Let me set the scene: It’s Friday night, you’re with your friends at a frat (could be any, it doesn’t really matter and I don’t really care). You can physically feel your shoes sticking to the ground and your social battery dying as you realize you desperately need to pee. But the night is going awesome; you’re already thinking about what you’re going to get to eat at the 7-Eleven. The crappy frat brother DJ yells out, “This is for my big booty Latinas,” before blasting “Gasolina” by Daddy Yankee, you turn drunkenly to your friends (none of you are big booty Latinas, but that doesn’t really matter either) and scream “I love Spanish music!”
Pause.
I, too, love Spanish music, or rather Latino music (same thing), and let me tell you that there is so much more to Latino music than just Daddy Yankee. Latino music, just like American music (shocker, I know) spans rock, folk, metal, classical, indie/alternative — genres that you can listen to outside of a frat basement (unless Daddy Yankee is on your daily playlist rotation, in which case, good for you). So let me put you onto some of my personal favorite Latino indie/alternative artists that you can listen to as you sip on a pumpkin spice latte while sitting on the Slope and pretending the beautiful fall weather and aesthetic will somehow last beyond September.
- “Cycles of Existential Rhyme” – Chicano Batman
I was hesitant to put this one on here because while Chicano Batman was once the Mexican indie band, they have definitely outgrown the label. Nevertheless, they are still the gateway to alternative Latino music.
- “Sol” – La Garfield
If you want to delude yourself into thinking you’ll find your endgame, long-term partner at Cornell, then this track is for you. Or if you want to reminisce about your cute senior crush that graduated last semester. Either works.
- “Pintura” – Patio Solar
This Chilean folk/indie crossover sounds like it should’ve been featured in the background of an artsy coming-of-age movie. Listen to this one while doodling in a Moleskine, sitting on the patio outside CTB and people-watching for the full effect.
- “Malas Amistades” – Vanessa Zamora
We’ve all gone through the difficult experience of seeing someone we love slowly become toxic due to the people and environment they surround themselves in. Zamora captures that transformation with haunting honesty and raw lyricism as you finally come face-to-face with the truth.
- “Commitment” – Luna Luna
Having been featured on NPR, People and Rolling Stone, Luna Luna stands out as a key figure in new wave Latino indie music that frequently features both Spanish and English lyrics. I specifically put “Commitment” on here because I am in my lover-girl era and so should you.
- “Tristes Ojos” – Ramona
This one is actually another romance song, but I have found it to also be a good listen for when you’re walking back to your dorm after a MATH 1920 Prelim (or other such events that slightly make you question your presence at Cornell.)
- “Abstinencia - Demo” – Juno
I was going to gatekeep this one, but in the spirit of the new semester, I decided not to. It actually kills me to know that Juno hasn’t produced anything since 2022, so if you’re going to listen to any of these tracks, listen to this one!
- “Tu Abrigo Rojo” – Hay Un Dinosaurio
I had this playing in the car with my mom once and she told me music like this is the reason why my generation is so depressed. So take that as you will.
- “Vivir” – Jardín
Save this one for when it’s 70 degrees, sunny, minimal wind, you’re laying on the Arts Quad and staring at the clouds, and thinking “Wow, I can’t believe people say Cornell is so depressing.”
- “Lo que tú me das” – Juanpalitoschinos
This track was inspired by Japanese City Pop from the ’80’s, so put this one on when you want to look like you have cooler music taste than your friends.
- “Tren Al Sur” – Xochi Krausse
This final track is actually a cover of Los Prisioneros (a totally awesome Latin Rock band that you should definitely check out), however, Krausse’s rendition of it is just so overwhelmingly moving, that I couldn’t not include it.
For those who read this article thinking, only music made by independent record labels can classify as indie, I would like to argue that the genre title of indie music has expanded far beyond that to simply include music that goes beyond mainstream conventions. Indie music is what you make of it and there are more important things to worry about than arguing about the logistics of it.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0lK1aupUs3bNPu1JGgRUMR?si=gNTwuXxcT82F70pm1Z4SUg
Leslie Monter-Casio is a sophomore in the Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy. They can be reached at lm953@cornell.edu.
‘Solar Flare’ is a weekly playlist column where Sun contributors spotlight a slice of musical taste with the campus community. It runs every Monday.
