Anamaria Sayre’s favourite albums of the 12 months : NPR

As we wrap up our protection of the 12 months in music, we’re publishing lists of the music cherished finest by particular person members of NPR Music’s crew. For extra, try the complete crew’s picks for the 124 finest songs and 50 finest albums of 2024.

Yearly I spend days mulling, relistening to data, looking for the throughline of my private finest albums of the 12 months. I in the end at all times discover little threads that replicate sweeping cultural breakthroughs: america mainstream found dembow and preferred it, whereas younger Mexican Individuals discovered group with accordion. However this 12 months, I am developing clean.

The music we love constantly says essentially the most about the place we’re as a group. Each 4 years, it appears, folks on this nation understand that every one Latinos do not assume the identical. A pal lately commented to me that Latinos spend extra time on the lookout for nationalistic credit score for our most beloved pan-Latin cultural touchstones than anything (“Mi Burrito Sabanero” is Venezuelan, I have been schooled and concede.)

The US-perceptible developments in Latin music, the years of pan-Latin pop’s explosion, have not let the remainder of the world in on this by no means ending wrestle: to search out group in Latinidad and keep particular person cultural pleasure inside our respective international locations. That’s, till this 12 months. After years as a group rallying round our largest names, our most marketable, flashy genres, in 2024 it felt like we may actually simply be who we’re. There is not any neat, bow-tied development to elucidate this 12 months in Latin music as a result of perhaps, greater than ever earlier than, Latin music was allowed to be simply music, that occurs to be in Spanish.

Throughout Latin America, individuals are returning dwelling — Mexicans listening to Mexican music. Chileans to Chilean music, and so forth. We’re discovering solace and assist in our dwelling international locations with such unapologetic authenticity it is permitting music of every kind (and quirks) from all locations to achieve recognition and air time on this nation too. There is a magic to re-localization, to loving our similarities, and on the identical time, celebrating and uplifting our variations. I’m proud to be Mexican, Latina, and born and raised alongside a mixture of all of those elements of me on this nation.

Proudly native music discovered house to be cherished, cherished and uplifted by the individuals who perceive it finest. As all of us return to loving dwelling, perhaps there we will discover the street map to loving the remainder of the world too.

My high 10 favourite albums

• Álvaro Diaz, SAYONARA
• Nathy Peluso, GRASA
• Sanje, De Repente Otra Vez
• Amaia Miranda, Mientras vivas brilla
• Ed Maverick, LA NUBE EN EL JARDÍN
• Trueno, EL ÚLTIMO BAILE
• Carin León, Boca Chueca, Vol. 1
• RaiNao, CAPICÚ
• Helado Negro, Phasor
• PJ Sin Suela, Todo Época Tiene Su Encanto