Ángela Aguilar Showcasing Collection of Traditional Dresses with Special Exhibit at Mexican Consulate in Houston

Ángela Aguilar is all dressed up…

In celebration of her first decade as a soloist, the 20-year-old Mexican American singer has chosen to honor Mexico by showcasing a collection of striking traditional dresses she has worn throughout the years.

Ángela Aguilar,Aguilar, who recently received a Latin Grammys nomination in the album of the year category for her set Bolero, kicked off in recent days an exhibit at the Mexican Consulate in Houston, which specially arranged an area for visitors to enjoy the collection titled “Ángela Aguilar: 10 Years Singing and Dressing Mexico.”

The show is free and open to the public indefinitely, from Monday to Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. (local time). It includes 25 outfits, including the one she wore in the music video for “Solamente Una Vez,” a song included in her newly nominated album.

Other dresses that have marked important moments in Aguilar’s career — from her beginnings singing “La Chancla” to a recent one with rebozos used at an awards ceremony — are part of this interactive experience, which includes QR codes on each piece to share information about the moment they were used.

Not to be missed is the short red dress she wore in the video for “Dime Cómo Quieres” alongside her now-husband, regional Mexican star Christian Nodal.

Another notable piece is a tehuana from the state of Chiapas, hand-embroidered by artisans, which she wore for the cover of her album Primero Soy Mexicana.

Aguilar, who is the daughter of Mexican music icon Pepe Aguilar and granddaughter of the legendary Antonio Aguilar and Flor Silvestre, made her onstage debut at only 3, while she and her family accompanied her father on tour.

Five years later, she released her first album at the age of 8 — a joint album with her brother Leonardo titled Nueva Tradición that was powered by banda, mariachi and norteño sounds.

Her solo debut was in 2014 with the Christmas album Navidad con Ángela Aguilar, which was followed by Primero Soy Mexicana (2018), Baila Esta Cumbia (2020), Que No Se Apague La Música (2020), Mexicana Enamorada (2021) and Bolero (2024).

Visitors to her fashion exhibit in Houston will also see the tricolor dress, in honor of the Mexican flag, included on her family’s Jaripeo Sin Fronteras Tour, as well as the princess cut dress that the singer wore in front of Queen Sofia of Spain, which also showcased her Mexican roots.

Designers who have worked for Aguilar and contributed to this unique collection include Nelly de Anda, Iann Dey, Diego Medel, Enrique Samartin, Felipe Alvarado, Anayeli García Cruz and Felipe Botello, among others.

The Mexican consulate in Houston is located at 3200 Rogerdale Rd. in Houston, Texas.

Mon Laferte Signs Record Deal with Sony Music Latin

It’s a new deal for Mon Laferte.

The 41-year-old Chilean & Mexican musician, singer, composer and painter has signed a record deal with Sony Music Latin.

Mon Laferte In this “new phase” of Mon Laferte’s career, Sony Music will continue to “enhance” her legacy and international visibility, according to the label. The Grammy-nominated artist is currently on her Live Nation-produced Autopoiética tour in the United States, taking its name from her 2023 album.

“Mon Laferte is a wonderful artist. We are thrilled that she has come to Sony Music, her home,” Afo Verde, chairman/CEO of Sony Music Latin-Iberia, said in a statement. “Composer, singer, and an exceptional performer, her excellence knows no limits. We are certain that Sony is the perfect place for her to begin the next chapter of her career. Welcome, dear Mon. May this new stage bring you much happiness and many achievements.”

Mon Laferte, who had been signed to Universal Music México since 2015, is known for her signature raspy, often dramatic vocals and use of classic Latin rhythms such as cumbia, bolero and alt folk. Her often personal and vulnerable lyrics have cemented her as one of the most consequential Latin acts of her generation.

“At Sony US Latin, we are very excited and more than ready to put all our resources and knowledge at the service of Mon Laferte’s extraordinary talent,” added Alex Gallardo, president of Sony Music U.S. Latin. “From the beginning of her career, she has been distinguished by her very personal voice and an incomparable strength to defend her art. We are confident that what we will achieve together will be unparalleled.”

Mon Laferte is set to embark on the European leg of her Autopoiética tour this summer. Additionally, a forthcoming documentary title Mon Laferte, Te Amo — which follows the artist during her 2021-2022 tour — will be released on Netflix in August.

Paula Cendejas Releases New EP “Contragolpe”

Paula Cendejas is making a counter-attack…

The Spanish pop singer, considered one of Spain’s most promising acts, has released her new EP Contragolpe.

Paula Cendejas

Cendejas, who gained attention through her covers on social media, has lately collaborated with Latin music’s edgiest stars including C.Tangana, Piso 21, Feid and Jesse Baéz, to name a few.

Her musical proposal and crisp vocals shine on the new EP, which is home to seven gems including sultry R&B fusions (“803”), flamenco undertones (“Nada Lo Cambia”), futuristic boleros (“Diferente”) and more.

A standout track is focus single “Nosotras,” a pop-reggaeton meshed with mesmerizing acoustic guitars.

Contragolpe, according to Cendejas, was born after discovering herself during the pandemic.

“It’s a rebellion,” she expressed in a statement. “All last year and part of this one I was in an internal struggle with myself, looking for help to feel better. All the bad things that I had inside I brought out in the form of a song.”

Christian Nodal Teams Up with Belinda to Record First-Ever Collab, the Theme to Univision’s “Si Nos Dejan”

Christian Nodal’s next collaboration is very close to his heart…

The 22-year-old Mexican singer is preparing to unveil his first-ever collaboration with his love, Belinda.

Christian Nodal, Belinda,

The Regional Mexican star and renowned pop songstress are behind the theme song of Univision’s upcoming telenovela Si Nos Dejan, bringing to life a new version of José Alfredo Jiménez’s mariachi-bolero classic of the same name.

Nodeli,” as they are referred to by fans, recorded the song in Spain and will be released as a single, Billboard can confirm.

The lovebirds met in 2020 on the set of TV Azteca‘s La Voz and even sealed their relationship with matching tattoos. “Si Nos Dejan” is their first collaborative effort.

 

Si Nos Dejan, starring Mayrín Villanueva, Marcus Ornellas and Alexis Ayala and marking Gaby Spanic’s novela comeback, premieres at 9:00 pm ET on June 1 via Univision.

Library of Congress Adds “Buena Vista Social Club” Documentary to National Film Registry

The story of the Buena Vista Social Club’s effort to revive the music of pre-revolutionary Cuba is being celebrated.

The Library of Congress has unveiled its annual list of 25 movies to make the cut for the National Film Registry, with the documentary named after the ensemble of Cuban musicians, Buena Vista Social Club, making the cut.

Buena Vista Social Club

The Buena Vista Social Club project was organized by World Circuit executive Nick Gold, produced by American guitarist Ry Cooder and directed by Juan de Marcos González. They named the group after the homonymous members’ club in the Buenavista quarter of Havana, a popular music venue in the 1940s. To showcase the popular styles of the time, such as sonbolero and danzón, they recruited a dozen veteran musicians, many of whom had been retired for many years.

Wim Wenders captured the performance on film for a documentary that included interviews with the musicians conducted in Havana. The film was released in June 1999 to critical acclaim, receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary feature and winning numerous accolades including Best Documentary at the European Film Awards.

Lourdes Portillo’s The Devil Never Sleeps is part of a record number of films directed by women that make the list this year.

The 76-year-old Mexican film director’s mystery/documentary centers on Oscar, who is found dead from a gunshot wound. His wife believes he committed suicide. But his nephew, Portillo, suspects that it was murder and investigates the death with no help from the authorities.

Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden said, “With the inclusion of diverse filmmakers, we are not trying to set records but rather to set the record straight by spotlighting the astonishing contributions women and people of color have made to American cinema, despite facing often-overwhelming hurdles.”

This year’s list brings the number of films selected for preservation in the registry to 800.

Turner Classic Movies will host a television special from 8:00 pm ET on December. 15 to screen a selection of motion pictures named to the registry. Among the films to air are The Battle of the Century, Lilies of the Field, Illusions, The Joy Luck Club, Cabin in the Sky and The Man with the Golden Arm.

Here’s the full rundown of this year’s additions:

The Battle Of The Century (1927)
The Blues Brothers (1980)
Bread (1918)
Buena Vista Social Club (1999)
Cabin In The Sky (1943)
A Clockwork Orange (1971)
The Dark Knight (2008)
The Devil Never Sleeps (1994)
Freedom Riders (2010)
Grease (1978)
The Ground (1993-2001)
The Hurt Locker (2008)
Illusions (1982)
The Joy Luck Club (1993)
Kid Auto Races At Venice (1914)
Lilies Of The Field (1963)
Losing Ground (1982)
The Man With the Golden Arm (1955)
Mauna Kea: Temple Under Siege (2006)
Outrage (1950)
Shrek (2001)
Suspense (1913)
Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song (1971)
Wattstax (1973)
With Car And Camera Around The World (1929)

Frankie J Releases Album of Timeless Spanish Classic Song Covers, “Canciones Que Recuerdo”

Frankie J is back, and he’s re-voicing history…

The 44-year-old Mexican singer has released his latest album Canciones Que Recuerdo.

Frankie J

In the well-crafted production, Frankie J revamps 15 timeless hits by José JoséJuan GabrielVicente Fernandez and Selena, to name a few, showcasing his powerhouse vocals as he taps into the bolero and mariachi genres.

“I’ve always loved hearing these kinds of songs, from Juan Gabriel, Jose Jose, Vicente Fernandez, Javier Solis, Pedro Infante,” says Frankie J. “I’m paying a tribute to a lot of artists that I grew up listening to because of my parents and my grandparents. These were the records that they were always listening to.”

Changing the game one song at a time, Frankie J kicked off his career in the late 90’s/early 2000’s as part of the wave of new Latinx artists producing pop-R&B songs in both Spanish and English. 

He gained international success with hits like “Obsession,” “Suga Suga,” and “How To Deal,” which form part of The One, his third studio album that debuted and peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart dated April 9, 2005, and spent 36 weeks on the chart.

Now, Frankie J returns with Canciones Que Recuerdo, marking his comeback production following his 2013 Grammy-nominated Faith, Hope y Amor and Sangria, a duet album with Baby Bash released in 2017.