The beautiful Leire Martínez had the difficult challenge to fill Amaia Motero's shoes as lead singer of the Spanish pop band “La Oreja de Van Gogh”. In “Inmortal”, she sings about all the little things from the past that we keep and carry with us; but it’s also about all the possibilities that the future brings. Her final words seem to be fitting to her role in “La Oreja”: “I’ll be your destiny.”

The pouring rain doesn’t stop Aterciopelados from rocking the park in Bogotá. “Rock al parque” is probably the biggest open-air (free!) rock festival in Latin America, held annually in Colombia’s capital. Listen in as Aterciopelados sings out a tribute to this fun festival and to fellow bands performing there. (How many of them have you heard?)

Ricky’s back. And he’s got a positive message to spread. Here’s the first single from his first album in nearly six years… his first since coming out of the closet.

Shakira serves up another smoking, upbeat song. This one’s about a love triangle, as seen through the eyes of the other woman.

What happens when you mix Mexican pyschedelic rock band Zoé with Spanish rock singer/songwriter Enrique Bunbury? The answer is: Nothing. Or, in Spanish, “Nada,” the title of this song. Take a listen and you’ll see that the combination of sensibilities creates a whole lot of something.

Camila was founded by award-winning composer and producer Mario Domm one day while he was recording a client’s album. Samo was called in to do back-up, and his voice impressed Mario so much that he thought they should work together. Add in Pablo Hurtado on guitar, and you have Camila. See what it’s all about with this song from their 2010 album. The vocals are a marvel.

Frida Kahlo’s grandniece, Dulce María, has been a star almost since birth. The Mexican singer, songwriter and actress made her acting debut on Plaza Sésamo (Mexico’s Sesame Street) and then appeared in telenovelas as she grew up. The soaps helped launched Dulce’s solo career in 2009. Tune in to this 2010 track.

Plastilina Mosh delivers this frothy pop song pinned down by some less carbonated rap lyrics. The results are catchy. Mixing genres is nothing new for the Mexican band from Monterrey. You may hear Plastilina Mosh on the radio—or featured on a video game near you.

Amaia Montero, formerly the singer of La Oreja de Van Gogh, began her solo career in 2007. This song, “Quiero ser,” lasted for thirteen weeks at the number one spot on the Spanish charts in 2009. Listen and you’ll see why: her voice is captivating.

“La Quinta Estacion” is Spanish for “The Fifth Season.” Although this band originated from Spain, after a Mexican telenovela (soap opera) adopted one of their songs as its theme, they toured the country and decided to make it their home. “Que te quería” (“That I Loved You”) is the first fiery single from their 2009 album.

“No hay nadie como tú” (“There Is No One Like You”), the first single from Calle 13’s third album, features the Mexican group Café Tacuba. Over a blend of pop and reggaeton music, Residente, the lead singer of Calle 13 discovers that no amount of naming can contain or define his amor.

Listen to the whispery, seductive sound of the Corpus Christi lead singer’s voice as she sings a beautiful declaration of love and of the angst it can create. The video, directed by Nadia Mata Portillo, captures the mood perfectly.

This group formed in 1991 to fill a gaping hole in the Venezuelan club/dance band scene. They have a Latin Grammy under their belts as well as nominations for Grammys and Latin Grammys. Move to the beats of “Como sabes tú” from the album Commercial.

Ana Fernández-Villaverde, aka La Bien Querida, sings hauntingly about regret in “De Momento Abril.” Sharing the stage with this Spanish songstress are guitars, violins, a piano, a drum set and a cajón—that is, a box-shaped percussion instrument to sit on. The cajón is originally from Peru, but it’s used in modern flamenco and other musical genres.

Uruguayan musician Gonzalo Yáñez has been making music from a very young age. After working with different groups, he began his solo career in 2004. In this song, the title track of his latest album, he blends acoustic guitar with synthesized sounds, and the catchiness of the chorus contrasts with the darkness of the narrative lyrics.