Electronica has always been a genre with a global footprint. With musical origins in Berlin, Kingston, Detroit, Chicago, and more, how could it not be? Now, electronica has captured a younger wave of listeners. While Venezuelan artist, Arca’s psychosexual synth-pop (Rolling Stone) and Mexican-American high-energy DJ, Duerro are electronica trailblazers in their own rights. Let’s turn the spotlight on two upcoming artists redefining the Latin electronica scene: Girl Ultra and Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso.

Born in Mexico City, Mexico, Mariana de Miguel, commonly known as Girl Ultra, has been “at the forefront of a movement to grow Mexico's R&B scene” (NPR). Girl Ultra’s early sound draws heavily from the blends of R&B and pop that were present in early-2000s icons, such as Destiny’s Child and Beyoncé (NPR). Her first albums, Nuevos Aires (2019)  and EL SUR (2022) adapt the confident lyrics and smooth melodies of the genre, with an added Girl Ultra-only edge. 

However, Girl Ultra has been bridging her traditional R&B pop-fusion into electronica, with her new E.P blush (2024) merging garage and club music (Rolling Stone). “This EP follows my need for experimentation,” she explained, emphasizing her break from convention and bold evolution to a new sound. blush is dance-ready, eclectic, and dreams of taking you away to a connective space with baselines that vibrate through the body. Girl Ultra creates a story with blush relevant to our generation, with themes that encapsulates sadness, and the question of, “What is femininity?” (Rolling Stone). The E.P’s sixth track, “Rimel” was on Pitchfork’s “Song of the Summer” list. The track was further described as, “Clean, sparkling club-pop that will rejuvenate the serotonin desert your body has become” (Pitchfork).

Girl Ultra has made her presence known in the Latin music scene and her continuation into electronica is one to be excited for! 

Argentinian-born Catriel Guerriero (known as Ca7riel) and Paco Amoroso are “two rockers infiltrated in the trap scene” (Rolling Stone). The two were childhood friends immersed in the present and vibrant music around them. Amoroso’s father, a dance teacher and tango composer, and Guerrero's father, a member of a rock-and-roll band, both helped shape these early musical experiences. In addition, Amoroso and Guerriero had backgrounds in classical music: Amoroso was trained in the Suzuki Method for violin and Guerriero played guitar (Rolling Stone). 

Ca7riel and Paco Amoroso’s NPR Tiny Desk performance on October 4th has gone viral, amassing over 4,690,864 views on YouTube, and some additional love on TikTok (NPR). Their experimental sound translated seamlessly to Tiny Desk’s minimal production “to bring a new twist to their popular tracks” (Remezcla).  The two have been masterful in infusing a bright and chaotic energy in their work, exploring a mix of electronica, hip-hop, pop and trap.  Their debut BAÑO MARÍA (2024) brings that charisma, and is definitely one to check out! Listen to their Tiny Desk here!

Information gathered from:

Rolling Stone 

NPR 

Remezcla