Riza, Katteyes, Ephrem J & More Emerging Latin Artists on Our Radar

Every month, Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors spotlight a group of rising artists whose music we love. Think “diamantes en bruto,” or “diamonds in the rough.” These are newcomers who have yet to impact the mainstream — but whose music excites us, and who we believe our readers should make a point to discover.

Our latest edition of On the Radar Latin includes a wave of emerging artists that we came across at the 2025 Billboard Latin Music Week in Miami, which took place Oct. 20-24 at The Fillmore Miami Beach. See our recommendations this month below:

Name: ATINA

Country: Peru

Why They Should Be on Your Radar: ATINA is a Peruvian urban pop singer-songwriter who delivers honest lyrics, a powerful, brilliant voice and a unique sound. Trained at the New School of Jazz and Contemporary Music (New York) and Berklee College of Music (Boston), she began writing at age 14 as a form of personal therapy, and has since set out to “heal hearts through music,” according to a statement. This year, at 22, she released her debut album Curita Pa’l Cora, with standout singles such as “Qué Tengo Que Hacer,” “Respiro” and “Boca.” In August, she participated in the All Music Fest Perú, sharing the bill with international artists such as Beéle and Luar La L. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS

Song For Your Playlist: “Respiro”

Name: Belén Sánchez

Country: Ecuador

Why They Should Be on Your Radar:  Born in Ecuador and residing in New York, Belén is ready to make strong waves in the music industry with her debut single “Lejos de Casa,” released earlier this year. The song starts off as a vibrant bolero, before navigating to the heartfelt rap bars by Vavier Jerainto and ultimately transitioning into a saucy salsa tune backed by La Banda Brava. Beyond its melting pot of rhythms, “Lejos de Casa” is a reflection of Sánchez’s personal experience as an immigrant in The United States.

“I’ve had this song saved since 2018,” she expressed in an Instagram post. “I wanted this song to sound like and represent my city Guayaquil […] It doesn’t just sound like Guajira, there are a lot of genres in the Ecuadorian music scene to explore, among them Guayaco Rap.” In addition to embarking on her own music career path, Sánchez is a Berklee College of Music alum and is manager of emerging Dominican powerhouse La Cassandra. — JESSICA ROIZ

Song for Your Playlist: “Lejos de Casa” (feat. La Banda Brava)

Name: Ephrem J

Country: Curaçao

Why They Should Be On Your Radar: Ephrem J is an independent artist with a solid track record, but he wasn’t on our radar until we discovered him this year at Billboard Latin Music Week. A charismatic bachata and merengue singer, he has been releasing music since 2009, when he debuted with the single “Amor en la Luna.” His studio albums include Bailando (2014), El Mejor Momento (2017), and this year’s Fiesta Tropical, Vol. 1.0. With songs like “No Hay Imposibles,” “Como una Oración,” and “Una Copa,” he has built a growing fanbase on social media, where he has thousands of followers. His latest single, “KARMA,” already has over 200,000 views on YouTube, and he is preparing to release the music video for “Loco Por Ti” next week. — S.R.A.

Song For Your Playlist: “KARMA”

Name: Francia

Country: Venezuela

Why They Should Be on Your Radar: The first time you meet Francia, you will undoubtedly be captivated by his lovely aura and glow that includes warm hugs and uplifting words. I first came across his one-of-a-kind personality when we met for the first time at the 2023 Latin Grammys in Sevilla; however, the first time I heard him sing was this year at the release of his debut album, Infinita—a beautifully curated 11-track album that showcases his magic and unique perspective in life. In addition to forging his music career, the Venezuelan singer-songwriter—who left his career on Wall Street to pursue his dreams—is a lawyer, actor, and TV reporter. In July, he presented his new album with a full live band at the Black Room Sessions in Miami surrounded by family and friends. — INGRID FAJARDO

Song for Your Playlist: “Creatura Divina”

Name: Ina Peralta

Country: Venezuela

Why They Should Be on Your Radar: Ina Peralta’s music career kicked off almost 10 years ago with her debut single “Tu Lo Que Quieras” released in 2017. After a nearly five-year hiatus due to a undergoing a severe health condition, the Venezuelan singer-songwriter returned with her 2022 EP Aprendi a Amarme. Since, Peralta has penned her personal life stories into her music, singing about self love, resilience, empowerment, and strength. Her uplifting music is backed by salsa, pop, cumbia, and urban rhythms, best reflected in her debut studio album INA Siendo INA, out earlier this year. — J.R.

Song for Your Playlist: “Que Me Digan Loca”

Name: J Salez

Country: Mexico

Why They Should Be on Your Radar: While walking around the lobby at The Fillmore Miami Beach, I was approached by two gentlemen: J Salez (real name: Juan Chavez) and his manager, Dereck Vinci. Immediately, I was drawn to Salez’s musical concept: a Mexican singer creating bachata music. With a five-year music career, Salez is a first-generation Mexican-American artist, who despite being raised in Southern California by mariachi singers from Jalisco, is chasing his musical path in the Tropical music realm. Tall, dark and handsome, accompanied by dulcet, romantic vocals, Salez released his debut studio album California Love in 2024, and is currently making the rounds with his single “Ya” (2025). — J.R.

Song for Your Playlist: “Duele”

Name: JimmyBoy

Country: Puerto Rico

Why They Should Be on Your Radar: JimmyBoy has a special charm; from the first second you hear him, he makes you want to move. Sonically, his style is a slow, rhythmic reggaeton, pleasing to the ear, and that’s precisely what stands out, especially when most urban artists these days are presenting harsher sounds. Lyrically, he’s romantic while remaining modern. At just 19 years old, the Puerto Rican singer showcases his versatility by fusing soul, R&B, pop and Afrobeats in most of his tracks, which has allowed him to enter diverse markets such as Panama, Colombia, Chile, Mexico and even Spain. JimmyBoy will release “Playa Escondida” on November 26th, an energetic house track with which he will continue to demonstrate his ability to interpret different rhythms. — TERE AGUILERA

Song for Your Playlist: “Explícame”

Name: Jocsan Duran

Country: Dominican Republic

Why They Should Be on Your Radar: Jocsan Duran may have been born in the Dominican Republic and reared in Orlando, but his music is rooted in regional Mexican tradition, specifically the corridos tumbados movement that continues to thrive. It’s not every day you see a Dominican artist making waves in a genre historically associated with Mexico, but Duran is breaking barriers by infusing Dominican flavor into music typically known for its norteño tones. It was at Billboard Latin Music Week that Duran caught our attention, during the Future of Regional Mexican Music panel — featuring Xavi, Oscar Maydon, Codiciado, and more — where he stood up from the audience to ask a question and directed our focus to his music.

His 7-track debut EP, Humilde, released in May, showcases his boundary-pushing style. On tracks like “El Emblema,” he blends Mexican slang with Dominican expressions and even throws in English words, showcasing his bicultural identity. The artist also reveals his poetic side in songs like “Conversación Con la Luna,” where he reflects on the challenges of his journey and the determination it took to make it here. Drawing inspiration from artists like Natanael Cano, Fuerza Regida, and Juan Gabriel (whom he admires deeply for his showmanship), Duran is offering a fresh voice and perspective to a genre in continued evolution. — ISABELA RAYGOZA

Song for Your Playlist: “Humilde”

Name: Karol Wilson

Country: Panama

Why They Should Be on Your Radar: In 2018, Karol Wilson introduced her debut single “Sin Más Rodeos,” a feel-good reggae track, before ultimately transitioning to an edgier sound that includes reggaeton, Latin Afrobeats, and even dembow. Born and raised in Panama, the singer-songwriter “writes what she feels and transforms her experience into music,” according to her artist profile on Spotify. Wilson has collaborated with up-and-coming artists such as Any Victoria and Jimmy Boy — the latter was also at the 2025 Billboard Latin Music Week, and both are managed by Latin Grammy-winning producer Pedro Sanjur. Currently, Wilson is promoting her sultry tune “Ya No Más,” which perfectly showcases her sensual and smooth vocals. — J.R.

Song for Your Playlist: “Ya No Más”

Name: Katteyes

Country: Chile

Why They Should Be on Your Radar: This young reggaetón singer is one of Chile’s biggest digital stars and one of the most successful examples of artists who emerged from social media as content creators and made the leap to major Latin stages. Fernanda Villalobos (her real name) began her career as a teenager under the name “Iamferv.” Her unique blend of music, fashion, and style has earned her 45.7 million followers on TikTok, 13.3 million on Instagram, 9.7 million monthly listeners on Spotify, and nearly 56 million views on each of her YouTube videos, at time of publishing. She is undoubtedly one of the most promising urban music artists from South America, possessing a commanding stage presence at just 21 years old.

This was evident during her performance at the “Opening Night of Billboard Latin Music Week” showcase presented by Boombastic in Miami on October 20th, where she shone as a bold performer, with her fusion of Latin pop, reggaetón and emotional lyrics. Some of her most popular collaborations include songs with La Joaqui, Luck Ra, Kidd Voodoo and Jere Klein. She also makes her outfits a valuable complement to her stage persona, with avant-garde clothing and makeup, weaving together styles ranging from femme fatale to virgins in bejeweled gowns. You can soon see her at Teletón Chile 2025, Coca-Cola Flow Fest in Mexico City on November 22nd, and Lollapalooza Chile 2026. — NATALIA CANO

Song for Your Playlist: “Ponte Lokita” (feat. Kidd Voodoo)

Name: Machaka

Country: Ecuador

Why They Should Be on Your Radar: Combining 1980s cumbia and salsa with urban and Andean sounds, lyrics that highlight Ecuadorian slang and identity, and a recognizable deep voice, Machaka stands out for his freshness and authenticity. His approach, which he describes on his Instagram account as “modern cevichería music,” can be heard in songs like “Milagro,” “Crucita,” and “Las +593,” the latter dedicated to the women of his country. Machaka is beginning to make his way internationally, with a tour that took him this year to several cities in the U.S. and Spain and an upcoming performance at the Colombian festival Estéreo Picnic 2026. On Nov. 6th, he will release a new EP, Sabrosura Ecuatoriana, which you can listen to here.  — S.R.A.

Song for Your Playlist: “Las +593”

Name: MADIE

Country: Guatemala

Why They Should Be on Your Radar: Madie holds degrees in communication and fashion design and has studied aviation. But her first passion is music, taking singing and dancing lessons from the age of 9 in her home country and later in London. In 2024, she debuted with the single “Lights Out,” and this year she released her first EP, Sin Reglas, a selection of five songs that showcase her charisma and versatility, with a fusion of pop, urban, merengue, Afrobeats, R&B, and dancehall rhythms. The set earned her three nominations for the Estela Awards in Guatemala, where this month she gave her first concert as part of the Vibes Party event. Madie is currently creating new music with Honduran producer Jorge Ulloa, best known for his work with Farruko’s label, Carbon Fiber Music. — S.R.A.

Song for Your Playlist: “Llamada en Espera”

Name: RIZA

Country: United States

Why They Should be on your Radar: Thanks to Billboard Latin Music Week’s “Making the Hit, Live!” discussion — this year featuring Pablo Alborán and Julio Reyes Copello — we discovered the wonderful RIZA. The Filipino-Cuban artist, from Hollywood, Florida, captivated the audience with her enchanting harmonies and smooth vocals when she joined Alborán and the hitmaker to create a song in real life. The tune they created during the panel, which had a dreamy, Middle Eastern rhythm and heartfelt lyrics about missing and longing for someone, further showcased RIZA’s superstar power, with sultry, melodious vocals à la Sade, and an effortless mix of R&B, jazz, folk, and pop elements. RIZA, who sings in both English and Spanish, released her six-track EP Miracle in 2023, and has collaborated with the Mexican indie act Humbe. — J.R.

Song For Your Playlist: “la sirena”