Daddy Yankee’s Faith-Based Album ‘Lamento en Baile’ & More Best New Music Latin

New Music Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs and albums recommended by Billboard and Billboard Español editors. Check out this week’s picks below.

Daddy Yankee, Lamento en Baile (DY Records/Zarpazo Records/HYBE Latin America)

With 19 songs that fuse reggaetón with other Latin rhythms, DY presents LAMENTO EN BAILE, his first album since his conversion to faith. The songs revolve around his relationship with God and his new place in the world after embracing faith. The lyrics, some inspired by proverbs and biblical passages, convey the fervor of his first love with God, without losing his personal touch. DY alternates between melodic singing and rap bars while the songs flow organically like a cohesive set curated by a DJ.

The album also addresses social realities, as in “JARDÍN ROJO”: a poetic denunciation of gender violence that serves as a warning to those who suffer in silence. In “JEZABEL Y JUDAS,” DY deploys an intense metaphor about betrayal and evil in disguise, using those two infamous biblical figures. Other tracks are inspired by the Psalms, such as “TE ALABARÉ (Sal 27)”; the only collaboration is “ABCD” with Alex Zurdo, a creative play on words to describe God. Other tracks like “TOY HERMOSO” offer optimistic verses over a tropical rhythm. The album closes with the eponymous track, consolidating an uplifting project that defines DY’s new essence and that, beyond labels, can resonate with anyone, whether they listen to music of faith or not. — LUISA CALLE

Matisse & Cristian Castro, “Conmigo Sin Ti” (Sony Music México)

Ten years after collaborating on an acoustic version of “La Malquerida,” Matisse and Cristian Castro team up again for a compelling heartbreak ballad, dedicated to those who know their relationship is dying but don’t want to let go. Gently driven by piano, guitar, and drums, “Conmigo Sin Ti” moves with its lyrics and the beautiful voices of Castro and the members of the pop band, who take turns performing verses filled with pathos like: “Give me one more night/ That at least has a happy ending/ Because after all this/ I’m really scared of what will happen/ With me without you.” It’s a tearjerker ballad that will evoke powerful emotions. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS

Joaquina, “Los 41” (Universal Music Latino/Arthouse)

Just fresh off getting a Latin Grammy nom for her debut album al romper la burbuja, Joaquina delivers a biting pop/rock track that trolls men who are afraid of commitment. With a “forever boys” theme at the center of the track, “Los 41” is packed with ultra relatable lyrics like “maybe your mom will fold your clothes until you’re 41″ and “how hard it is to find a man in the 21st century who doesn’t run away after breakfast,” she asks pointedly. While the track leans toward sarcasm, the soon-to-be-anthem perfectly captures a generational sentiment. “Los 41″ was written and produced by both Joaquina and her go-to producer Julio Reyes Copello, who will be at Latin Music Week on Oct. 21 for Making the Hit Live panel. — GRISELDA FLORES

Sech & Kapo, “Cuál Nosotros” (Rimas Entertainment)

In a first collaborative effort, Panamanian star Sech and Colombian artist Kapo join forces for the release of “Cuál Nosotros,” which translates to “what us.” Co-written by both artists, whose real names are Carlos Isaías Morales Williams (Sech) and Juan David Loaiza Sepúlveda (Kapo), the song is a vulnerable modern-day ballad backed by soft Afrobeats rhythms, where both artists sing about broken relationships. “But, what us?/ If this has been broken from a long time ago/ We were only seen together in photos/ She says I ruined what we had,” says the chorus backed by Sech’s soulful vocals and Kapo’s raspier tones. In addition to the new song, Kapo is confirmed to speak at the 2025 Billboard Latin Music Week returning to The Fillmore Miami Beach from Oct. 20 to 24. — JESSICA ROIZ

Meme del Real, La Montaña Encendida (HYBE Latin America)

The keyboardist and songwriter of the iconic Mexican rock band Café Tacvba makes his solo debut with an introspective and eclectic 13-song album that ranges from alternative rock (captured in “Mira” and “Estoba Sentado”) to boleros with mystical touches (“Incomprensible”), experimental pop ballads (“Princesa” and “Todo Se Marchó“), norteño music that pays homage to his family roots (“Embeces”), and even a surprising flirtation with bachata (“Tumbos”). All of this with the romantic signature that distinguishes him.

His first solo LP, recorded between Mexico and Los Angeles, was produced by a longtime musical accomplice, the multi-award-winning Argentine Gustavo Santaolalla, whom he considers “a life partner” and who motivated him to take the reins as vocalist. The title of La Montaña Encendida (Spanish for The Mountain on Fire), he tells Billboard Español, is a metaphor for a scene on the road when he was returning to Valle de Bravo, where he lived, and saw an impressive fire consuming that natural area. “It made me understand that it’s a cycle of life: the forest burns so that something can be born from the ashes.” — NATALIA CANO

RØZ & Natt Calma, “la vuelta” (ALT:Vision Recoreds / Queens Road Music / Atlantic)

You know the feeling — a nostalgic wave hits and pulls you back to the sweaty euphoria of late-night club days, only to flip you into something stranger, sultrier and wholly unexpected. RØZ, Natt Calma’s “la vuelta” masters this tease, launching with an interpolation of Robin S’ house banger “Show Me Love,” and its twinkling iconic hook. Just when you think you’ve landed squarely in familiar territory, the Mexico City duo throws a curveball. The beat morphs into a syrupy reggaetón-laced breakdown, sending you free-falling into hypnotic depths. It feels like a kinetic journey, seamless in its chaos and addictive in its shifts. It’s pure electricity. — ISABELA RAYGOZA

Alexander Acha, “Pa Encontrarnos” (Star Media Consulting)

Alexander Acha has been preparing the ground to prove that he can also sing well rancheras. In recent years, we’ve seen him performing duets with regional Mexican artists, from Sinaloa bands to norteño and even cumbias. Now, with his own project and accompanied by mariachi, he presents “Pa Encontrarnos,” a song co-written by him and Yoel Henríquez, which marks the beginning of this new adventure in his career. “Is it necessary to lose ourselves in order to find ourselves/ To almost hate ourselves in order to love ourselves,” he sings with a powerful sense of nostalgia, accompanied by trumpets, violins and guitars, anticipating a story of pain elegantly dressed on the piano. — TERE AGUILERA

Ben Carrillo, DREAMER (313VATED)

Amidst a year fraught with difficulties in the realm of immigration, Guatemalan singer-songwriter Ben Carrillo proudly unveils his debut album, DREAMER. This deeply personal project, which took several years to make, is a testament to his unwavering faith, boundless patience and profound love for his journey and community. DREAMER serves not only as an album but as a heartfelt tribute to the young boy who, at just 15 years old, bravely traversed the harsh desert landscape with nothing but a flicker of hope and a grand vision for his future. Through his music, Carrillo transforms personal anguish into empowering anthems, elevating moments of silence into rich, melodic soundscapes and celebrating the beauty of struggle itself. Each track weaves together themes of resilience and triumph, forging a powerful connection with listeners who have faced their own adversities.

In the dreamy love song “MASoMENOS,” Carrillo expresses the feeling of not having everything together while showing how someone can make life feel better. On the other hand, “American Dream” — an emotional song with touches of Latin rock that beautifully showcases his raspy voice — addresses the dreams of countless people who come to the United States, all driven by a unique vision: to achieve everything they have longed for. In “Central American,” he shares the pride of all the beautiful women of Central America. — INGRID FAJARDO

Check out more Latin recommendations this week below: