Mexican rock singer Alejandra Guzmán is known as the “Queen of Rock” in Latin America. Take a listen to her soulful singing in “Porque no estás aquí” (“Because You’re Not Here”), and you’ll see why. Those lyrics sung in that raspy voice get right into your core.

Aleks Syntek (born: Raúl Alejandro Escajadillo Peña) assumed a last name short for sin teclados (literally, without keyboards), a handle given by a friend from whom he had asked to borrow a synthesizer (looks like he bought a few since then!). This Mexican artist is well known for producing and writing songs for others as well as releasing his own records.

"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.

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.

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.

Babasónicos have never let themselves get pigeon-holed into one style or sound since they formed in the early nineties (much to the consternation of some fans). With "Carismático" we drop into a surreal dreamscape of Dada visuals and equally fantastical lyrics, all encapsulated in a hook-laced pop tune. Dive in!

Bacilos was a Latin pop band founded in Miami and comprised of members from Puerto Rico, Brazil, Colombia and the United States. "Mi Primer Millón" ("My First Million"), a song about their desire to make it in the music business, won the Latin Grammy for Best Record in 2003.

Fernando Hortal, aka Bahiano, broke away from his band of 17 years, Los Pericos, in 2004 to go it alone. This video shows the rufían delivering milk and a little more. Oyelo, ¡te gustará escucharlo!

Denial ain’t just a river in Egypt. It’s also the theme of Bárbara Muñoz song “Miénteme” (“Lie to me”). Born in Chile, Ms. Muñoz moved to Mexico in 2006 to further her musical career as a singer and songwriter. As you’ll see in this video, “Miénteme” is an emotion-ridden plea not to know what she doesn’t want to know.

Spanish singer, Bebé, pleads to be loved in her single, "Kiéreme."

Bella Belanova singer Denisse Guerrero studied fashion in Mexico before she became a rock sensation. We wonder if the supersized collar she’s sporting in this video for "Me Pregunto" was an extra-credit project from back in her university days.

What if you took a bunch of musical aces from Bogotá and asked them to cook up a picante take on the Led Zeppelin classic “Babe, I’m Gonna Leave You”? Wonder no longer…

Guess who was voted the best new band in the world in 2009? Drum-roll, please… Our friends Bomba Estéreo! Yabla met them back when they were the opening act of (the also great and friendly) ChocQuibTown. Since then, Bomba Estéreo have been spreading like fire all over America and Europe.

Meet Enrique Bunbury, a big name in rock en español. The Spaniard was the lead singer of the classic rock band Héroes del Silencio for 12 years. When the group disbanded in 1996, Bunbury began his solo career. "Frente a frente"—a cover of the song first recorded by Euro-pop star Jeanette in 1981—is the first single from Bunbury’s 2010 album Las Consecuencias.

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.

"De todo el mundo" is a wish list put together by our friend Enrique Bunbury. We're sure that somebody as famous as him is always looking for freedom. He doesn't want to be owned by anybody, he just wants to be part of the whole world.

Medio signifies “half,” and so of course mediodía comes around at 12 o’clock noon (“half day”). Café Tacuba’s Rubén Albarrán ponders another perfect sunshine midday and wonders why he is has no one with whom to share it. Live concert video! (See Rubén’s guest appearance in Inspector’s video for the tune "Amnesia".)

Café Tacuba is often compared to British rock luminary Radiohead, and the LA Times has gone so far as to proclaim this fab cuatro "The Mexican Beatles." "Eres", sung by keyboardist Emmanuel de Real, is from the album Cuatro Caminos, which critics have called one of the definitive rock albums of the decade (in any language).

At top of the Mexican Rock’s pyramid is Café Tacuba. Since their breakthrough Re (1994), they have reshaped themselves countless times. Rubén Isaac Albarrán Ortega, their lead singer, has a thing for changing his name. He even puts Diddy to shame! Through the years, he has been known as “Juan,” “Pinche Juan,” “Cosme,” “Masiosare,” “Anónimo,” “Nrü,” “Amparo Tonto Medardo In Lak’ech,” “At Medardo ILK,” “G3,” “Gallo Gasss,” “Élfego Buendía,” “Rita Cantalagua,” “Sizu Yantra,” “Ixaya Mazatzin Tleyótl,” “Ixxi Xoo,” and “Cone Cahuitl.” Enough for an identity crisis!

Our creative friends from Café Tacuba are offering an affordable alternative to expensive vacations. With a little help from our imagination, we can have an special trip without leaving our living room!