Music & Culture

Alt.Latino's Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras visit the Miami studio of the Latin pop super-producer.

Even if you don't know Edgar Barrera's name, you know his work. The multiple Grammy-winning writer and producer has worked with dozens of the biggest names in Latin music — Bad Bunny, Maluma, Karol G, Camilo — the list goes on. But he's also one of the main forces pushing regional Mexican into the mainstream over the past few years, and turning Pan-Latin sounds into pop perfection.

This week on Alt.Latino, Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre visit Barrera in his studio, as he breaks down how he makes a hit song.

Songs featured in this episode:
•Toy Selectah, "Hay Guey"
•El Cuarteto de Nos, "Enamorado tuyo"
•Grupo Frontera, Nicki Nicole, "Desquite"
•Manuel Turizo and Marshmello, "El Merengue"
•Carin León and Maluma, "Según Quién"

It's Black Music month! This week, Host Brittany Luse invites Howard University professor and trombonist Myles Blakemore to talk about how classical music influenced some of our favorite musicians. They look at how the counterpoint technique of Johann Sebastian Bach may have inspired Nina Simone, and how a love of Genuine can turn into a career in classical music.

Want to be featured on IBAM? Record a voice memo responding to Brittany's question at the end of the episode and send it to ibam@npr.org.

The longtime drummer of Dr. Dog joins us to talk about letting his personality shine through on his new solo album.

In a new interview, Questlove reveals why Drake vs. Kendrick was so triggering, how he regained his passion for hip-hop and what to expect from the new Roots album.

Our updated list of the year's best songs includes a sweet reflection from beabadoobee, Nathy Peluso's wildly infectious "Aprender A Amar," the mind-blowing virtuosity of pianist Yuja Wang and more.

Featured songs and artists:
1. Nathy Peluso: "APRENDER A AMAR," from 'GRASA'
2. Jakob Lindberg: "Musette" and "Tombeau" from 'Robert de Visée: Theorbo Solos'
3. Brijean: "Workin' On It," from 'Macro'
4. Yuja Wang: "Danzón No. 2 (Marquez)," from 'The Vienna Recital'
5. beabadoobee: "Coming Home," from 'This Is How Tomorrow Moves'
6. Grupo Frontera & NICKI NICOLE: "DESQUITE," from JUGANDO A QUE NO PASA NADA'

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Question, comments or any feedback always welcome at allsongs@npr.org

NPR’s Ari Shapiro speaks with musician and composer Ameen Mokdad, about his album The Curve, which he composed while living under ISIS occupation in Mosul, Iraq.