Fuego: Meet 10 Key Players Inside London’s Latin Music Scene

Since the late 1960s, the development of Latin American music has mirrored the migration path of its people. Salsa music can be traced back to its original roots in Africa—of the Bantu people—before landing in eastern Cuba and travelling with the migrant community in search of the American dream, most notably in the cities of Miami and New York City.

Naturally, the sound took on elements of jazz before making its way back to Latin America and the Caribbean—countries like Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico. The percussive and upbeat sonics then took over the nightclubs and taverns in the larger cities, and its popularity began to turn heads even outside of Latin American communities. The demand began to spread like wildfire, with Latinos stepping into the global spotlight for the very first time.

At the turn of the millennium, as hip-hop began to really commercialise, reggaeton—an offshoot of Jamaican dancehall with elements of Salsa and hip-hop—was storming the airwaves. Following on from its introduction, it didn’t take long for the mainstream rap world to notice opportunity and latch on: U.S.-born Latino artists such as Fat Joe, Noreaga and Pitbull began bridging the gap and the crossover began. Hit tracks like Daddy Yankee, N.O.R.E. and Nina Sky’s “Oye Mi Canto” and Pitbull and Lil Jon’s “Culo” helped set the stage for global audiences to start taking notice again—this time with the full backing of established artists from the West.

Fast forward to today, there is no set genre anymore. The current Latin musical landscape has influences ranging from trap to bachata and house. Big names like Bad Bunny, J Balvin, Ozuna and Karol G have stood in the centre of the world stage, becoming some of the best-selling artists of our time, and what’s even more impressive is that they’ve achieved all of this almost exclusively in Spanish. Back across the Atlantic, here in the UK, the Latin music scene over the last ten years has developed into something quite special. With over 250,000 Latinos currently residing in this country, the bubbling music scene has gradually grown in size and diversity since the mid-00s, and we can thank the melting pot of multiculturalism for what Brit-born Latinos are producing today.

But this hasn’t come without its challenges. The conversation now sounds all-too-familiar and the concerns seem to echo what we heard from the UK rap scene only a decade ago: “The right people need to be in the right places to open the right doors.” Nevertheless, the scene is thriving right now—and on its own terms.

After the jump, get to know 10 artists doing their part for the UK/London Latin music scene.

Essential tracks: “Dinero”, “Money On My Mind”, “Cash Out”, “Triguisar”, “Money Train”

Straight out of West London’s Mozart Estate, British-Colombian artist Kiko has only been around musically for about three years, but he’s made every second count. With underground hits such as “Triguisar” and “Cash Out” in his arsenal, he’s pushing for a big 2023. Essentially a trap-rapper, Kiko brings Spanish vibes to the mix on every track, and you’re always left wanting more. “I make music for how I’m feeling in the moment,” he explains. “I try not to limit myself to one sound.” Working alongside creative geniuses such as producer DZeus and Spain-based rapper Patron970, there is plenty in the pipeline for the year ahead. “Stay tuned,” the rhymer adds. “We’re about to blow the roof off the gaff.” Amen to that.

Essential tracks: “Fine”, “Call Me By Your Name”, “In My Mind”, “When The Sun Goes Down”, “Call Me By Your Name”

Sophie Castillo stays busy. Having grown up in Latimer Road, just a stone’s throw away from the capital’s hub for counter-culture, Ladbroke Grove, the 24-year-old singer-songwriter of Cuban and Colombian descent has positioned herself as a powerful addition to the roster, and she knows exactly how she wants to present herself to the world, from the music to the visuals.

“I have major input in all of it: the concepts, the styling, the casting, the scenes, and then I take it to a videographer,” she says. Sophie’s music video for “Fine” is a perfect example of just that. Self-taught in modern production and formal musical training in her early years, Sophie admits that she likes to do things herself but prefers to reach out when needed. “My thing is super DIY, but I just do what I can and send it out to get polished up.” Calling her musical style “indie-Latin dark-pop”, Sophie has it on-lock and is making her own mark independently. “Sometimes, we have no box to tick,” she adds, “so we just have to make our own.”

Essential tracks: “Bambi”, “Santana”, “Algo Bueno”, “Nobody”, “Un Problema”

Dukus—the platinum-selling producer, mixer and engineer, with names like Giggs, Fredo, Stormzy and Unknown T in his portfolio—only recently stepped onto the UK Latin scene as an artist in his own right. The reason was a trip to Medellin, Colombia, in 2016, where he witnessed—first-hand—the undeniable potential for Latin artists. Upon his return, he tells Complex UK, “the first tune I released was called ‘Talking Spanish’ with DZeus, and that propelled me to keep this going.” Since then, he has cemented himself as the go-to super-producer/engineer for many of the newcomers.

Any time spent away from the mixing desk is spent in the booth or nurturing fresh talent; Dukus works around the clock as he can see where the market is headed. “The world understands Latin music is a problem, but we’re stuck until there’s enough situations and people in positions of power to make things happen.” Multiple cuts from Dukus’ 2020 EP, La Magia, have been picked up by major music channels, with some even appearing on Netflix shows like Cobra Kai. Not bad for an independent artist, eh? The only way is up from here.

Essential tracks: “Nothing Can Stop Me”, “Tu Lo Sabes”, “Suerte”, “Mirar”, La Mas Dura”

The first thing you notice about Yvli is her star quality. From the music videos to her artistry and overall presence, it’s intriguing to see what’s next in line for the Colombian performer. Having spent time in Spain and Italy before finally settling in the UK, she started out as a music video model for local artists. Along the way, she picked up the craft, honed in on her singing ability, and she hasn’t looked back since. Although the traditional reggaeton and “Urban Latin” sound we all know and love is prominent in a lot of her music, Yvli isn’t afraid to step out of her comfort zone and experiment—which she showcased on her most recent project, 2022’s Nothing Can Stop Me, which featured everything from reggaeton and Afrobeats to trap and deep house. It may be that this is the palatable mix the overseas audience needs in order to take notice. Either way, she’s bringing sexy back, pulling no punches, and we love to see it.

Essential tracks: “Mercedes”, “Talking Spanish”, ​​“Zeestack”, “De Aqui”, “Living Wild”

South London beatsmith DZeus has been doing bits! His journey started by watching his older brother write music as part of the now-defunct B.E.R.D.C collective. After a chance meeting with Dukus at a gym, who went on to show him the basics of production, DZeus kept the momentum going and has since become one of the most sought-after producers and engineers within the UK Latin space. That aside, it’s the work ethic that really puts DZeus ahead of the curve and in the position he’s in today.

“I always give 100% to whatever I’m doing,” he tells us. “Talent only goes so far—consistency is key!” Juggling time between studio sessions and working on projects with overseas artists like NBA Youngboy, the tireless creator has also launched his own interview platform, The Hit Room, which aims to shine a light on overlooked talent. Still in its early days, you can expect greatness from the channel and from DZeus himself as the year unfolds. Watch this space.

Essential tracks: “La Noche”, “Take It Back”, “Just Like That”

KD Cruz, the singer/songwriter formerly known as Keiddy Cruz, is no stranger to the scene. Having just returned from a short hiatus writing for other artists, she’s now back and ready to shake a few rooms of her own. The British-Colombian artist has stepped back into the fold and has picked up where she left off, with a new project set to get tongues wagging in 2023.

KD got her start from very young, as the musical one in the family, when her parents bought her a piano. “My brothers and sisters are academically inclined, whereas I’m the weird, creative one,” she tells us. Since then, besides lending her pen game to other vocalists on a freelance basis, she’s also performed alongside Toddla T and worked with some other big names on her own material. Preferring to move in silence and let the music do the talking, KD Cruz is open about her intent: “I don’t care about global fame. I care about my art, my music, making an impact with a purpose.”

Essential tracks: “Indica”, “Only One”, “Top Bins”, “Torn Purple”, “Colombia Is Bleeding”

In a time where following the trend to stay relevant seems to haunt most artists, S.I Stature continues to stay in a lane of his own. His self-described “unorthodox, experimental, yet authentic” sound is as refreshing as it is unique, often mixing Spanish smooth-talking with rapped verses in English. Taking the director’s seat with the majority of his music videos, S.I has a creative vision and nothing will stand in his way of that. Again: refreshing. Aside from being one third of the Milk & Noodles collective, he also works closely with visual masterminds Owl Studios and LTN LTD—a brand that scouts other visionaries to put their best foot forward, which makes total sense seeing as this very list was put together with S.I’s help. Dali is the title of the rising star’s new project—appropriately named after the surrealist painter—and is set to drop in the middle of the year.

Essential tracks: “Colón”, “BL”, “Muddy Waterz”, “Guns & The Underworld”, “Pink Fizz”

Gonzo’s genre-fluid style is awe-inspiring. On her debut 5-track EP, The Naked Bandit, which she released in 2021, a combination of jazzy, eclectic sounds added to the overall meditative space she hypnotically pulls you into. Finding inspiration on her day-to-day travels (“usually on the bus or the train, or just when I’m headed somewhere”) she’s thoughtful with her pen, a dreamer, and it shines through in her musical output. As we know, the real test for recording artists is whether they can summon their talent at will and perform in a live setting. For Gonzo, this is where she comes alive. Performing with her band, vibing with the crowd and sharing their energy, is what she does best and enjoys the most. Catch her in a city near you soon!

Essential tracks: “I Want U”, “La Raza”, “Candela”, “Colombia”, “Sudaka” 

British-Colombian rapper Mike Kalle’s input over the last decade has earned him godfather status within the UK’s Latin music community. Writing his first set of bars at the age of fourteen, it’s no wonder his talent has marked him out as one of the scene’s figureheads. A creative who refuses to be boxed in, Mike Kalle’s “energetic, creative and spontaneous” style caught the attention of Wiley, godfather of grime, in 2020, which led to the pair collaborating on the Spanglish dancehall cut, “Gozela”.

La Raza, his most recent project, is a 9-track showcase of the hottest UK Latino talent, with features from names like Sachellys, Valenciz and Fluffy, to name but a few. While he still travels up and down the country performing and promoting La Raza, it’s clear that Mike Kalle aims to keep pushing for his people. “I’ve always represented my roots,” he tells Complex UK, “and when I come across talent, I just want to help them out. Our own form of Spanglish hasn’t yet hit the right ears for us to reach commercial success, so we have work to do, collectively.”

Essential tracks: “Make It Make Sense”, “Stand”, “Worst Day”, “One”, “Clout”

Once described as “North-West London’s soulful queen”, T Fernandez is another one of those hidden gems we love to discover. Her vocal range and tone is impossible to ignore; sitting in that sweet spot between alternative and contemporary R&B, she manages to seamlessly blend her sweet-sounding vocals with some deep and personal subject matter, as evidenced on her debut EP, 2021’s In My Poetic Feels. Tracks like “Worst Day” and “Pull Down” are must-hear cuts for any R&B fan, with sprinkles of Spanish thrown in for good measure. Currently, T has been working closely with her in-house producer, Scam. The duo are in perfect sync, creatively, and choose to take on a more organic approach. “As he creates, I’ll write,” she says. “We’ll say what we’re in the mood for on that day, and we build from there.” Her latest body of work, Once Upon A Melody, is also well worth your time.