SXSW is officially 2 days away! I am official press again this year and I want to do things a little differently. I am a lover of all music, films, and interesting sessions, but this is The Nueva Latina after all.
This year, for most of my SXSW coverage I will be focusing on Latinx artists, films, sessions, and more. Not to say that I won’t be covering other events, because it is SX after all and you never know where you will end up. Lol.
Today, I will be covering my top list of Latinx artists to watch at SXSW 2023 . I remember a few year ago there was almost Z E R O Latinx artists during SXSW and now there seem to be way more. THIS IS EXCITING Y’ALL!
Keep reading for my top Latinx Artists to Watch at SXSW 2023!
Eslabon Armado
I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS Y’ALL! One of my favorite groups of the Mexican Regional Music genre.
Eslabon Armado is a Mexican-American regional Mexican music group from California, formed in 2017. The group consists of three members: Pedro Tovar (vocals and guitar), Gabriel Hidalgo (bass), and Brian Tovar (tuba).
Eslabon Armado gained widespread recognition after their song “Con Tus Besos” went viral on social media, amassing millions of views and streams.
Eslabon Armado will be playing at Casa Del by Del Records and Marca Unica on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. The event will be at The Belmont (305 W 6th St., Austin, TX 78701) starting at 7 PM.
Shiela
Shiela is a Miami-based Latin-RnB singer-songwriter from Austin, Texas who draws on Mexican and Nicaraguan roots to make people dance. She made waves at her Austin City Limits Music Festival performance in 2021 and was on fire in 2022 as an Austin Music Awards nominee for Best Latin Artist, Official SXSW 2022 performer, Recording Academy Class of ’23 Member, and Austin City Limits 2022 performer. Listen to her EP “corazón coraza” out now on all streaming platforms, and follow @shielamusic to get an idea of what to look forward to from this young star! 🌶
Shiela will be playing at LatinATX 2023 by the Latin Music Coalition Austin on Saturday, March 18, 2023. The event will be at Sheraton BackYARD (702 E 10th St., Austin TX 78701) starting at 7 PM.
Divino Niño
Divino Niño are no strangers to bold reinvention. When Camilo Medina and Javier Forero—friends whose bond dates back to their childhoods in Bogotá, Colombia—moved to Chicago and recruited guitarist Guillermo Rodriguez to form a band, they were psych-pop outsiders playing live shows with a drum machine. With the addition of drummer Pierce Codina, their 2019 breakthrough and debut LP for Winspear, Foam, solidified their place as local indie rock mainstays. Soon after, multi-instrumentalist Justin Vittori joined to round out their lineup. Once again, with their masterful, unpredictable, and eminently danceable new album, the band has done something radical: They totally upended the way they write songs, eschewing practice room jams for unrelentingly collaborative beats, implied grooves for immersive dance floor heaters, and mellow vibes for frenetic doses of reggaeton, electropop, and trap on their most adventurous and ambitious work to date. Welcome to the Last Spa on Earth.
Check out the days and times Divino Niño will be playing at SXSW here.
El Dusty
Raised and rooted in Corpus Christi, producer, DJ, and nu-cumbia pioneer El Dusty translates the Southern Texas border experience into new barrio anthems where the MPC2000 sampler and chopped clips of Latin music history collide. Set to drop on September 18th, Trapanera EP marks the first of his collaborative projects since signing with Universal Records, new division AfterCluv, showcasing a turntablist tradition that links Latin classics with the new generation of bass-heavy soundsystem and hip-hop cultures.Trapanera EP is a true showcasing of El Dusty’s bi-cultural border identity and the cumbia crunk movement that he’s found a home in.
Check out the days and times El Dusty will be playing at SXSW here.
Elena Rose
Elena Rose, is a Latin Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter. Her lyrical prowess is echoed in hits by performers like Becky G, Rauw Alejandro, Selena Gomez, Daddy Yankee, Christina Aguilera, and Jennifer Lopez. With an impactful career as a songwriter, Elena decided to be the voice for her lyrics by launching her career as a solo artist in 2020. That same year Elena was distinguished an “Artist on The Rise” by Billboard and has since garnered more than 1.3 million monthly listeners on Spotify and received nominations for Premios Juventud and Premio Lo Nuestro. As an artist, she has co-written and featured on Bad Bunny’s “Party,” Mora’s “Playa Privada,” Sebastian Yatra’s “Quererte Bonito” and Becky G’s “Flashback.”
A year after the start of her solo career, Elena received her first nomination for Premios Juventud for “New Generation – Female.” With an undeniable stellar start to her career, she released “La Ducha Remix” ft. Becky G Greeicy, Maria Becerra and TINI in 2022, which earned her a nomination for “Remix of The Year” at the 2023 Premio Lo Nuestro.
Elena currently finds herself working on her upcoming album that is set for release in 2023.
Elena Rose will be playing on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 at Mala Vida at 7:30 PM.
Destiny Navaira
Y’all! I went to college with Destiny!!! Hahaha! I don’t kmpw if she remembers me but I will never forget her, her voice, and her determination.
Destiny Navaira was born & raised in San Antonio, Tx and now resides in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, pursuing her music career as a Latin Grammy Nominated Singer/Songwriter. Destiny comes from a musical dynasty Emilio & Raulito Navaira who were at the top of the Tejano market in the 1990’s. Throughout her short solo career (after singing backup for her father) Destiny released her first solo album La Preferida which earned her Female Vocalist of the Year at the Tejano Music Awards in 2021 and many other recognitions. With her latest Latin Grammy Nominated Album, Dime Cómo Se Siente, produced by her brother Rigo Navaira, Destiny has worked with groups such as La Leyenda, Grupo Bronco, La Casetera, and Lupita Infante. Destiny strives to evolve the genre she was born into and restore its credibility with modern sounds and lyrics.
Destiny Navaira will be playing at LatinATX 2023 by the Latin Music Coalition Austin on Saturday, March 18, 2023. The event will be at Sheraton BackYARD (702 E 10th St., Austin TX 78701) starting at 7 PM.
Shrt_Lyf
I saw this MF go ooooooff last year at the Marca Unica showcase and we are doing it again y’all!
The Mexican born artist started off his journey in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon and at a very young age he and his family made the move to the United States. A drastically different space from where he grew up, now in Texas, he is making music using Spanglish to further push that blended sound as he combines his Mexican identity with aspects of trap, indie, and rock showing a unique musical proposal that spreads to international audiences, and breaks open borders.
Shrt is complex, it’s not just about the music, he has something to say, he wants to bring a voice to Mexican people and this is his platform to do so. He embraces his immigrant roots to shed light on issues plaguing the community. Community is important to him, he doesn’t want Mexican folks to be the last ones anymore, he’s here to make that statement and push Mexican people forward, to reclaim the Mexican identity and the spaces that belong to us. He wants to represent the younger generation of Mexican and Chicano youth that are told they can’t do it. The Monterrey, Nuevo Leon native doesn’t mince words or pull punches when it comes to who he is, or his music, he’s truly himself and their are no signs of him slowing down.
Check out the days and times Shrt will be playing at SXSW here.
Letón Pé
Leticia Pelliccione, known professionally as Letón Pé, is a Dominican singer-songwriter and actress, born and raised in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. She began her professional education at age 19 at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy, NY. Mixing electronic sounds with a special sensibility in Latin Pop and R&B, experimentation and risk are the engines behind her musical exploration that emerge from her Caribbean roots. ROLLING STONE (USA) just named her one of the TOP 10 LATIN ACTS TO BREAK-OUT IN 2023, while REMEZCLA claims LETON is the DOMINICAN REPUBLIC’S NEXT POP DIVA.
Check out the days and times Letón Pé will be playing at SXSW here.
Tania Dominguez
Y’all already know I have to be there for the homegirl Tania!
Meet the newest female voice of Rancho Humilde label. Tania has become one of the first interpretes of the urban Mexican genre with ‘Lo-Fi’ elements, increasing her popularity among the Centennials.
Dominguez takes up space in a disruptive way with ‘Reina De Mi Amor’, representing love for the LGBTQ+ community and bringing a new perspective to the Mexican music.
Tania Dominguez will be playing at RUMBA by Cinq Music & mitú on Thursday, March 16, 2023. The event will be at The Venue ATX (516 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701) starting at 8 PM.
Porte Diferente
BROOOOOO! Porte Diferente is coming to SXSW!!! AHHHHH!
Formed in Tijuana in late 2018, the group’s lineup includes Enrique Macias Jr. on bajoloche (acoustic bass), Miguel Ángel Salazar González on requinto (nylon six-string guitar), Miguel Angel Medina on guitar, and Andrade on lead vocals. Jimmy Humilde heard three original songs the band posted to SoundCloud: “La Piel Rayada,” “El de la Chevy,” and “No Soy lo Que Piensas.” Impressed, he got in touch immediately, and after a short time, signed them to Rancho Humilde. He brought the group to Los Angeles to record late in 2019. In early 2020, the band delivered the video single for “Es Diferente,” which registered more than a million views. Impressed with the reaction, Humilde quickly brought them in again to cut a handful of non-album singles that were released digitally and to radio in specialty markets. They registered across social media, bringing the band major industry attention. Porte Diferente appeared on Natanael Cano’s Corazón Tumbado album, collaborating with the singer on a cover of their own “No Soy lo Que Piensas.”
Porte Diferente will be playing at RUMBA by Cinq Music & mitú on Thursday, March 16, 2023. The event will be at The Venue ATX (516 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701) starting at 8 PM.
Andrekza
As a multidisciplinary singer-creative Director, ANDREKZA, is most celebrated for her socially intentional lyricism on racism, sexism, classicism, and gender inequality, and reposeful sounds. Catching the attention of listeners across Latin America, including Venezuela, US, Brazil,Spain, Mexico, and Colombia; she continues to create space for fresh Latin Alt and R&B sounds.
While Latin music has centered pop reggaeton as its main focus, ANDREKZA brings on new, experimental tastes in her ever-evolving catalog. She has amassed over 3.1M views on YouTube total plays and with 97.4K monthly listeners on Spotify, she is no stranger to the repeat button ̶ “TÉ” featuring Carlos Sadness garnered over 1 million streams, and she has found support on playlists like Rompiendo: Los Angeles, 4am Perreo, EQUAL and more ANDREKZA began to navigate the industry deeper and later signed with DIMMAK EN FUEGO and STEVE AOKI her first album CASSETTE and also with Warner Chappel as a songwriter.
ANDREKZA is working now in her second album FOLLOW THE WHITE RABBIT with DEEMAD Grammy award winning producer FTR is a 11 songs album fusing traditional Venezuelan music with NEO PERREO
Andrekza will be playing at Downtown Music Presents: Una Noche En Austin on Thursday, March 16, 2023. The event will be at Vaquero Taquero (603 Sabine St., Austin TX 78701) starting at 8 PM.
Diamante Perez
Y’all already know I have been following Diamante since SXSW 2021. This artist is one of my all time favorites and a MUST this SXSW.
Diamante Perez is a 24-year old Latin artist from Ulysses, Kansas signed to Marca Única. He made his SXSW debut in 2021 headlining the very first ever official Regional Mexican showcase in the festival’s history.
His first release under the imprint has garnered over 2 million streams in a few short months. His most recent EP release En Mis Sentimientos is a preview to his upcoming self-titled album SOY UN DIAMANTE scheduled to release in May.
Diamante Perez will be playing at Casa Del by Del Records and Marca Unica on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. The event will be at The Belmont (305 W 6th St., Austin, TX 78701) starting at 7 PM.
Diana Burco
A rising star of the explosive and multi-dimensional Colombian music scene, Diana Burco is a singer- songwriter and accordion player. Burco has played and investigated Colombia’s traditional music since she was a child. She has traveled throughout Colombia searching out the country’s varied forms and expressions, and has studied and collaborates with the masters that interpret them.
This deep cultural fluency and her own wide-ranging contemporary explorations mark Burco as a 21st century troubadour charting an original path rooted in her country’s rich heritage.
Diana Burco has participated in programs and platforms around the world including One Beat Colombia, Ethno World and MAPAS (Artes Performativas del Atlantico Sur). Her debut U.S. tour in March 2022 featured shows in Albuquerque and Santa Fe NM, Burlington VT, Great Barrington MA, Washington DC, West Palm Beach FL, New York City, and Savannah GA.
Her debut album “Diana Burco” was nominated to the 2018 Latin Grammys in the Best Cumbia/Vallenato, Album.
“Rio abajo”, her second album, was nominated for Best Contemporary Tropical Album to the 2021 Latin Grammy Awards.
Check out the days and times Diana Burco will be playing at SXSW here.
Hermanos Quimica
A duet integrated by Venezuelan brothers IBSEN and FLERSY of the acclaimed group SOIRES NAES.
The duo have branched out to pursue a new project called Hermanos Quimica / Chemical Brothers. A Hip Hop group that mixes an authentic Caribbean flow with the use of Synths and old school sounds.
Check out the days and times Hermanos Quimica will be playing at SXSW here.
LUPITA INFANTE
The Mexican American singer-songwriter Lupita Infante is part of an emerging generation of ranchera artists who are so deeply steeped in their traditions that they possess the confidence and expertise to brilliantly remake them for their Millennial and Gen Z fans.
Lupita Infante was nominated at the 2020 Latin GRAMMYs® for her song “Dejaré” (cowritten with Luciano Luna). At the ceremony, she was backed by El Mariachi Sol de México to perform a warmly received tribute to her grandfather. Her debut album La Serenata was also nominated at this ceremony, as well as at the 2021 GRAMMYs. In early 2022, she signed with Sony Music Latin as her career continues to develop and expand.
Her name is instantly familiar to tens of millions of Mexicans, as she is the granddaughter of Pedro Infante Cruz (1917-1957), the most beloved Mexican singer and actor of the 20th century.
Lupita Infante will be playing on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 at Lefty’s Brick Bar at 8:30 PM.
Robbie Vida x Buay Press
The homies straight outta Medellin, Colombia!
Robbie Vida y Buay Press radicados actualmente en MEDELLÍN, también conocidos como “Los Dueños del Verano” (The Owners of Summer) un proyecto musical conformado por dos hermanos nacidos en la costa pacífica de Colombia en QUIBDÓ-CHOCÓ. Ambos decidieron fusionar sus proyectos y colaborar en ideas específicamente para crear el nuevo género conocido como “Exótico”. A lo largo de su carrera han participado en canciones y compartido escenario con los principales artistas de Colombia: Tostao, DJ Maff de Los Dioses Ritmo, Luis Eduardo Acustico, Yilmar Dresan, DJ ksper, DJses, El Freaky Colectivo, DJ Gangster entre otros. Ofreciendo su repertorio junto a lleno de éxitos bailables de alta energía, Robbie Vida y Buay recorren constantemente Colombia junto a su equipo Dj Kopet (Dj oficial de los dueños del verano) y Juan Camilo Cárdenas (director de Logística y grabación de contenido de los dueños del verano) desde Medellín, Cali, Pereira, Bogotá, Zaragoza, El Bagre, etc. “Exótico” es un sonido particular que fusiona diferentes géneros musicales como dance hall, reggaetón, pop, Urbano y los sonidos tradicionales del Chocó.
Robbie Vida x Buay Press will be playing at Sonidos Afro presented by Toro Music & Wonderlandia / GuerreraPR on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. The event will be at Empire Control Room (606 E 7th St., Austin, TX 78701) starting at 8 PM.
Bo Bundy
Can y’all believe I have never seen Bo Bundy IRL? HAHA!
The Houston Rapper Behind the Viral Hit ‘Mi Barrio’, Bo Bundy is proudly representing Tex-Mex in today’s rap scene.
Bo Bundy will be playing at Casa Del by Del Records and Marca Unica on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. The event will be at The Belmont (305 W 6th St., Austin, TX 78701) starting at 7 PM.
This list was sooooo hard for me to compile and choose the Latinx artists I am most excited for this SXSW but with over 70 Latinx artists officially performing at SXSW for the first-time ever, it makes me happy more than anything.
Check out all the Latinx artists coming to SXSW 2023 on the schedule here.
I can’t wait y’all!
