Lomiiel, SpiffHappy and more emerging Latin artists on our radar

Every month, Billboard Latin and Billboard Español Editors highlight a group of up-and-coming artists whose music we love. Think 'diamantes en bruto' or 'diamonds in the rough'. These are newcomers who have yet to impact the mainstream — but whose music excites us and we think our readers should do something to discover.

Our latest edition of On the Radar Latin features a wave of up-and-coming artists that we've discovered either through networking or coming across their music at a showcase and beyond. Check out our picks this month below:

Artist: Augusto Tamayo

Country: Colombia

Why they should be on your radar: After more than 20 years as a songwriter, instrumentalist and arranger, credited on productions by stars such as Carlos Vives, Fito Páez and Andrés Cepeda, Colombian musician Augusto Tamayo made his debut as a performer last month with the album. Perfectly Imperfecto., which was released on May 29. Heavily piano-led, the 11-track set includes songs about love and heartbreak, loss and pain, performed with great sensitivity and beautifully produced. Trained in composition, piano, orchestration, and jazz and contemporary music, Tamayo seems to have poured both his soul and two decades of experience into this project. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS

Song for your playlist: “Perfectly Imperfect”

Artist: Briella

Country: Venezuela

Why they should be on your radar: Urban music artist Briella, whose real name is María Gabriela Otaiza, is one of the genre's emerging talents gaining popularity from her native Venezuela. The singer started her music career in 2021 and has caught the attention of the public with songs like 'UN BETA', 'QLQ' and 'PARTY TETEO'.

But her most successful song to date is “Coquette,” a catchy cumbia-influenced reggaetón released in February that has garnered more than 18 million views on YouTube to date. Recently, she released the remix of this song with Argentines La Joaqui and Yami Safdie, further increasing her appeal. Briella's musical style, which combines urban and pop rhythms, together with her charismatic presence on social networks, has allowed her to gain followers daily. She recently had her first concert in Venezuela, where she also connected with her roots by performing one of her songs in joropo style. — LOUISA CALLE

Song for your playlist: “Coquette”

Artist: Alayn Garcia

Country: Cuba

Why they should be on your radar: Hailing from Camagüey, Cuba, Alayn García is a percussionist-turned-singer who launched his solo career this year with his debut single 'Se Va'. Produced by Cuban hitmaker Mr. Vla, the tropical tune — which tells the story of a man who's done with girls playing with him — sets the tone for García's offering: a modern take on contemporary salsa music. As a musician, García has collaborated with many salsa giants, including Victor Manuelle, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Andy Montañez and Tito Nieves. In addition, García is Rey Ruiz's longtime backup singer and percussionist and is currently on tour with the Cuban-born artist. — JESSICA ROSE

Song for your playlist: “Se Va”

Artist: Lomiiel

Country: Dominican Republic

Why they should be on your radar: I vividly remember the day I discovered Lomiiel — it was at a friend's pool party where the next-door neighbor belted out a catchy tune that immediately caught my attention. The song was fun. The voice was different. It was a refreshing version of dembow. With 'Hay Lupita', the teenage Dominican artist born Marco Antonio Santana and hailing from La Romana captured a new generation – a generation that is probably discovering dembow by now. With its sped-up drum pattern and carefree energy, “Lupita” — about a girl who looks good and moves her hips to the beat — has amassed over 800,000 creations on TikTok and over 20 million views on YouTube, and has spent seven weeks on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart, further proving that Lomiiel is the new face of the Dominican urban movement. — JR.

Song for your playlist: “Hey Lupita”

Artist: MARI “La Carajita”

Country: Venezuela

Why they should be on your radar: When I first heard the song that MARI will release on June 28th, I was instantly hooked. “Prioridad” is spinning cumbia-pop that's as sonically catchy as it is lyrically deep. Written by the Venezuelan singer-songwriter, the track is a departure from what has been released in the past. Sounding right at home on her upcoming tejano-inflected song, MARI is actually better known for her reggaeton-heavy tunes. It's refreshing to see an up-and-coming artist with this versatility and confidence dabbling in different genres early in her career. For now, check out her latest release, the reggaetón drums-powered “Facetime,” and on Friday, be on the lookout for “Prioridad.” — GRISELDA FLORES

Song for your playlist: “Facetime”

Artist: SpliffHappy

Country: USA (Mexican descent)

Why they should be on your radar: Corridos verdes has been a vibrant subgenre, flourishing mainly on the West Coast, reaching a high in 2018 with bands like Legado 7 and T3R Elemento leading the way. Since then, the genre has seen new buds of mexicana music sprout, with artists like Natanael Cano, Peso Pluma, and Lenin Ramirez delving into cannabis culture — though the trend has grown more intense over time.

Enter SpliffHappy, a Brooklyn artist with Mexican roots who dropped a single bien tumbado named 'Ando' in May. Backed by an ensemble of Corridos musicians, SpliffHappy delves into the corridos scene for the first time, pouring his soul into Spanish lyrics about gray days brightened by the occasional breakup. Originally recognized for his English snares, his latest Spanish song venture 'Ando' showcases soulful vocals and features a video of him and a large crew taking over the corner block, promising a new high in his music career. — ISABELA RAYGOZA

Song for your playlist: “Ado”

Artist: Yami Safdie

Country: Argentina

Why they should be on your radar: Some of the strengths of the talented singer and songwriter Yami Safdie, whose full name is Yamila Safdie, are the distinctive color of her voice and the depth of her lyrics. The Argentinian singer-songwriter and influencer started her music career in 2017 with sporadic singles, but it was 2022 when her first album was released. Dije Que No Me Iba a Enamorarafter signing with Warner Music the previous year.

That album includes “El bolero,” her most successful song, a collaboration with rapper Milo J — which has garnered more than 88 million streams on Spotify. She and Milo J have also collaborated on the song “Carencias de Cordura”. With thoughtful lyrics about love and heartbreak, and a mix of urban elements with cumbia, pop and even bolero, Yami Safdie is building a name for herself on the music scene. He also opened for Luis Miguel during his tour of Argentina. — LC

Song for your playlist: “El Bolero” (feat. Milo J)