8 Rising Latina Artists You Should Start Listening ASAP

Portrait of Latina Artist Ice Spice in a concert
Photo by Akein O. Brown on Wikimedia Commons

Whether the industry wants to fully accept it or not, Latino musical talent is nothing short of impressive. No matter the hurdles, Latina artists, in particular, are breaking down barriers and making spaces for themselves. There’s just no holding back their creativity, voices, and multitalented approach to music, and we love to see it. While there are plenty of established Latina artists to gush about, like Becky G, there are also rising stars that deserve much more attention. To celebrate World Music Day, here are 8 rising Latina artists you need to check out ASAP


RaiNao

Portrait of Latina Artist RaiNao

Photo by rainaopr on Instagram

RaiNao is a very interesting artist and she’s out there blending urban beats, jazz melodies, and pop sounds like no other. Her journey started with a solid foundation in music theory and saxophone training in Puerto Rico, setting the stage for her versatile music style. She was a backup vocalist for Rafa Pabon, but she has struck out on her own. RaiNao is known not just for her technical skills, but also for her production level and knack for bending genres. She has created an identity that’s very unique to her and it’s exciting to see what boundaries she’ll continue to push in 2024.

Joaquina

Portrait of Latina Artist Joaquina

Photo by joaquina on Instagram

Joaquina is a Venezuelan singer and songwriter whose music resonates deeply because it captures teenage angst perfectly. Her indie pop-rock songs are also authentic and vulnerable, which is something everyone can connect to. Tracks like "Rabia" and "Niñas de Instagram" have struck a chord with young audiences and they’ve impressed industry veterans. Joaquina won the 2023 Latin Grammy for Best New Artist and that was just the beginning. Her latest single is “escapar de mi” and she has an album on the horizon, so it will be fun to see how her music evolves as she grows.

Kenia Os

Portrait of Latina Artist Kenia Os

Photo by keniaos on Instagram

Kenia Os is a Mexican singer-songwriter who went from YouTube content creator with 5.8M subscribers to pop star. Her breakout track "Malas Deciciones" marked a turning point in her career and, so far, she has collaborated with Latino artists like Thalía and CNCO. She’ll be touring in 2024 and 2025 all over Mexico, so it’s going to be a big year for her. Kenia Os is definitely one of the rising stars in the Mexican music scene and you should check out her YouTube channel if you want to find new favorites.

J Noa

Portrait of Latina Artist J Noa

Photo by jnoamusic on Instagram

J Noa is a Dominican rapper who has been rising the ranks in the hip-hop scene. Her sharp and clever lyrics, combined with a breakneck delivery are nothing short of impressive. J Noa’s talent earned her a Latin Grammy nomination for Best Rap/Hip-Hop Song in 2023 and her Tiny Desk concert also earned her a lot of recognition. It’s clear that J Noa is just getting started and her EP, “Autodidacta,” is only a taste of what’s to come for this Dominican rapper.

Nicki Nicole

Portrait of Latina Artist Nicki Nicole

Photo by nicki.nicole on Instagram

Hailing from Argentina, Nicki Nicole has amassed 22M followers on Instagram and her rise to fame has been incredible. Her collaborations with artists like Rauw Alejandro and Tiago PZK have catapulted her into the international spotlight, establishing her as one of the top Latin R&B, reggaeton, and Latin hip-hop Latina artists. With hits like "Colocao" and "Mamichula," Nicole’s talent is undeniable and the way she navigates different musical styles is very interesting. She also has a great Tiny Desk concert and has even appeared on The Tonight Show, so check out her YouTube channel to see what she’s got.

Ludmilla

Portrait of Latina Artist Ludmilla

Photo by ludmilla on Instagram

The way Brazilian singer-songwriter Ludmilla combines funk, pop, trap, and R&B is insane! In 2020, she became the first Afro-Latina to reach a million streams on Spotify with her song "Fala Mal de Mim" and that would only be the beginning. Only two years later, she won a Latin Grammy in 2022 for Best Samba/Pagode Album and became the first Afro-Latina artist to get the honor. She’s a dynamic artist and is known for her versatility, which has influenced the Latino music scene. Ludmilla is one of the Latina artists who’s rushing in a new generation and her music transcends language barriers.

Girl Ultra

Portrait of Latina Artist Girl Ultra

Photo by girlultra on Instagram

Girl Ultra's journey from dreaming of Coachella to performing on its stage in 2024 is a reminder that dreams can come true with perseverance and talent. This Mexican musician is known for her versatility as an artist, ranging from electronic dance beats to soulful ballads. She has captivated audiences all over the world and she’s one of the most interesting young Latina artists in the scene. Girl Ultra is also known for her dynamic performances, so keep an eye on her socials if you want to catch one of her shows in the U.S.

Ice Spice

Portrait of Latina Artist Ice Spice

Photo by icespice on Instagram

Last but certainly not least, Ice Spice is an American rapper of African-American and Dominican descent with an impressive rise to fame. Her Grammy nominations and chart-topping collaborations with artists like Nicki Minaj, Taylor Swift, Rema, and more, speak volumes about her talent and her future in the industry. Ice Spice has had many viral hits, including “Barbie World,” "Boys A Liar Pt. 2,” "In Ha Mood,” and more. Her debut album "Y2K" is on the horizon for 2024, so we suspect she’ll make an even bigger impact in the industry with her blend of Hip hop, drill, Jersey club, and pop rap.

hands holding up yellow protest signs that say Hands Off Our Bodies
Photo Credit: Gayatri Malhotra via Unsplash

Originally published in Common Dreams. Reprinted with permission.

The Latino electorate will prove decisive in securing reproductive freedom and abortion access through ballot measures around the country, particularly in states where Latinos are a significant portion of the electorate.

In November, abortion rights measures will appear on ballots across ten states, including Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, and New York, where Latinos make up a significant portion of the electorate. For decades, pundits and politicians have recycled long-held misconceptions about Latino voters and abortion access, citing our conservative and religious beliefs.

Anti-abortion extremists have long fueled these misconceptions through misinformation and disinformation campaigns targeting Latino communities with egregious lies and inflammatory rhetoric about abortion. Yet, polling, focus groups, and direct interactions with Latino communities have debunked these outdated tropes.

The Latino electorate will prove decisive in securing reproductive freedom and abortion access through ballot measures around the country, particularly in states where Latinos are a significant portion of the electorate.

For Latinos, the freedom to decide, a pillar of our American democracy, is critical. Meanwhile, Latinos are being hit directly with anti-abortion efforts that take away that freedom such as the six-week abortion ban put into effect by the Florida Supreme Court and the 1864 abortion ban upheld by the Arizona Supreme Court. In the wake of the Dobbs decision, people of color and Latinas have felt the impact of a lack of abortion access, an element of basic healthcare.

A 2023 report by the National Partnership for Women and Families estimated that nearly 6.5 million Latinas, or 42% of all Latinas of reproductive age in the country, live in a state that either had or was likely to ban abortion. Ironically, it will be abortion access and anti-choice efforts to restrict freedom of choice that will mobilize Latino voters this election.

In a poll conducted by three national reproductive justice organizations, 87% of Latinas named abortion and women’s rights as one of their top priorities as they head to the polls. Another battleground poll conducted by Somos PAC and BSP Research found that 61% of Latino registered voters expressed a more positive/favorable view of Kamala Harris after hearing that she will protect abortion rights, versus only 19% of Latinos who said they had a more negative view of Harris after hearing that.

In key states to secure the White House and both chambers, Latinos make up large chunks of the electorate: Arizona (25%), Colorado (15%), Florida (20%), Nevada (20%), and New York (12%). In the face of unprecedented attacks on basic healthcare access and targeted attempts by extremists to mislead and divide our community on this issue, this November Latinos will be key deciders on abortion access across the country.

Mari Urbina, Managing Director of Indivisible, Battleground Arizona Lead and former Harry Reid advisor.

Héctor Sánchez Barba is president and CEO of Mi Familia Vota (MFV).

This Viral Video Game Is Changing the Face of Voter Outreach

In 2024, voting campaigns have evolved greatly, to say the least. Creativity is now the name of the game and tongue-in-cheek humor is expertly leveraged to drive action. One example of that is Bop the Bigot, a revival of a viral game created in 2016 by Bazta Arpaio, an Arizona activist group, as part of a campaign to unseat Maricopa County’s Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Arpaio lost his re-election to Paul Penzone that year.

The game has now been updated for the current election cycle and relaunched by On Point Studios, with new features added to enable players to find out what’s on their ballot, confirm voter status, and register to vote.

Much like its former 2016 version, the game allows users to take out their political frustrations by virtually “bopping” GOP candidates in the head. It’s very similar to whack-a-mole, except the mole is replaced by former President Donald Trump, Ohio’s Senator J. D. Vance, and Kevin Roberts, President of the Heritage Foundation, which is spearheading Project 2025.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

B. Loewe, Director of On Point Studios, came up with the concept for this game when working as the Communications Director at Bazta Arpaio in 2016, and is the executive producer of this revamped version. In the first version of the game, Bop the Bigot players used a chancla (flip flop) to “bop” the characters, tapping into Latino culture by leaning on the childhood experience of being set right by a flying chancla from a fed-up mother or grandmother.

This year, the chancla is replaced by a more current element, a green coconut, referencing Kamala Harris’ coconut tree meme. There are also side characters like “the couch,” cat ladies, and more coconuts. All references to jokes about Vice-Presidential candidate Vance, or insults Vance has made about women on the campaign trail.

Another new addition is that Harris’ laugh is immortalized as the game-over sound effect, an unexpected detail that adds even more humor and levity to the game.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump, Kevin Roberts, and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

Bop the Bigot, which is playable on desktop and mobile, is intended not just as a way to vent political frustrations, but also as a tool for activism and securing voter engagement.

For example, the game supports the work of Mexican Neidi Dominguez Zamorano, Founding Executive Director of the non-profit organization Organized Power in Numbers by using the “game over” screen to prompt players to donate to it and support their efforts.

Organized Power in Numbers is focused on empowering workers in the South and Southwest of the U.S. through collective action and comprehensive campaigns. Their mission is to create a large-scale movement that challenges the status quo and advocates for workers' rights, and racial and economic justice.

Currently, Dominguez Zamorano is leading worker outreach to 2 million working-class voters in the South and Southwest through doorknocking, texting, and calls with the help of local groups in North Carolina, Arizona, New Mexico, and more.

“We have been blown away by the enthusiastic reception for the video game. We knew we wanted to be part of its creative approach because our movement needs more fun and laughter. We need more ways to connect with nuestra gente so we can feel joy among all the absurdity we witness every day,” Dominguez Zamorano shared with Luz Media via email.

“Our people are gente trabajadora and we deserve to feel uplifted even in our toughest moments. We are deeply involved in the South and Southwest so we know what’s at stake in this election and we’re happy this can be a resource to mobilize, raise spirits, and get out the vote," she concluded.

Dominguez Zamorano is a committed activist for immigrants and workers' rights, known for her strategist skills and expertise. She played a key role in the campaign to win DACA and has also held roles in major campaigns, including as Deputy National States Director for Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign. In addition to her work with Organized Power in Numbers, Dominguez Zamorano is serving as a Senior Advisor to Mijente’s Fuera Trump Initiative.

Grassroots efforts like these have taken on new life in 2024, with Bop the Bigot adding to the larger, ongoing fight against political apathy and disinformation. Just as it did during the 2016 race, the video game uses humor to soften the serious task at hand—getting people to the polls.

"We want the game to be a fun and comical outlet for anyone who’s been insulted, frustrated, or harmed by Trump in the past and everyone who is ready to move forward as a country after election day," explained Loewe in a press release. "The proposals in Project 2025 and the beliefs of Trump and Vance aren’t just weird, they’re truly harmful. We wanted to give people a humorous and peaceful way to smack down their racism and sexism. We hope it makes people laugh and also feel empowered and motivated to get to the polls on or before election day."

With a mix of satire, sharp political critique, and nostalgia, the game is a call to action. The upcoming election, which is getting closer by the minute, has sparked fierce activism and creative yet grounded initiatives like these aim to ensure voters are engaged, especially young Latinos and disenfranchised groups.