Anamaria Sayre’s favourite albums of the yr : NPR

As we wrap up our protection of the yr in music, we’re publishing lists of the music liked finest by particular person members of NPR Music’s staff. For extra, take a look at the total staff’s picks for the 124 finest songs and 50 finest albums of 2024.

Yearly I spend days mulling, relistening to information, looking for the throughline of my private finest albums of the yr. I in the end all the time discover little threads that replicate sweeping cultural breakthroughs: the US mainstream found dembow and favored it, whereas younger Mexican People discovered neighborhood with accordion. However this yr, I am developing clean.

The music we love persistently says essentially the most about the place we’re as a neighborhood. Each 4 years, it appears, folks on this nation notice that each one Latinos do not suppose the identical. A buddy just lately commented to me that Latinos spend extra time searching for nationalistic credit score for our most beloved pan-Latin cultural touchstones than the rest (“Mi Burrito Sabanero” is Venezuelan, I have been schooled and concede.)

The US-perceptible tendencies 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 battle: to seek out neighborhood in Latinidad and preserve particular person cultural delight inside our respective international locations. That’s, till this yr. After years as a neighborhood rallying round our greatest names, our most marketable, flashy genres, in 2024 it felt like we might actually simply be who we’re. There is no neat, bow-tied pattern to elucidate this yr in Latin music as a result of possibly, greater than ever earlier than, Latin music was allowed to be simply music, that occurs to be in Spanish.

Throughout Latin America, persons are returning dwelling — Mexicans listening to Mexican music. Chileans to Chilean music, and so forth. We’re discovering solace and help in our dwelling international locations with such unapologetic authenticity it is permitting music of all types (and quirks) from all locations to realize 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 components of me on this nation.

Proudly native music discovered house to be liked, cherished and uplifted by the individuals who perceive it finest. As all of us return to loving dwelling, possibly there we are able to discover the highway 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