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Meet the Pioneers of Latin Electronic on SoundCloud, Presented by Toyota Corolla
Latin America is many things, but never a monolith. Though you won’t find a unique language, ethnic background or rhythmic pattern that unifies the region, assemble the puzzle of those many dizzying contrasts and you’re left with a rich collage of identities and culture. For SoundCloud’s latest SCENES feature, presented by Toyota Corolla, this generation’s emerging Latin electronic SoundCloud artists ponder how origin and destination influence their sound.
Sinego
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On his 2023 debut album, ‘Alterego,’ Colombian DJ and Latin electronic producer Sinego embarked on an ambitious road trip across 13 countries, collaborating with Mexican-American singer-songwriter Angélica Garcia and Cuban producers Pauza to craft a loving, layered portrait of the continent. “At a global level, Latin electronic music has advanced its perspective, especially with how [producers] sample,” says Sinego, who resides in Mexico City, where he’s a fixture of the thriving house and techno scene. “It used to only be artists everyone in Latin America had heard of, like [cumbia icon] Totó La Momposina, but now there’s a much more profound investigation leading international producers to underground artists.”
“Benjamín Carrión,” the opening track from ‘Alterego,’ is a thumping celebration of a famed Ecuadorian diplomat, adorned with bolero strings that evoke his Andean homeland.
2DEEP
Dance spaces are also crucial for diasporic connection, with New York City-based imprint APOCALIPSIS and LA moombahton pioneers Hermanito Label blasting pan-Caribbean rhythms at parties that exult island heritage. A testament to the scene’s ability to foster community, 2DEEP began producing events around Los Angeles in 2011, making a name for himself with beloved parties MUEVELO and GASOLINA.
“I taught myself how to make music, [watching] my friends produce and picking up tricks,” says the famed DJ, now one of the cornerstones at the popular party, REGGAETONLANDIA. “Latinos are everywhere so everyone has their own sauce. In Colombia, there’s a genre that I play a lot called guaracha, but then you have moombahton that came out of DC, and in Mexico, they blend electrocorridos with house.”
Bianca Oblivion
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Geography is just one factor in a larger identitary equation. “What makes Latin electronic so special is the range of influences and rhythms,” muses Los Angeles native Bianca Oblivion, who got her start curating college radio and DIY events before becoming a full-time spin doctor mixing grime, dembow and baile funk. “[The genre] is not defined by one specific sound, but there’s this kind of raw energy that’s pulled throughout.”
The emerging Latin electronic DJ broke through on SoundCloud back in 2021 with the remix for her track, “Bubble Pon Di Bed,”, which brought together an all-star cast of women MCs from London, New Jersey and Mexico City. More recently, her collaboration with English rapper Redders, on “Lavish,” made waves at the club with its mix of pummeling bass and machine gun bars.
The internet has also afforded pioneers some well-deserved time in the spotlight. Venezuela’s DJ Babatr, arguably the creator of raptor house, remained largely unknown by the public until the guaracha boom of the past decade. In 2023, after Russian DJ Nina Kraviz went viral for playing a guaracha remix by Colombian producer Aleroj, regional subgenres like uwuaracha and Latin core soared to renown.
Nick León
Collaboration, too, is a powerful tool, and few understand its power like prolific Miami producer Nick León, who architected club hits alongside Empress Of, MJ Nebreda, Isabella Lovestory, Erika De Casier, and the flamenco-reggaeton blockbuster, “Diablo,” off Rosalía’s landmark ‘Motomami’ LP. “This is music to move your hips to; not your head, not your shoulders,” he declares. “This is full body movement.”
Nick León’s crossover with DJ Babatr on “Xtasis” nearly broke the internet, resulting in a hedonistic slice of Latin tribal techno released via Medellín label, TraTraTrax, and underscoring the boundless reach of Latin electronic music. “My goals with music are to continue learning and growing as an artist,” he adds, “but also to give back and play my part in the community that helped build me into the artist I am today.”
Dive into the latest installment of SCENES and discover the artists of Latin electronic on SoundCloud now.
