Keep Summer Going With This Spanish-Language Playlist

Summer is coming to an end, but you can keep the spirit alive with this upbeat and eclectic mix of Spanish-language music from up-and-coming artists.

Eléctrico by Sotomayor

A warm-up to a hot summer night

With an addictive beat you can’t help but move to, Eléctrico is the perfect song to get you loosened up and ready to spend the night on the dance floor. Created by the brother-sister duo Paulina and Raúl Sotomayor who hail from Mexico City, Eléctrico is a track from their second album Conquistador, which came out this summer. Listen to the song above, or watch the music video here.

BANGAH (Pico y Palo) by ÌFÉ

A completely new sound with an ancient foundation

It becomes immediately apparent when listening to BANGAH that there is something much bigger living underneath its surface, an underlying story that’s propelling it — and you — forward into its energy. That story can be found in the vision of bandleader Otura Mun, who moved to Puerto Rico in the late ‘90s and formed ÌFÉ in 2015. The group’s unique sound is created by blending a number of musical styles, and ÌFÉ includes “Cuban Rumba, Sacred Yoruba praise songs, Jamaican Dancehall, and American R&B” as its influences.

Once you listen to BANGAH, we know you’ll be curious to learn more. You can watch a documentary with Otura Mun here, and listen to an interview about the group’s musical style here.

Ya No Te Quiero by Los Blenders

Meet your summer crush

For a song with a title that translates to “I don’t love you anymore,” this tune from Mexican surf rock band Los Blenders is upbeat, instantly danceable and, like a new crush, you won’t be able to get enough of it.

This single was released this year on February 14th — Vice called it the perfect song for your lonely Valentine’s Day — but we still think it’s a great backdrop for summer hijinks, or really anytime you need a pop music pick-me-up.

You can use “Ya No Te Quiero” for more than just getting over a breakup. Los Blenders released a lyric video, so you can read (and sing) along with the Spanish lyrics that are scrawled across colorful sticky notes. You’ll notice that some words are written more casually than you may have seen in other contexts, but it’s a nice way to pick up some abbreviations that are handy for texting, like “T.Q.” for te quiero.

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Toca Madera by Los Wálters

A beachy daydream you’ll never want to leave

Translating to knock on wood, “Toca Madera” is a world within a song that was created by the Puerto Rican duo Los Wálters, and from the first beat on, you’ll be wishing you lived there, too.

What’s interesting about Los Wálters is that they began as a digital collaboration, making music together while living in different cities, including San Juan, Philadelphia, Barcelona, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Miami.

This dreamy, hypnotizing tune will have you thinking you’re picking up Spanish by osmosis, and perhaps there’s something to that. The song’s vibrating beat gives away its message. Listen for “Me haces levitar,” which translates to “You make me levitate,” and is exactly the feeling this song conjures.