Digging Through The Latin Grammy Nominations: Who's Worth Checking Out

Transcript

LINDA WERTHEIMER, HOST:

The Latin Grammys were announced this week. And NPR's Felix Contreras and Jasmine Garsd are back for a closer look - I guess it's a closer listen - to some of the nominees. Felix and Jasmine are the hosts of NPR Music's Alt Latino, a weekly podcast about Latin arts and culture. Guys, welcome back.

FELIX CONTRERAS, BYLINE: Thank you.

JASMINE GARSD, BYLINE: Hi.

WERTHEIMER: Jasmine, I have it on good authority that you are not the biggest fan of the Latin Grammys.

GARSD: Yeah. I think generally speaking they're pretty uncreative, and you see the same faces, same singers. But I've got to tell you, we really do take it upon ourselves on the show, on Alt Latino, to dig through that pile and find the diamonds. And there are musical treasures in there. You just have to look.

WERTHEIMER: Want to share?

GARSD: Yes. I brought in Chilean rapper, Ana Tijoux.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "VENGO")

ANA TIJOUX: (Singing in foreign language).

GARSD: She's nominated for the Best Urban Song. And this is called "Vengo," or "Here I Come."

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "VENGO")

TIJOUX: (Singing in foreign language).

WERTHEIMER: Ana Tijoux - so tell me what you like about her.

GARSD: Oh, what is not to like about Ana Tijoux? But, I mean, as far as Latin hip-hop artists go, she's really the reigning queen. Her music shows such an evolution. I mean, every album she puts out is better than the last one.

CONTRERAS: You know, there's a mixture - throughout the album there's a mixture of hip-hop and funk and R&B and a little bit of jazz, but also these really great Andean textures and a lot of textures from folk music all over Latin America - big fans of hers.

WERTHEIMER: So do you think she's got tough competition in this urban category?

GARSD: Oh, absolutely. She's up against Calle 13, the Puerto Rican rap duo. And they're Latin Grammy favorites. They're record breakers. I mean, it's just kind of like why even go to the Latin Grammys if Calle 13 is nominated? I brought one of Calle 13's songs that she's up against - the song, "Adentro," "Inside." Check it out.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "ADENTRO")

CALLE 13: (Singing in foreign language).

WERTHEIMER: So Jasmine, you think they'll win again?

GARSD: You know, I'm a huge Calle 13 fan. I don't think this was their best album. But I do get the feeling they will because they're such media darlings. It's almost like they don't always need to put out stellar albums. Fans are going to adore them nonetheless. Like Felix always jokes, AC/DC has been playing the same song for, like, 30 years, and I'm going to go to every concert.

WERTHEIMER: (Laughter) There are 48 categories within the Latin Grammys. Felix, you did some digging as well. Did you hear something you liked?

CONTRERAS: Quite a bit of stuff. You know, those 48 categories include everything like pop, rock, stuff that we're used to hearing - but also categories that include genres like Mexican regional music. Now think accordion and cowboy hats for that.

GARSD: No.

CONTRERAS: Yes, yes - as well as six separate categories for Brazilian music. So overall, the Latin Grammys, they reflect the breadth of contemporary Latin music 'cause there's something for everyone.

(SOUNDBITE OF PACO DE LUCIA SONG)

CONTRERAS: The longshot to win Album of the Year I think is an emotional nomination. It's "Cancion Andaluza" by Paco de Lucia. He is the renowned flamenco guitarist who died in February of this year. I brought in a track to play from that album.

(SOUNDBITE OF PACO DE LUCIA SONG)

PACO DE LUCIA: (Singing in Spanish).

GARSD: I love Paco de Lucia. I think, you know, those amazing Arabic influences just - Felix, I mean, he's amazing. He was amazing.

CONTRERAS: He dominated that category for decades. And he's one of those artists that unexpectedly died, and it's just left a very, very big hole in that genre.

(SOUNDBITE OF PACO DE LUCIA SONG)

DE LUCIA: (Singing in Spanish).

WERTHEIMER: Felix Contreras and Jasmine Garsd of NPR Music's Alt Latino, which is a weekly podcast about music and culture. You can find them at npr.org/altlatino. Guys, thank you very much.

CONTRERAS: Thank you, as always.

GARSD: Always so much fun.

WERTHEIMER: This is WEEKEND EDITION from NPR News. I'm Linda Wertheimer. Rachel Martin will be back next month. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.