Karol G Releases Merengue-Inspired Single “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido”

Karol G is embracing a new sounds…

The 33-year-old Colombian Grammy-winning singer-songwriter has surprised fans with a new single called “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido,” released on Thursday, June 20.

Karol GReleased on the first day of summer, Karol G’s new single features a bold merengue sound.

“What would it have been like if I had met you before? Most probably you’d be dancing this song with me,” says part of the song’s lyrics.

In the music video, Karol G switched her baby pink locks for a new blonde look while performing the party-starting bop at a tiki bar.

On the eve of the song’s release, Karol G performed it for the first time in London, later explaining on her Instagram that the tribute to the merengue genre is because she owes a lot to The Dominican Republic.

“I worked on part of Mañana Sera Bonito there, and when I need to disconnect from the world and connect with myself I also go there,” she wrote. “Its culture, its music, its colors, the hospitality, the energy… everything feels very authentic and special there. Its people have embraced me in a way that fills my heart and inspires me all the time.”

“Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido”—which is released in the midst of the European leg of the Mañana Será Bonito Tour—further demonstrates Karol’s ability to experiment outside of the reggaetón realm.

Prior to her merengue tune, she tapped into bachata (“El Barco”), corrido tumbado (“200 Copas”), cumbia (“Mi Ex Tenía Razón”), and even dropped a salsa version of “Amargura” at the 2024 Billboard Women in Music gala, where she was named this year’s Woman of the Year.

The vibrant “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” marks Karol G’s second single of the year following the Tiësto-assisted “Contigo,” which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart dated March 2; reached No. 27 on the Latin Airplay chart dated June 1; and debuted at No. 61 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in March, becoming Karol’s 30th entry on the all-genre chart.

Shakira Reveals Star-Studded Tracklist for New Album “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran”

Shakira is making tracks

Ahead of the release of her upcoming new album Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran on March 22, the 47-year-old Colombian superstar has unveiled the album’s tracklist.

ShakiraThe 16-track album includes eight new tracks, plus previously released singles like “TQG” with Karol G, the Rauw Alejandro-assisted “Te Felicito” and “El Jefe” with Fuerza Regida.

A remix to her Bizarrap-produced “Music Sessions Vol. 53” featuring Tiesto will also be included on the set.

Shakira recruits Bizarrap and Alejandro again for new songs, while tapping new collaborators, including Cardi B and Grupo Frontera.

“Making this body of work has been an alchemical process,” Shakira previously said in a statement. “While writing each song, I was rebuilding myself. While singing them, my tears transformed into diamonds, and my vulnerability into strength.”

Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran is Shakira’s first new album in seven years. It also marks her debut release on vinyl, featuring four distinct artwork editions, each paired with an exclusive colored vinyl variant.

Shakira’s new album follows her 2017 set El Dorado, which spent five weeks at No. 1 on Billboard‘Top Latin Albums chart. It spawned the hit songs “Chantaje” with Maluma, “La Bicicleta” with Carlos Vives and the Prince Royce-assisted “Deja vu.”

Overall, the hitmaker has placed eight top 10 albums on the Top Latin Albums chart, six of those hit No. 1, including Dónde Están Los Ladrones? (1998), Fijación Oral: Vol. 1 (2005) and Sale El Sol (2010).

Here’s the tracklist for Shakira’s Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran:

  1. “⁠⁠Puntería” x Cardi B
  2. ⁠”La Fuerte” x Bizarrap
  3. ”Tiempo Sin Verte”
  4. ”Cohete” x Rauw Alejandro
  5. ⁠”(Entre Paréntesis)” x Grupo Frontera
  6. ”Cómo Dónde y Cuándo”
  7. ”Nassau”
  8. ”Última”
  9. ”Te Felicito” x Rauw Alejandro
  10. “Monotonía” x Ozuna
  11. ”Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53″
  12. “TQG” x Karol G
  13. ”Acróstico” x Milan + Sasha
  14. ”Copa Vacía” x Manuel Turizo
  15. “⁠El Jefe” x Fuerza Regida
  16. ”Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53 (Remix Tiësto)”
  17. “Punteria” (Vinyl Version)

Cardi B to Headline Toronto’s Veld Music Festival

Cardi Bis headed to the Great White North

The 26-year-old half-Dominican American rap superstar will be one of the headliners at Toronto’s Veld Music Festival.

Cardi B

The “I Like It” rapper joins a roster that includes KygoSkrillex, and Tiësto.

Rounding out the weekend lineup will be sets from AlessoKodak BlackLoud Luxury and Zeds Dead, and more. 

The Veld Music Festival comes to Toronto’s Downsview Parkon Saturday and Sunday, August 3 and 4. 

Tickets go on pre-sale on Wednesday, March 20, from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm ET. Tickets open to the public on Thursday, March 21, at 10:00 am ET. 

Rising Star DJ Avila Releases “Breaking Your Fall” Remixes

He wouldn’t even be old enough to vote in the United States, but Danny Avila has already become one of the hottest acts in the world of electronic dance music (EDM).

The 17-year-old Spanish wunderkind, who won the Best Newcomer DJ award at the prestigious 2011 Vicious Music Awards at just 16, has just released a remix package for his propulsive single “Breaking Your Fall.” And, in support of the five new taked on his debut single, Avila has released a Mega Mix of tracks, launching exclusively on Billboard.com.

Danny Avila

Avila, who was included on Billboard‘s 21 Under 21: Ones To Watch list of new artists last year, has played on bills led by dance superstars like David Guetta, Afrojack and Martin Solveig.

From his extraordinary 2012 Ibiza season that caught the attention of everyone including Tiësto and dance bible DJ Mag where he became the youngest ever Covermount CD artist to the announcement of his residency as the youngest ever prime-time deejay on SiriusXM, Avila has captured the world’s attention with his talent.

Following the release of “Breaking Your Fall” last year, the new remixes were helmed by Lucky Date, Mikael Weermets, dBerrie and SICK INDIVIDUALS.

The remix package precedes Avila’s involvement on the Generation Wild Tour 2013, which will run through North America beginning on January 31 in Chicago. Deniz Koyu, dBerrie and Mikael Weermets will join the teen producer on the trek.

Click here to visit Avila’s SoundCloud page.