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Kim Namjoon, aka RM of BTS, once said, “Music transcends language. BTS communicates with our fans by staying true to ourselves and believing in music every day.”

Music Transcends Language. 

This new series of Daybreak showcases artists from diverse cultural backgrounds who communicate through their music. Each playlist will highlight a specific language, including songs that will make you dance to songs that will make you cry. Expressing emotions that are universal through melody and rhythm is where the power of music lies!

Music can find a way to you no matter who you are or what language you speak. 

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Our second language spotlight is…Spanish! Latin and Spanish music has and continues to make an impact all over the world. From a historical standpoint, the amalgamation of cultures and instruments mostly took place during the Spanish and Portuguese colonization of the Americas. This then influenced music styles in America which created nuances like salsa, Tejano, and reggaeton. 

From classics like Selena, Celia Cruz, Marc Anthony, and Gloria Estefan to modern stars like Pitbull, Bad Bunny, Rosalia, and Kali Uchis, the Spanish language will always break barriers in the music industry. More artists with Spanish in their discography are being recognized for their ability to reach a global audience.

Here’s who our team is gushing over at the moment.

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Omar Apollo is growing as an artist everyday, and he deserves it. As a second-generation child to Mexican immigrant parents, he personified his heritage in his personal style and musical career. Apollo broke through with “Ugotme,” debuting on Spotify in 2017, and later signed with Warner Records in 2022. While mostly producing English songs, some gems, however, are sung in Spanish, giving Apollo a bilingual flare in his discography. I had the opportunity to attend a show in his recent headline tour, The Prototype Tour, and by the way the crowd was yelling “En El Olvido”’ or “Frio,” you could tell he shines through in his culture. He is currently releasing projects, like “Ice Slippin” and opening on select dates of Daniel Caesar’s Superpowers Tour. I am highly anticipating his four-track EP, Live For Me, releasing on October 6.

Tracks: Frío, En El Olvido, Dos Uno Nueve (219)

daniel sabater

Building his own musical career at the age of six, Daniel Sabater has become a successful Spanish artist of the new music scene at just 21 years old. From Murcia, a city in Spain, Sabater taught himself guitar and produced his own songs at 15. Currently, he self-produces his music and holds creative direction in his music videos. As a music production and sound engineering student at Point Blank Music School in London, he blends Latin influences with the most melodic and natural elements of pop music, aiming to create a refreshing, captivating, and innovative sound.

Tracks: un poco más, UN AÑO DE MIERDA, cómo quieres que me enfade

nina cobham

Nina Cobham is making her way into the industry as a bilingual R&B singer based in the UK. Her musical beginnings trace back to her teens when she started uploading demos to SoundCloud. Teased by her family in Spain for only producing English songs, she released her debut single “Te extraño, pero…” in 2019. This signified her venture into a more deep-rooted state of mind, skillfully blending Spanish and English lyrics. Fluent in both languages, Cobham states that thinking seamlessly in Spanish and English allows her to express herself in an almost private way. Her 2023 EP, Middle of Nowhere, comprises both English and Spanish-speaking songs. Cobham gives sultry and dark-pop, segueing between language, and sharing stories of self-love and seeing the silver lining of relationships. Emphasizing what Cobham once said, “if the music is good then it translates beyond the language.”

Tracks: lo que pasó, Mala Excusa, Empezar De Nuevo (Que Pena)

maye

Soothing is the only word that truly comes to mind when I think of Maye. When you hear her sing, it feels like a lullaby. Born in Venezuela and raised in the United States, Maye is making a name for herself. She has slowly amassed more than 1.3 million listeners on Spotify, and I predict that it will only go up from there. Maye comes from a musical background, her father being Fernando Osorio. He was one-half of Eighties pop duo Fernando y Juan Carlos and has written for many successful artists like the legendary Celia Cruz. Yes, talent runs in her blood, but her voice is all her own. 

Tracks: Tú, LA CANCIÓN, Versos de Placer

j noa

Her rapping speed is unparalleled. She gives DMX a run for his money. Hailing from San Cristobal in Santo Domingo, 17 year old J Noa is the new breakout star. J Noa is passionate about rap and not putting out something without meaning. In Rolling Stone she said “To me, most rappers should be intentional about what they write, about what they recite. Otherwise, why would rap serve them, or why would they be considered rappers if they don’t live the reality of what they’re rapping about?” Recently, she has been nominated for best Rap/Hip Hop song for the Latin Grammy’s for her song “Autodidacta.” For someone so young, she manages to carry a lot of wisdom in her flow. 

Tracks: Autodidacta, Betty, Paranoia

young miko

Young Miko is the new shining Puerto-Rican star for trap in Latin stardom. Young Miko has paved her way having over 5.3 million followers on Instagram or “Mikosexuales” as her fans named themselves. From SoundCloud to now stadium tours with Karol G, she has made her own spotlight. Her flow is fun and with her producer Mauro. Each track is new and refreshing, rapping about things she loves like anime, clothing, and women (cue “Lisa” playing in the background while you read this). Young Miko has swiftly knocked Latin America off its feet, having toured in multiple countries this summer. She’s in a league of her own with her Y2K style with a smooth balance between the feminine and masculine. There’s no dimming her light now, she’s too bright. 

Tracks: Riri, Classy 101, mañana, Wiggy

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latin indie

Latin Indie is a beautiful fusion of modern alternative themes and traditional sounds in Latin Europe and Latin Americas. Read up on Anna’s picks below.

¿teo?

If you were a Disney Channel enjoyer as a kid, you might recognize the name Mateo Arias (Jerry on Kickin’ It). After shedding the Disney Channel contract, he is now known to the music world as ¿Teo?. He masterfully mixes English and Spanish with his smooth voice and crafty rap. A lot of his tunes have a very chill baseline with ups and downs in energy, making you feel like you are drifting in the waves. Absolutely check out his debut album, ¿Teo?, to see more of his solo work, as well as collaborations with names like Jaden Smith. 

Tracks: Thru My Hair, A mi cama, Wickedwise

elsa y elmar

Elsa y Elmar is the musical work of Elsa Caravajal. Her music is considered synth-pop with other elements of folk and more traditional Latin sprinkled in. I would classify her music as comfort music that you can listen to at any time of the day. A personal favorite song, “Pelo Suelto,” leans on the side of bedroom pop, while “atravesao” takes a more traditional sound in the percussion instruments. So, there’s a range of what Elsa has to offer.

Tracks: Pelo Suelto, vuelve, atravesao

ambar lucid

Step into the musical Garden of Lucid with Ambar Lucid and her dreamy vocals. A lot of her production sounds like a whisper in the wind, which makes her music take you by surprise. Whether it’s a letter to the moon in “Ms. Moon” or a haunting serenade in “fantasmas,” her work takes you out of this world. If you visualize sequins sprinkling down from the sky and making everything shine, that is the image that her music gives me. 

Tracks: 444, Cambia, Ms. Moon

Music can transcend language and reach the hearts of any individual who listens.

Jam out to the full playlist on Spotify: