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 cherished finest by particular person members of NPR Music’s staff. For extra, try the complete 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 USA mainstream found dembow and favored it, whereas younger Mexican People discovered group 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 group. Each 4 years, it appears, individuals on this nation notice that every one Latinos do not suppose the identical. A pal not too long ago 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 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 preserve particular person cultural delight inside our respective international locations. That’s, till this yr. 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 no neat, bow-tied development to clarify this yr 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 residence — Mexicans listening to Mexican music. Chileans to Chilean music, and so forth. We’re discovering solace and help in our residence international locations with such unapologetic authenticity it is permitting music of every kind (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 similar 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 area to be cherished, cherished and uplifted by the individuals who perceive it finest. As all of us return to loving residence, perhaps there we will 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