Hot Half Dozen
HOT HALF DOZEN 5.5.26. Crossing the border
Today let’s look at artists who mix languages, often in the same track or even the same verse and move easily across borders.
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May 6, 2026
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Today let’s look at artists who mix languages, often in the same track or even the same verse and move easily across borders.
Mariachi punk? Yes, and it is damn good. Mariachi El Bronx (from LA, not NYC) pulls it off very well. Lots of fun and laughs
American bands that are popular in Mexico. Often in Spanish, but not always. Plus Latin American bands that sing in English
From the Pacific Northwest, welcome Milk N’ Fox and their debut album The Last Song, released in 2025. A fun combination
Jazz this week, from around Latin America. From experimental de Mexico, to Brazilian beat jazz and a lot in between. See what tickles your fancy.
Grammy-nominated roots and bluegrass artist Valerie Smith continues her chart-climbing momentum as her latest album, Maggie‘s Journal, lands at #2 on the January 2026 Folk Alliance
Six out of over 130 songs and albums submitted this week. My picks range from Mexican rock and roll (in English) to a newly discovered Peggy Lee song, to Puerto Rican rap, to,..well, much more.
A little Mex-Tex, a song of mature love, urgent blues, and a dreamy piano…what a lineup this week Oh, and some norteno
Remember CD’s. Jaramar just dropped one and it is a doozy
Six artist, some so new they are just barely platformed, some around long enough to have multiple albums. All Spanish this week as I am drawing half f the songs from the FIMPRO music convention coming up next month, and rest from songs I received las week.
Oaxacan feminie folk to dream pop, to rappu regional and a 20-song album by Haley Williams.
New songs for 2026: 170 songs and albums submitted A search in Spotify turns up 369 new songs uploaded in
Grammy-nominated bluegrass, folk, Americana artist Valerie Smith has announced the January 1 release of her long-awaited, career-defining project that has been 12 years in the making. Maggie’s
My Hot Half Dozen for 2025. Rock to reggae to castanets
An Ahead-of-its-Time Fusion of Guitar, Rap, and DIY Ambition, the Collection is Reborn for Streaming Audiences Restlessly inventive artist goodie has announced
Wish You Were Here 50″ 50th collection of Pink Floyd from the tour came out this week. I think I was at the concert, but..well, things are a bit acid-hazy.
With a Latin Grammy nomination and two Grammy noms, two BMI songwriting awards, and six Billboard Top Ten songs you would expect Elsten Torres’ new album, Vice Versa, to be a blockbuster — and it is. Seven songs that make you Happy!
Longer reviews – I enjoy writing them. Lisette, Alissa Cara, iLe, Patty Griffin, Renee and Marco Mares – solid line up this week.
I am a little hazy about when I first encountered Alice Bag.. But I have followed her through the 2000’s and love the new album with Kid Congo Powers, Jungle Cruise
