HOT HALF DOZEN

110 songs, albums, videos submitted this week:

The Music Man, single by Gabriella Raelyn.  The Music Man is the final single preceding Gabriella’s release of her ‘NEPHELE: ACT I’ album. It explores her wariness of men in a male-dominated industry, where some exploit female artists for personal gain. Somber, but energetic, it is a poetic  political statement that sticks in your ear and troubles your mind. A brilliant work of art. Stream on  Spotify. Video on YouTube.

La Danza, single/video by Novalima, lead song from album to be released Oct. 27. Novalima is brilliant. The Afro-Peruvian band/music collective creates a sound that  really grabs your gut with its tropical African beat, choral lyrics, and multiple voices. La Danza is just what is name implies -dance music – but much more. It tells a story with lyrics, overlapping intertwining riffs, drum beats,  electronic sounds. A masterpiece of production, choreography (see the video!) and orchestration. Lead song from their new album, Soy Palanque, named after the ancient Mayan city in Chiapas Mexico,  is out now on Spotify, full album Oct. 27. Spanish

Tania, single/video by Ana Tijoux. The Chilean-French singer/songwriter/p[producer/rapper puts together evocative vocals with hooky beats blended together with a voice both ethereal and down-to earth. She manages to talk to you personally and to every woman globally. A work of art. Stream on Spotify. Spanish

Milagros, single by Alejandra Guzman. Soft, rich, Muy emotive,  A Queen of Mexican rock  tells a story of miracles, not with beats and guitars riffs, but with urgent lyrics backed by violins.  Stream on Spotify. Spanish

Yo Soy Guerrera, single by Las  Fenix. A joy to listen to. The quintet’s voices blend and soar and mesmerize, backed by Mexican trumpets and guitars set off by a loving piano.  

These five women can cross not only borders, but genres and worlds. Stream on Spotify. Spanish

We Can’t Stop, single by Malek Hanna. The Lebanese-American starts this song slow, building an environment with a piano and inspiring lyrics and his rich vocals, then clicks into dance mode and modulates between restraint and all-out movement with abandon. Wide release was Oct. 15.