Beyond sold-out Coliseo de Puerto Rico shows and world tours, dozens of promising artists in Puerto Rico are moving under the radar on local stages, building their presence with each performance.
Below, we offer a list of 11 acts that excite us most. We also include links to their social media so you can follow their trajectories on your own as they head toward the stardom many expect for them.
1. Dúo Deleite
Urban pop artists and collaborators Gyanma and Enyel C each made their names individually with songs like Me Dañé and Hola!, but their pairing as Dúo Deleite brought a fresh angle to the traditional urban duo formula.
With the release of their self-titled album in 2023, they have built a fanbase passionate about their dynamic style and playful rhymes.
Who do they remind us of? We can't help comparing Dúo Deleite to the duo Arcángel y De La Ghetto.
Where can you see them? Their most recent Island appearance was at Anfiteatro Tito Puente. You can follow their social media to find out where their next show will be.
Platea's pick: Nod your head and jump around to the energizing track Control C.
2. Bebo Dumont
Reggae / R&B / Alternative pop
Before Bebo Dumont made his name as a solo artist, he stood out to the Island's reggae audience as the new percussionist for Cultura Profética, following Boris Bilbraut's departure in 2018.
Bebo brings a beachy flow and his signature charisma to all his songs, evident in his biggest hit Llévame. That quality may be why he has shared the stage with well-known acts like Rawayana and PJ Sin Suela, despite his limited catalog.
Where can you see him? For the first anniversary of the pizzeria Selena, in Río Piedras, Bebo will be performing this coming Monday, July 29.
Platea's pick: Light some incense and settle in with the grooves of Sinse.
3. Cita
Setting aside the hyper-masculine legacy of urban music, Cita has carved out a space to uplift and empower women and sexual minorities within reggaeton and R&B.
Between percussion and perreo, her debut album, El Cuento de Cita, was a love letter to jayaera culture, self-love and Caribbean idiosyncrasies.
Who does she remind us of? It's not hard to picture Cita sharing a stage with Rainao or Villano Antillano.
Where can you see her? Her last stage appearance was alongside Mima at El Boricua in Río Piedras. Follow her social media to stay up to date on where you can catch her.
Platea's pick: Face the week's challenges with the anthem Duermo con frío.
4. Corre Forrest!
Followers of the metropolitan punk scene may already know Corre Forrest!, a band led by Rafael Rodríguez, Raúl Benítez, Reynaldo Fuentes and Giovanni Vizcarrondo, active since the second half of the 2010s, with electrifying projects like Nada Que Explicar and their debut album Nadie Nos Enseñó A Crecer.
After making their name across Latin America, the group returned to local stages last year with their second release, Hace Tanto Tiempo Que No Te Veo.
Who do they remind us of? Their thundering guitars and driving bass lines will take some listeners back to the golden era of La Secta AllStar.
Where can you see them? Their last set was at Club 77, in Río Piedras. Click here to find out where else you can see them.
Platea's pick: Make some noise and go all in with their single Esta Vista.
5. Chuwi
With a blend of local genres and a distinctive electronic sound, Chuwi is a group of three brothers and a friend that has set off a musical wave in the western part of the Island.
Their stage presence is warm and lively, and they are defined by sharp, poetic lyrics that capture the everyday realities and challenges of life in Puerto Rico, as heard on their recent EPs Pan and Tierra.
Who do they remind us of? A decade ago, another band of brothers was releasing tropical fusion hits on social themes: Calle 13.
Where can you see them? Chuwi's most recent sets took place at El Boricua, Santurce es Ley and Vive Tu Orgullo Fest. Check their social media for upcoming dates.
Platea's pick: Grab a partner and move your hips to the merengue Mundi.
6. MaryOla
Led by frontman Marco Torres and his easy energy, MaryOla, completed by Francisco Vázquez, Armando Román and Aurelio Adasme, have been delivering the sonic equivalent of a good road trip with the windows down since 2019.
From their debut album Degenere in 2019 to their most recent release, Medio Mixto, MaryOla has refined its ability to bring the island's beaches to your radio speakers.
Who do they remind us of? If you caught Epilogio at the Teatro Francisco Oller in Bayamón, we recommend giving MaryOla a look.
Where can you see them? MaryOla's next show is Friday, July 12, at La Respuesta, in Santurce.
Platea's pick: Dress in grape tones and sink into the purple sounds of Púrpura.
7. Pink Pablo
Among the new wave of Puerto Rican pop artists, Pink Pablo, the stage name of Juan Pablo Rivera, stood out from the rest for his blend of influences, including punk rock and trap, and an intense, heartfelt lyricism.
He is currently riding the strong reception to his debut EP, Road 2 Neverland, ahead of his next project, All I Dream.
Who does he remind us of? If you can, picture Tommy Torres mixed with Álvaro Díaz.
Where can you see him? One of Pink Pablo's most recent stage appearances was at the Santurce es Ley festival. Check his social media to find out when you can see him next.
Platea's pick: Float into outer space with the techno ballad Horses In Heaven.
8. GiL
Gilmarie Villanueva studied at Berklee College of Music and worked as a music teacher before stepping fully into the industry as a solo artist.
Since then, she has been hustling steadily, leading up to the recent release of her debut EP, Fugaz, a collection of trap, electronic music and R&B tracks that debuted at La Respuesta, the well-known independent music venue in Santurce.
Who does she remind us of? Her strong command of vocal modulation and genre-blending calls to mind the hits of Paopao.
Where can you see her? After La Respuesta, check her social media to find out where she'll be taking the stage next.
Platea's pick: Light the candles and turn down the lights with the sensual harmonies of 2X Personalidad.
9. Sebimor
What's interesting about Sebimor, a band from the metropolitan area made up of Sebastián Morales, Luna Rivera, Oskar Thurin and Andrés Hernández, is how they draw on neo-psychedelia and surf rock, infused with a particular tropical flavor, to arrive at a sound that is unmistakably local. While they work toward their next project, you can enjoy their sound on their debut album, Badtrip.
Who do they remind us of? Fans of Latin indie rock will find a sound similar to that of Bandalos Chinos.
Where can you see them? Sebimor's most recent show took place at Patria Yards at the Convention District. Follow them on social media to find out where to see them next.
Platea's pick: It's hard to top the bass line on their latest single, Tú No Eres.
10. Matt Louis
Although Puerto Rican music is inseparably tied to that of the African continent, West Africa in particular, few young artists have worn their afrobeat influences as openly as Matthews Charlotten, known as Matt Louis.
The singer from Ponce is a complete experience, visual and auditory, through his fashion-forward image and catchy tracks like BYE and SYYON.
Who does he remind us of? His more electronic tracks are reminiscent of Jhay Cortez, with whom he has collaborated on previous occasions.
Where can you see him? The last time we saw Matt Louis on stage was at the Color Caribe festival in Dorado. Check his social media to find out where we'll see him next.
Platea's pick: With a vibe straight out of Nigeria, turn up the volume on KONFESSION.
11. Sebastián Rubio
Another rock artist who has been making noise in the indie circles of the west side is Sebastián Rubio, a guitarist from Mayagüez who keeps releasing a steady stream of solid, melancholic and warm singles ahead of his debut project.
You can get a taste of what he has to offer when you listen to the lead single En La Otra Vida.
Who does he remind us of? His dark but comforting music brings to mind Draco Rosa in his early days as a solo artist.
Where can you see him? Sebastián Rubio has performed at venues like Seis de 6, in Ponce. Check his Instagram to stay up to date on his schedule.
Platea's pick: Settle in with his smooth and stirring ballad, Te Ríes de Mí.
Keep an eye on the scene
The best way to discover who is rising through the independent music world is to go see them at local shows.
There is a lot of live music in the metropolitan area, so count on us and our directory to let you know where to go.
This content was translated with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
