The Rising Voices: Get To Know the 2025 Latin GRAMMY Nominees for Best New Artist

Each year, the Best New Artist category stands as one of the most anticipated and career-defining moments of the Latin GRAMMYs. Honoring the most promising new voices across the Latin music vast spectrum, the award has long served as a launchpad for artists poised to shape the sound of the future. From Ruzzi’s collaboration with Latin GRAMMY legend Natalia Lafourcade and Annasofia’s support from Julio Reyes Copello’s Art House, this year’s nominees are stacked with impressive competition.

Alleh y Yorghaki: Hailing from Venezuela, the duo broke through with a dance-infused take on Latin urban sounds with the hit “capaz (merenguetón),” signalling an energized gen-z and border-crossing ambitious debut that earned global acclaim, making it to number 46 on the U.S. charts this February and accumulating 109,000 video creations on TikTok. Their romantic lyrical approach, sincere vocal delivery and reggaeton/afro-infused beats have set them apart in the Latin electronic scene.

Annasofia: Colombian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose debut EP Primer Intento was released just last month blends electric guitar riffs, chunky, chest-thumping beats, and classic Latin horns. Known for working in Julio Reyes Capello’s recording studio and creative hub, Art House Academy in Miami, Annasofia’s tracks “Lo dejo fluir” and “222” are keen examples of the artist’s ability to meld her angsty creativity with beat-driven style.

Yerai Cortés: Spanish flamenco guitarist and composer, Yerai Cortés has brought contemporary innovation and noticeable reverence to the genre; his modern approach has had Spanish critics marking him as the genre’s most promising star. Cortés popularity skyrocketed in 2024 with a spotlight performance in the successful video series COLORS SHOW in addition to releasing a documentary, La Guitarra Flamenca de Yerai Cortés, and an album of the same name. His ability to collaborate with Spanish rappers like C Tangana and highlight the flamenco genre is what has made Cortés a viable contender for the Best New Artist category; listen to “LOS GITANOS SONAMOS ASÍ” to find out why.

Juliane Gamboa: Based in Rio de Janeiro, Gamboa merges jazz, samba and Brazilian pop music into her vibrant debut album JAZZWOMAN. Gamboa’s expertise and creativity is showcased in 13 tracks as it discusses topics such as the power, versatility and sovereignty of Black women. Splitting her time between being a curator and a music teacher, Juliane is an ardent advocate for Black female voices in the arts. Tune into “Eu Sou Mulher”.

Camila Guevara: Having notable Cuban figures in her family tree, Camila Guevara is destined to make a bold mark on the Latin music landscape. With unmistakable vocal chops and show-stopping rap skills taking centerstage, Guevara’s debut Dame Flores fuses traditional boleros, salsa and trova with hip-hop and pop. Though she is both the granddaughter of singer-songwriter Pablo Milanés and revolutionary icon Che Guevara, Cuba’s 25-year old Camila Guevara is slated to continue forging a distinct path all of her own. Check out the track “Vienen Curvass”.

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Isadora: Emerging from Miami, Isadora is a pop star in the making. Pairing together satiny R&B vocals with a poppy reggaeton beat in her single, “5am,” sultry voiced Isadora brings an idiosyncratic approach to the genre’s landscape. This year the artist released her EP Agüita Con Sal, a body of work sung in English and Spanish that braids together elements of traditional Latin pop and 2000s R&B.

Alex Luna: Mexican singer, songwriter, producer, Alex Luna has had a very successful recent number of years. Having already supplied producer and songwriting credits for established artists like Carin León and Becky G, Luna grew his virality with the release of his 2022 acoustic pop hit, “Te Marqué Pedo”. Luna’s debut album, FUTURALGIA, was released in February of this year on Édgar Barrera’s BorderKid Records. With singles such as, “Apapáchame Lento” Luna’s confessional writing paired with his upbeat, pop sensibility is what makes him a damning contender for being one of the driving forces leading the next generation of Latin pop music.

Paloma Morphy: Former practicing criminal lawyer turned alt pop musician, Paloma Morphy first started out posting Shakira covers on TikTok. Once she realized her passion lies in writing her own songs, she hypnotized listeners with the mercurial and catchy 2024 single, “lo que un día fue“. Her debut album, Au, continues to dazzle listeners as it further leans into her introspective, raw songwriting style.

Sued Nunes: Hailing from Bahia, Brazil, Nunes’ work draws from Afro-Brazilian spiritual traditions and soulful modern production. 2024’s sophomore album, Segunda-feira, explored deeper into her Bahain identity, placing her amongst one of the most influential voices in the current Black Brazilian music scene. Check out the single, “EIXO”.

Ruzzi: Mexican vocalist, composer and producer born in Chihuahua creating 60s/70s tinged chamber pop out of Mexico City. Having been making music since the early 2010s, 2024’s LP Mariana proved to be an unveiling of a multifaceted artist embracing her full potential. Check out the single, “Al Chile”.

So which Best New Artist is predicted to leave the MGM Grand Garden Arena a Latin GRAMMY award winner? According to Billboard Latin and Español editors, there are a small handful of artists that stand out as well as a glaring pattern for the category’s past winners. Editor Isabela Raygoza notes that, “looking at the history of recent winners, like Ela Taubert, Joaquina and Silvana Estrada, there’s like a clear pattern.” Griselda Flores notes that, “if Annasofia wins, that would be three consecutive wins for Julio Reyes Copello’s Miami Art House.” Continuing her predictions, Raygoza highlights that Yerai Cortés “would be a refreshing win considering the previous winners.” Knowing this, will the Latin Academy continue their pattern and award a Latina? We’ll have to be seated and tune in to find out!

All together, these ten artists represent the genre’s continued evolution; emanating a fusion of tradition and innovation that defines today’s global Latin sound. Whether through romance-led lyricism, zany experimentation or genre-bending production, each nominee brings a distinct perspective that reflects the diversity and vitality of contemporary Latin music.Tune in to discover which of these exceptional nominees will take home the coveted title of Best New Artist at the 2025 Latin GRAMMYs, airing Thursday, Nov. 13 at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT streaming on Univision.