12 Central American Artists to Watch in 2025
2024 was a remarkable year for Central American music. It saw artists from the region collaborating with major players from around the globe in an effort to break into the international mainstream, and many other experimenting with new forms and expanding the concept of Central American music. As we look ahead to 2025, it feels like the time for these ideas to continue flourishing and take root even deeper. So, this list has a little something for everyone — from catchy pop hits to boleros, avant-garde, and hidden indie gems you didn’t know you needed.
Enjoy the ride!
- Mabe Fratti (Guatemala)
Hailing from Guatemala and now calling Mexico City home, Mabe Fratti is rewriting the playbook for what it means to be a Central American artist. She started out as a cellist and composer, and it didn’t take long for her influence to ripple far beyond Mexico City’s avant-garde scene, reaching listeners across the U.S. and Europe. Her music weaves together ethereal soundscapes, rich cello arrangements, and haunting vocals, creating a sonic experience that’s all her own.
Her latest album, Será Que Ahora Podremos Entendernos, has earned acclaim from just about everyone — Pitchfork, NPR, BBC, Rolling Stone, The New York Times…you name it.
With her fearless approach to sound and form, Mabe is setting a new standard for experimental music in Central and Latin America. Her performances at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City, Big Ears Festival, and the Pitchfork Festivals are only the beginning.
2. Chicocurlyhead (Panama)
I recently caught Chicocurlyhead’s performance at an industry showcase at YouTube’s NYC headquarters , and it’s safe to say he blew the room away. The buzz was real — so real, in fact, that he took home this year’s 2024 Discovery Award at the Latin Alternative Music Conference, joining the ranks of past winners like Nathy Peluso and Carla Morrison.
Originally from Panama and now based in Atlanta, Chico effortlessly glides between Spanish and English (Spanglish!), crafting a genre blend I’d call Latin alternative hip-hop. His sound is smooth, indie, soulful, and pop — all rolled into one. It’s a style that’s already helped his songs get millions of streams, and with his momentum, he’s definitely one to watch in 2025.
3. Ceshia Ubau (Nicaragua)
In September, Ceshia Ubau’s single “Mujer Salvaje” (Wild Woman) broke into YouTube’s top 30 trending videos — an impressive feat for any artist, especially one from Central America. Ceshia was born in Managua, Nicaragua but was forced to leave to Costa Rica, where she rebuilt her career, leaning on support from local artists and fellow Nicaraguans to rediscover her voice.
Ceshia channels the resilience of her community through music that does more than entertain. Her journey as a songwriter began during her college years as a psychology student, a background that deeply informs her approach to music, treating it as both a psychological and, at times, even medicinal art form.
Her rise is powered by We Could Be Music, a Costa Rican label that’s shifting the music industry’s focus toward artists from historically marginalized communities. With a roster that includes Ceshia, Renee Goust, Ch’umilkaj, and Precious Perez, the label, as well as Ceshia, are making it clear that success in music is not just about numbers; it can also be about countering culture by challenging the status quo.
4. Boza (Panama)
Boza is hands down the biggest name on this list. He currently boasts more than 9 million monthly listeners on Spotify alone, and his latest hit song “Orion” featuring the multi-talented Elena Rose held the #1 spot on Spotify and Apple Music in Panama, and it made the top 10 on Spotify in Colombia, Costa Rica, Venezuela, and Nicaragua. And that’s not all — it even hit the Top 100 in Mexico and Spain, while at the same time going viral on TikTok with over 1.7 million user-generated videos. Honestly, with how much I’ve been streaming it, I’m probably single-handedly pushing it toward the US Top 10.
Boza, born and raised in Panama, is the latest success of Sony Music Central America. He is also one of the trailblazers that popularized “La Canela,” a sub-genre of reggaeton known for its unapologetically explicit lyrics. I think it is safe to assume that Boza will have an incredible year — so, whether you’re a fan or not, expect to hear a lot more from him in 2025.
5. Darviin (Honduras)
If you’re familiar with Darviin’s music, it’s likely because you’ve spent some time on TikTok or a friend introduced you. I only mention this because Darviin is a rather enigmatic artist. To my knowledge, he hasn’t given any major interviews, hasn’t toured or played any shows, and his bio on social media is simply an emoji of the Honduran flag. But this air of mystery only adds to his allure.
Despite his unconventional approach to promotion, he boasts over 740,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and another 160,000 on TikTok. Some of his YouTube videos, featuring just a single image, have millions of views.
Once you hear Darviin’s music, it becomes clear that all this attention is well-deserved. He crafts boleros with exquisite taste, instantly transporting listeners to the beautiful landscapes of Latin America and masterfully evoking a sense of coziness and nostalgia. So, I have no doubt that Darviin’s artistry and his dedication to the craft will ultimately pay off.
If you go down the rabbit hole, like I did, and want to listen to more of his music, a good place to start would be with “ojos de girasol”, “morena”, and my favorite: “en tus venas”.
6. Key-Key (Honduras)
Key-Key is an artist from Honduras who was borned and raised in the coastal town of Tela, Atlantida. Some might label his recent popularity as an overnight success or a one-hit wonder, but those of us who have followed his journey for a longer time, know that it has been more of a well-deserved slow burn.
This past summer I couldn’t walk through Brooklyn or Manhattan without hearing his hit “Tengo un Plan” blasting from cars and speakers — it was everywhere (if you were paying attention!). The song blew up so much that it even caught the ear of Puerto Rican superstar Ozuna, who, by his own admission, couldn’t wait to jump on a remix. The result was another addictive version that kept the momentum going, pushing “Tengo un Plan” into iHeart’s Top 15 Latin Pop hits. Now, Key-Key finds himself touring Latin America and we’ll have to keep an eye on him to see was he is cooking for 2025.
7. DISTO (Costa Rica)
Latin Electronic music was named one of the 5 top Latin genres to watch by Spotify — according to head of U.S. Latin Editorial, Antonio Vazquez. This is great news for Central America, which, as anyone who has lived there knows, is packed with talent and potential in this genre. A prime example is DISTO, a Costa Rican DJ and producer whose collaboration with Twenty One Pilots for the Suicide Squad soundtrack went viral and recently reached an impressive 100 million streams on YouTube.
DISTO is not new to the scene. He has already performed at major festivals worldwide, including EDC Las Vegas, EDC Mexico, Tomorrowland, Ultra Miami, Life in Color, and many others. He has also earned support from industry heavyweights like AFROJACK (a frequent collaborator), The Chainsmokers, David Guetta, Diplo, DJ Snake, and Major Lazer.
With DISTO’s impressive network, track record, and the genre’s bright future, it’s safe to say DISTO is headed for an incredible year ahead.
8. Jorge Ulloa (Honduras)
Jorge Ulloa, aka ULLOA, has been a fixture in Tegucigalpa’s music scene for a while now. So, it’s no wonder Farruko and his Miami-based label, Carbon Fiber Music, saw the spark and handed him the keys to produce for the CFM roster. Jorge mainly works behind the scenes as a producer but he is not afraid to step into the spotlight from time to time as evidenced by “Afrobocelli,” a song he not only wrote and produced but also performs on alongside Farruko.
With all of this in mind, please keep an eye on Jorge and everything he touches, because I’m sure that his breakthrough into the Latin international scene in 2024 was only the beginning.
9. aLex vs aLex (Guatemala)
aLex vs aLex, aka Sofia Insua, was born and raised in Guatemala and is currently navigating the creative scenes of NYC and Berlin. As a singer, composer, and actor, Sofia seeks “a connection between emotional portrayal, physicality, and sound,” as noted in her Spotify bio.
aLex vs aLex serves as Sofia’s artistic escape from her ongoing work with other projects: Easy Easy — a band I highlighted in my list of Central American artist to watch back in 2022 — and ERA C, where she is the lead vocalist and composer. However, aLex vs aLex stands apart by offering a more personal and intimate experience, while still keeping the haunting and thought-provoking sounds that are a constant in all of her projects.
Sofia’s music video for “see me 4 the first time” recently won Best Low Budget Music Video at the 2024 Berlin Music Video Awards, showcasing her talent for visually compelling storytelling. With this recognition, and her unique and complex sound and vision, aLex vs aLex is one Central America’s most captivating artists to watch in 2025.
10. Calle Palermo (Honduras)
Calle Palermo, the only band to make this year’s list, has easily been my favorite discovery of 2024. Comprised of twin brothers Daniel and Samuel, with Maga on lead vocals, the trio first came together in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, during the pandemic and have been crafting music magic ever since. Their sound channels a soft rock vibe with shades of John Mayer and the youthfulness of RBD back in the day, effortlessly balancing simplicity in pop music with a refreshing sense of depth.
Their debut single “Un Lugar” sounds like the perfect Sunday drive with the windows down. The melodies flow effortlessly combining nostalgic lyrics and warm guitar riffs, offering an honesty that is genuinely inviting.
Despite having just five tracks on Spotify, they’ve already generated buzz locally, landing a gig as the face of Pepsi Honduras and performing at various venues and festivals. With new music coming out soon, I’m sure Daniel, Samuel and Maga are up for a busy and exciting year ahead.
11. Javier Arce (Costa Rica)
Some of you might recognize Javier Arce as the lead singer of Cocofunka, a band that has been a staple in Central America, touring the U.S. and Latin America and holding a special place in the hearts of Costa Ricans for over a decade. While Javier remains with Cocofunka, he is now making waves with the relaunch of his solo project.
Born and raised just outside the capital of Costa Rica, Javier had not released any solo music since 2018. However, a few months ago he announced on social media that he rolling out his new album as a solo artist. So far he has released two songs, so it is safe to assume there is more coming. These two singles are standout tracks that not only showcase Javier’s unique blend of R&B, hazy electronics, and tropical rhythms but also highlight his remarkable ability to create compelling visual narratives.
Let’s all keep a close eye on what Javier releases next — I’m sure it will be fantastic!
12. Dasokeii (El Salvador)
Ricardo Ernesto Alvarado, known as Dasokeii, is a talented artist from Las Isletas, El Salvador, who is known as a producer, singer, and songwriter. Back in 2022, his debut album, “SAD BOYS SUMMER,” amassed over 50,000 streams on Spotify within just three months, and has since surpassed 100,000 streams.
Earlier this year, Dasokeii made waves with his single “PAOLA,” which entered the Spotify Most Viral Songs in El Salvador, establishing him as a rising star regionally. And recently, he took another major step, collaborating with NYC DJ and producer Chuwe on a new single titled “LA Verdad” which was released by Sony Music Spain / Orianna. His short but impressive trajectory also includes opening for renowned artists like Guaynaa and Eladio Carrión during their shows in El Salvador.
With a lot of charisma to tell his story online, and good music, I am sure Dasokeii has a bright future ahead.