The winner of the best new artist category at the Latin Grammys this year is almost impossible to predict. The 10 nominees reflect a wide-ranging group of acts who are eclectic, offering a fresh breath of air in the Latin music scene.
From Mexican trio Latin Mafia, to girl band Darumas, Spanish phenomenon Íñigo Quintero and Colombian singer-songwriter Ela Taubert, to name a few of the contenders, the best new artist award is given to an artist who releases the first recording that establishes their public identity during the eligibility year, and “has not reached a prominent level of recognition at a regional level,” according to an official description by the Latin Recording Academy.
Elsewhere in the categories, the 2024 Latin Grammy nominations are led for a second consecutive year by Mexican hitmaker Edgar Barrera, who scored nine nods this year, including songwriter of the year and producer of the year. He is followed by superstars Karol G and Bad Bunny, who got eight mentions each.
On its 25th anniversary, the Latin Grammy Awards incorporated a new field of electronic music, and two new categories: best Latin electronic music performance, and best contemporary Mexican music album. For a full list of nominations, click here.
The three-hour telecast will be produced by TelevisaUnivision, and will air live on Univision, UniMás, Galavisión and ViX from the Kaseya Center in Miami beginning at 8 p.m. ET, preceded by a one-hour pre-show starting at 7 p.m.
Below, meet this year’s best new artist nominees (in no particular order):
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Agris
Four years after releasing her debut EP in 2020, Agris released her full-length album in May titled Cumpleaños y Funerales, or birthdays and funerals in English. In it, she showcases a sound rooted in pop and Mexican folk, which serve as a canvas to her deep vocals and emotional yet mature lyrics about love and loss. From Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, Agris previously performed in local alt bands like Galgo and Cobra Kai.
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Cacá Magalhães
One of Brazil’s latest breakout stars, Cacá Magalhães’ deep and powerful vocals soar over neo-pop elements. Following her performance of Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good” on NBC’s Little Big Shots in 2020, Magalhães released her debut album Só Sinto in 2023, an 11-track set that cemented her as one to watch.
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Darumas
Image Credit: Lucía Olmos The all-women U.S.-based trio — comprising Aldana Aguirre, Ceci León and Vedala Vilmond — has turned heads, thanks to its mix of old-school funk, R&B, Motown and attitude-heavy lyrics. The band name takes after the traditional Japanese daruma doll, and all three hail from different countries: Argentina, Cuba and Haiti. The band made its debut not too long ago when they dropped “Daruma” in April, which then was included in their EP Darumas — released in May.
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Ela Taubert
Image Credit: Jaydee Lee/Getty Images Like last year’s best new artist winner Joaquina, Ela Taubert is also a graduate of producer Julio Reyes Copello’s Art House Academy. The Colombian singer-songwriter has a knack for writing ultra relatable songs about love and heartbreak. She released her debut EP last year and her single “Cómo Pasó?” reached No. 12 on Billboard‘s Latin Pop Airplay chart.
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Iñigo Quintero
Image Credit: Celine Centurion Spanish singer Íñigo Quitero went viral on social media last year thanks to his 2022 debut single “Si No Estás,” which ultimately put him on everyone’s radar. Last November, the soft piano ballad topped the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. songs chart. To take advantage of the momentum, Quintero released his debut EP Es Sólo Música in April.
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Kevin Aguilar
The youngest nominee of the group, at just 13 years old, Kevin Aguilar has already forged a path in the industry after winning La Voz Kids in 2022. The Mexico City native sings from mariachi to corridos, injecting a youthful spirit to the genres. Over the summer, the teen released his debut EP, Nací Para Cantar, via Universal Music Group México.
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Latin Mafia
Image Credit: @directony At the 2024 Billboard Latin Music Week, Rimas Entertainment executive Junior Carabaño called Latin Mafia the “future of Latin music.” It’s worth noting that Latin Mafia is signed to Rimas — but the expression wasn’t hyperbolic. Perhaps one of the most exciting new artists in Latin music today, the trio from Mexico (comprised of siblings Mike, Emilio and Milton De La Rosa) fuses pop with indie rock, R&B and grunge for a genre-bending approach. Latin Mafia most recently released its debut LP, titled Todos Los Días Todo El Día, which peaked at No. 11 on Billboard‘s Latin Pop Albums chart, dated Nov. 9.
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Nicolle Horbath
A Berklee College of Music alum, Nicolle Horbath is Miami based and hails from Barranquilla, Colombia. The pop artist — who in May released her debut EP De Magia Imperfecta — stands out from the pack for her light and milky vocals, which take centerstage as she sings mainly about love. The nomination comes six years after Horbath received the Carlos Vives prodigy scholarship, awarded by the Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation.
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Os Garotin
If you haven’t listened to Os Garotin’s music, you must. The trio, hailing from São Gonçalo in Rio de Janeiro, is among the new leaders of the R&B scene in Brazil as they fuse the genre with soul and rap. With an effortlessly cool vibe, the ensemble composed of Anchietx, Cupertino and Leo Guima delivered their debut EP Os Garotin Session in 2023 and this year, they followed up with their full-length debut titled Os Garotin De São Gonçalo.
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Sofi Saar
Just two years ago, Sofi Saar from Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico was making her grand debut. Now, she’s a Latin Grammy-nominated artist representing a new generatioin of regional Mexican music. Known for her norteño music with a twist, or “popteño” sound, in March she released her first LP titled Terca.
