Famed actor, rapper and producer, Alex Sanduga, was born in Havana, Cuba. Here is his famous 2013 single, "Déjala."

Alexis Valdés, Cuban singer, actor, comedian, film producer and screenwriter brings you "Song of the Week." The days go by, but love doesn't.

Released on April 2, 2015, "El Mismo Sol" (The Same Sun) was singer-songwriter Álvaro Soler's first single. Based on the success of its music video, which was published on his personal YouTube channel, he later signed with Universal Music, who released the song on iTunes as Soler's debut on May 8th of the same year.

"La Libertad" (Freedom) is an upbeat track from the extended version of Spanish-German artist, Álvaro Soler's 2019 album, Mar de Colores [Sea of Colors].

In Álvaro Soler's new single, "Magia” [Magic], the singer refers to life’s often indescribably magical situations and sensations. Composed during the pandemic, Soler hoped to release something hopeful and positive— just in time for summer.

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.

Amparo Sanchez – a singer and guitar player from Spain – is not afraid to mix genres, geographies and influences. On her band Amparanoia’s website, she explains: “My paranoia is music and the idea was to mix rhythms and styles, taking enjoyment from the rumba to ‘ranchera’, or the bolero and ska…” (Of course, Amparo + paranoia = Amparanoia.) Listen to 2006’s “La vida te da” and hear the Afro-Cuban rumba interpreted by this talented Spaniard.

French born Chilean singer Ana Tijoux bring the best of both worlds! She made part of Makiza, in Chile, and became well known in Latin American because her collaborations with Julieta Vanegas, Los Tres, Bajofondo Tango Club and Control Machete.

Ana Tijoux’s 2011 single speaks of the thousands of young people who, in protest, have taken over their schools and universities, demanding free, quality education from their government.

Angel Villalona, better known as “Andy Andy,” began his career singing merengue, but he is making his mark in bachata. Both are genres from his native Dominican Republic. The governor of New York proclaimed Andy a “stellar example” for young people and the governor of Connecticut declared April 17th “Andy Andy Day.” He’s got our vote too.

The old saying goes “Hijo de tigre, sale pintado”. Literally, it means the baby tiger is going to bear the same marks as his father. But it also means that there are some things we inherit and carry with us. Here, Aterciopelados is singing about leaving some inherited, violent habits behind.

New York has the Hudson; Paris has the Seine; London has the Thames. Rivers were important in the building of these cities: they were commercial routes and also a source of food. Aterciopelados (in English, literally “The Velvety Ones”) the well-known Colombian band, remind us of the importance of our rivers with the title song of their socially conscious album Río.

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?)

Colombia's Aterciopelados ("The Velvety Ones") delivers another smooth song with a political message. This time, the band questions immigration policies and asks who has the right to dream of a better life.

Axel Fernando entered the Conservatorio Nacional Superior de Música in Buenos Aires at only eight years old, but dropped out in his early teens, wishing to focus more on academics, and less on music. To the delight of adoring fans throughout the world, he got serious again about music at seventeen, and hasn’t looked back since.