The 2020 Super Bowl halftime show with Jennifer Lopez and Shakira was a step ahead for Latina women, but in 2021, young Hispanic artists are taking the next step in sending their songs into the peak of popular music across the globe. Mixing their native roots with modern sounds, the following artists are breaking through cultural and language barriers that we think you should keep your eyes on:

• 1. Rosalia

This Spanish singer, writer and producer mixes her love for traditional flamenco with Latin as well as American urban influences. Her hit songs “Di Mi Nombre” and “Bagdad” sample Destiny’s Child “Say My Name” and Justin Timberlake’s “Cry Me A River,” respectively. These songs are a part of her 2018 album El Mal Querer, where a 13th century Spanish novel titled Flamenca takes a modern twist in music. Most recently, Rosalia has been working with musicians everywhere, being featured in songs like “LA NOCHE DE ANOCHE” with Bad Bunny, “TKN” with Travis Scott, “Linda” with Tokischa, and “Lo Vas A Olvidar” with Billie Eilish. The singer also made history after her album became the first Spanish language project to be featured in the Rolling Stone “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.” With her unique vocals and genre-fusing powers, Rosalia leaves a bedazzled stamp on whatever she does, and wherever she goes

• 2. Kali Uchis

The American-Colombian artist behind the top song “Telepatia” did not originally start her career with Spanish music. Her debut album Isolation only has one song in Spanish, “Nuestro Planeta,” while her first EP Por Vida has none . Her top songs at the time were those in which she was featured, like Tyler, the Creator’s “See You Again,” Daniel Caesar’s “Get You,” and the Gorillaz “She’s My Collar,” where she made her impact with soothing vocals. Finally, in 2020 she released her second studio album, Sin Miedo (Del Amor y Otros Demonios), her first Spanish language project. The album features the tango-influenced introduction “la luna enamorada,” as well as R&B songs like “fue mejor,” featuring PARTYNEXTDOOR. This album plays homage to her Colombian heritage through its reference of Gabriel Garcia Marquez’ novel Del Amor y Otros Demonios. She also includes imagery like that of the Colombian sugar-cane liquor, aguardiente. 

• 3. The Marías 

The LA-based band  showcases its lead singer Puerto Rican Maria Zordoya, who fuses Spanish and English to create a dream-pop indie duo. Zordoya has taken influence from iconic Latina singers, like Selena and Julieta Venegas, in their gentle, romantic music, and mixes it with psychedelic, soft-rock sounds like those heard from artists such as The Strokes and Tame Impala. These influences show up most frequently in their covers of songs, like Britney Spears’ “…baby one more time,” and Radiohead’s “Exit Music (For A Film).” The result is the indie pop music we didn’t know we needed. The band made their industry break with their 2017 EP Superclean, Vol. I, and touring North America with the Mexican band, Café Tacvba. Among fan favorites are “Cariño,” “Only in My Dreams,” and “I Don’t Know You.”

• 4. Nathy Peluso

Argentinian rapper, songwriter and producer, Nathy Peluso is the up and coming in Spanish urban music. Her music varies from Celia Cruz-sounding salsa, to Ivy Queen-esque rap. Peluso jumps from different genres and sounds, to different languages and accents. Her most recent album Calambre also includes her hit single “BUENOS AIRES,” which gained critical acclaim and scored a Latin Grammy nomination for Best Alternative Song. Her latest releases include her salsa single “MAFIOSA,” where mourns men’s ill-treatment of powerful women, and her collaboration with Spanish rapper C. Tangana “Ateo,” a fusion of rap and bachata. Peluso’s wide range of music has established her as a rule-breaker in the music scene of the 21st century. 

• 5. Karol G

Known as the Bichota, Karol G has quickly gained popularity as a Spanish reggaetonera. She first broke through after appearing in the Colombian spinoff of The X Factor, and releasing the song “Ahora Me Llama” with Bad Bunny. However, what really brought her to fame was her appearance on the song “China,” where she collaborated with rappers Anuel AA, Daddy Yankee, J Balvin and Ozuna on the sample of Shaggy’s “It Wasn’t Me.” Later, she went on to collaborate with Nicki Minaj in her 2019 single “Tusa,” which stayed on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart for 25 weeks straight.  Her latest album is 2021’s KG0516, where she works with Ludacris and Emilee in a sample of Sean Kingston’s “Beautiful Girls” in the similarly titled “BEAUTIFUL BOY.” Other outstanding songs in this album include “GATO MALO” with Nathy Peluso, and “LEYENDAS” with Wisin & Yandel, Nicky Jam, Ivy Queen, Zion and Alberto Stylee.