Playlist: Solo Mujeres

Feature image via mexicanbrat.tumblr.com

I listen to a lot of indie, alternative, electronic-y music to power through the workday. Most of the artists I listen to are white and mostly dudes: Haim, Phantogram, The XX, Geographer, Silversun Pickups, Grouplove, Phoenix, M83, Purity Ring, Tegan and Sara — just to name a few. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoy their music but sometimes I get fed up with all the white media I consume and think to myself, I need to listen to music by my people now. It’s times like these that I want to listen to tejano, norteño and banda music but am quickly reminded it’s so dominated by men singing about sexist shit. Selena is usually my go-to person in this situation, pero like I need some variety.

mujer

artwork by Yescka

I decided to make a playlist with only Latina singers and front women for my own spirit and now I’m sharing it with you. Some of these artists I’ve listened to over the years, like Lila Downs and Julieta Venegas, and some I’ve only recently discovered like Carla Morrison and Las Cafeteras (omg, I want to be in a Son Jarocho band because of them). These artists’ music spans across genres so there’s a good mix of things in here: sounds inspired by traditional folk music to what I would call popi Spanish music. This is just a sample of Latinas out there making music so tell me, who are your favorites?

Luna Lovers – Las Cafeteras
Mientas – Kumbia Queers
Eres Tú – Carla Morrison
En Fin – La Santa Cecilia
Palomo Vagabundo – Quetzal
Si Una Vez – Girl In a Coma
La Joya – Javiera Mena
La Tequilera – Lila Downs
Indestructible (Feat. Ximena Sariñana) – Niña Dioz
Sin Documentos – Julieta Venegas
I Love You Madly – Irene Diaz
Antipatriarca – Ana Tijoux
Normal – Ximena Sariñana
Cuando Muere Una Dama – Jenni Rivera
No Regrets – Gaby Moreno
Viene de Mi – La Yegros
No Es Que No Te Quiera – Hello Seahorse!
Antologia – Shakira
Amor Prohibido – Selena
Café Con Pan – Las Cafeteras

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Yvonne

Yvonne S. Marquez is a lesbian journalist and former Autostraddle senior editor living in Dallas, TX. She writes about social justice, politics, activism and other things dear to her queer Latina heart. Yvonne was born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley. Follow her on Instagram or Twitter. Read more of her work at yvonnesmarquez.com.

Yvonne has written 205 articles for us.

37 Comments

  1. Oh man this is such a great playlist! I love Eres Tú by Carla Morrison! And have you heard La Bamba Rebelde by Las Cafeteras? Or their version of “This Land is Your Land?” They’re my go-to band for political action inspiration.

  2. Celia Cruz is one my favorites. I cannot pick a song of hers out from memory, her attitude is imbued perfectly in all of them.
    Azúcar!

  3. My love of Alicia Villarreal’s album Soy lo prohibido is as strong today as it was when I was in middle school!

  6. Thanks for this! Also I grew up with too much Behind the Music and cannot hear a Selena song without getting emotional about it.

  7. I discovered Ana Tijoux last year and fell completely in love, augh. Also a huge Kumbia Queers fan. This is awesome!

  8. This is great! I am excited to at all these new Latina singers to check out. I’ve been listening to a lot of music in Spanish lately since I’ve started learning Spanish. I love Julieta Venegas!

    Some other awesome favourites: Natalia LaFourcade (Mexican, a bit hipsterish but some amazing songs) and Alejandra Ribera (Argentinian/Canadian with the sexiest smoky voice–some songs are in Spanish, some in English, and one is in French!).

  9. The lyrics to Shakira’s antologia are everything I could ever hope for in a declaration of love

    • That song is like getting intimate in the backseat of a car under the moonlight of a crisp autumn night when you’re suppose to be in bed like a good kid, but you’re not because the heart wants what the heart wants. Expectations of the world be damned.
      It has that tenderness of loving a lover who you cannot keep. In whose arms you do not get to peacefully sleep.

  10. Maybe not the most original choice, but Gloria Estefan’s Hoy always gets me dancing. And I only dance for serious shit.

    (Also, first comment ever. 21 words and I almost run the spell checker. Talk about self-confidence)

  11. Yay! I’m learning Spanish and keep meaning to find some cool music to help with the process. This will help!

  12. This is AWESOME and should be a regular thing.

    I’d also add:

    Bomba Estereo: Fuego and Ponte Bomb (the most bananas cover ever of 1989’s Pump up the Jam https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyL8husfEBs )

    Susana Baca: everything she’s ever sung

    Lhasa: De Cara A La Pared

    Ivy Queen: Dile and Menor Que Yo (Suuuper cheesy reggaeton, but she’s so fierce)

    Carla Morrison: Pan Dulce

    Julieta Venegas: Eres Para Mi

    (I know you already included the last two artists but I just love those songs so much).

    • Loving these songs! Where’d you hear about Lhasa and Ivy Queen and Bomba Estro? I need to find more artists like this!!!

  13. I want to second a nomination for Lhasa de Sela! She definitely belongs on this list. Love love love De cara a la pared, and Por eso me quedo kills me every. single. time. (I also really like La confession, which she sings in French, but that still counts, right?)

  16. Thank you so much for putting this together! I tried to replicate it on Soundcloud because I don’t use Spotify. I had to change a couple of tracks that weren’t available.
    Ana Tijoux, wow, I hadn’t even finished listening to the first song from her and I went to buy to album. Can’t wait to listen to the rest of it in depth. :)

  18. Aww, this playlist reminds me of my early 20’s just hanging out, late nights with my friend who listens to most of these. She introduced me to Julieta Venegas and Lila Downs. <3

  19. Great piece. Since you’re sometimes in the mood for Tejano- check out Shelly Lares. She’s no stranger in the Tejano scene and a lesbian! Saludos!

  20. Such a great playlist!
    So mexican and awesome. ;)
    I love all of this singers and god,thank you for including lila downs and my favorite carla morrisson song. I would have also included the Closer version of Ximena Sariñana, but apparently it’s not in spotify. Anyways, great list!

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