Janice Llamoca. Our show editor is Hazel Cills and our project manager is Grace Chung. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy