By the Zonagirante.com team @spinning zone

And now it's time for this year's final playlists. After listening to a few thousand new songs in 2023, we've decided to put together our top picks. in the fun task of creating not one, not two, but 3 lists of 23 tunes that try to showcase the best we have heard during these 12 months. And we didn't do it simply because one compilation wasn't enough. No. There's a rationale behind each playlist that supports and justifies its creation. In this first case, the explanation is as follows: Although Latin American rock has long since ceased to be one of the most listened-to musical styles on the continent, it has been experiencing a very interesting renaissance for some time now., It has once again broken the mold and reclaimed its status as a rebellious, sensitive, and fun genre. Of course, there are too many examples that contradict this, where we see that rock continues to be misogynistic, repetitive of outdated formulas, and boring. But luckily we see a new batch of artists who insist on resistance and know they have a lot to say. Zonagirante.com began as a rock publication, and then we understood the wide range of resonant responses that Latin America has, and we opened the door to that diversity with the joy we needed. But we still have a rock heart. And here we reaffirm that.

Here are 23 recordings that made us jump, dance, cry, and laugh this year—material that, in our opinion, represents the best of 2023. Here are songs made in Chile, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Uruguay, Peru, Mexico and Costa Rica. What we find here is contemporary sound, often developed by bands and artists who are recent additions to the artistic scene. Some of these names have widespread international recognition, while others are just beginning to make a name for themselves in their local scene. If we're going to talk about overly specific labels, here are some good examples of... stoner rock, shoegaze, funk, tropirorock, hardcore, indie, punk and rock and roll in its most basic essence. The order? Our interest in organizing the order of the tracks is the same as always: To make the listening experience similar to that of a journey, as if we had made the soundtrack to a one hour and twenty-seven minute trip, with its mountains and plains. Hopefully, the audience will get into the film and enjoy it as much as we did putting together this auditory journey. Thank you for always being with us.