Alt.Latino: Dominican indie, Peruvian cumbia and experimental Argentine pop

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4.3 • 3.3K Ratings

🗓️ 1 April 2026

⏱️ 32 minutes

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Summary

Two phrases spoken during this week’s episode stand out because they represent how Ana and I approach our searches for new music. The first: “The only limit is the imagination.” In my constant hunt for the sound I have never heard, this thought is my mantra. The new music we’re bringing this week really steps up to that challenge, from young upstarts like Broke Carrey to beloved veterans like Draco Rosa.

The second phrase? “Latin music is a geography not a genre.” Ana put into words something she and I talk about often, the idea that the term “Latin music” is no longer adequate to reflect that amazingly eclectic forms of musical expression in the Spanish-speaking world. This episode features musicians from Argentina, Peru, the Dominican Republic and elsewhere -- but what they share is a distinct artistic expression that consistently blows our minds.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	So Felix, did I tell you about my new second career plan, speaking of pools?
0:04.7	Okay, let's hear it.
0:06.7	So it all came to me two years ago.
0:09.4	Two years ago, I was at this pool in Spain, and I witnessed something incredible.
0:15.2	It was an aqua spin class for seniors.
0:19.5	Maybe you've been to one.
0:38.8	Anyways, the point is... I've seen one. Yeah, I was like, oh my God, this is the perfect gig for me. Because it's like not as crazy high energy as like normal spin instructing. You know what I mean? Like, that's a bit too much. But like getting the old ladies to like dance to like gasoline while they're like doing their spinning i really think that could be my gig okay since fortunate you said old ladies because i was considering signing
0:43.8	up for an aqua spin class here at an aquatic center right down the street from my house you could be my first
0:49.0	student i'm not an old lady oh my, this is such an amazing plan.
0:58.8	Okay, from NPR music, this is all Latino.
1:00.3	I'm Felix Contreras.
1:02.5	And I'm Ana Maria Sayer.
1:04.1	Let the chisemet begin.
1:11.3	And this week's chisemet is the lady that Felix met in Aqua Spin.
1:12.5	Right.
1:16.0	Let's just keep going and talk about the music.
1:21.0	Because maybe something we play this week, we'll make it on to the Aqua Spin class.
1:22.3	How's that for transition?
1:24.0	Okay.
1:26.5	That was one of your better ones, and I usually don't like them.
1:27.1	Your first. Okay, so this is not fit for Aqua Spin class. It's more fit for, like, walking through a meadow of lovely flowers and plants. But this is Dominican artist Alex Ferreira. He's been releasing music since 2010. I've mentioned a bit about this Dominican indie scene before. It's small but mighty, and I have to say he is one of the pioneers of it.
1:47.4	So before I get into it, I want to play you a little bit of this song,
	...

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