All Songs Considered

Alt.Latino: Chicano soul, Canary Islands merengue and a percussion supergroup

February 25, 2026

Key Takeaways Copied to clipboard!

  • The *All Songs Considered* podcast feed has been rebranded to "NPR Music" to consolidate all NPR Music shows, though the *Alt.Latino* feed remains separate. 
  • The featured music in this episode of *Alt.Latino* spans a global panorama, including contemporary Canary Islands merengue, Chicano soul, and Brazilian-influenced Argentine music. 
  • The episode highlights the deep cultural connection between the Canary Islands and the Dominican Republic, noting that merengue has strong origins there due to historical Spanish migration patterns. 

Segments

Podcast Feed Changes Announcement
Copied to clipboard!
(00:00:15)
  • Key Takeaway: The All Songs Considered podcast feed has been renamed to “NPR Music” to aggregate all NPR Music shows, while the Alt.Latino feed remains unchanged.
  • Summary: The main All Songs Considered feed is now called NPR Music, featuring shows like All Songs Considered on Tuesdays and Alt.Latino on Wednesdays in one place. The Alt.Latino podcast feed itself has not changed. This rebranding aims to consolidate all NPR Music programming for listeners.
Quevedo’s Canary Islands Merengue
Copied to clipboard!
(00:01:08)
  • Key Takeaway: Quevedo’s song ‘NI BORRACHO’ is a contemporary merengue that pays homage to the Canary Islands, where merengue remains popular due to historical migration from the islands to the Dominican Republic.
  • Summary: Merengue has strong origins in the Canary Islands, as early Spanish immigrants brought a variant of the music to the Dominican Republic. Quevedo, a famous Spanish singer from the Canary Islands, released ‘NI BORRACHO’ specifically for the Canary Islands Carnaval, where merengue dominates the celebration. The song is filled with local slang and island references.
Joey Quiñones Chicano Soul
Copied to clipboard!
(00:05:29)
  • Key Takeaway: Joey Quiñones’ solo track ‘Drifting’ exemplifies the continuation of Chicano Soul, a genre rooted in the 1970s cultural mashup between African Americans and Chicanos in Southern California.
  • Summary: Joey Quiñones, lead singer of The Sinceres, is releasing a solo album titled In a Soul Situation. The Chicano Soul sound reflects the deep integration of African American and Chicano communities in Southern California history, drawing influence from 1960s soul music like Barbara Mason’s ‘Yes I’m Ready’. This music serves as a cultural marker for established Chicano identity in areas like Boyle Heights.
Carolina Mama’s Brazilian Influence
Copied to clipboard!
(00:12:51)
  • Key Takeaway: Argentine singer Carolina Mama’s album Amina, produced with Brazilian artist Laonã, signals an increasing stylistic crossover where Brazilian sounds are being exported and blended into other Latin American music.
  • Summary: Carolina Mama’s title track ‘Amina’ features folkloric instruments and production influenced by the Brazilian region, suggesting a broader blending of sounds beyond Brazil’s historical isolation. This production crossover is compared to the way reggaeton rhythms entered US music via tracks like ‘Despacito’. The music is praised for its rhythmic intricacy, utilizing elements like the berimbau and shakers.
Ellipsis Percussion Supergroup
Copied to clipboard!
(00:17:56)
  • Key Takeaway: The percussion supergroup Ellipsis, featuring Michael League, Pedrito Martinez, and Antonio Sanchez, creates complex, non-traditional compositions that fuse Afro-Cuban folklore, Mexican jazz, and Snarky Puppy’s fusion influences.
  • Summary: Ellipsis is an all-star trio featuring Pedrito Martinez (Afro-Cuban Rumbero), Antonio Sanchez (Pat Metheny collaborator), and Michael League (Snarky Puppy bassist). Their track ‘Suru’ exemplifies a large jam session structure rather than traditional song form, showcasing a mashup of musical traditions. Listeners can appreciate the album by focusing on Martinez’s drumming, Sanchez’s melodic percussion, or League’s fusion background.
Da Cruz Afro-Brazilian Exploration
Copied to clipboard!
(00:21:50)
  • Key Takeaway: Da Cruz’s album Som Sistema surveys sounds across the African diaspora, including amapiano, baile funk, and Angolan kuduro, while addressing themes of colonialism and social upheaval in Brazil.
  • Summary: Da Cruz, an Afro-Brazilian artist based in Switzerland, explores the roots of Afro-Brazilian sound through danceable music. The album features diverse genres like South African amapiano and Angolan kuduro, demonstrating a survey of the African diaspora’s musical output. Despite the heavy themes, the music remains exciting and fun, layering rhythms similarly to the Ellipsis album.
Sofia Rei Vocal Collaborations
Copied to clipboard!
(00:26:11)
  • Key Takeaway: Sofia Rei’s upcoming album Antónima features inventive vocal collaborations, such as ‘Zigzag’ with Daime Arosena, which pushes vocal boundaries beyond expected styles.
  • Summary: Argentine vocalist Sofia Rei is releasing Antónima in April, featuring collaborations with artists like Daime Arosena and Gabby Moreno. The track ‘Zigzag’ showcases Rei’s ability to layer harmonies like a choir, leading into Arosena’s more familiar Afro-Cuban style, creating a new vocal texture. Rei is noted for artistically directing this project herself, raising the bar for vocal exploration.