Spotify launched their campaign for Hispanic Heritage Month, Aquí Siempre, shot by a celebrated Latin photographer, Camila Falquez who centers her subjects based on their identity and the power they bring to the world. Her subjects for the campaign include New York and Los Angeles based Latin trailblazers  that challenge stereotypes, fight adversity, and uplift Latin American communities through their work.

Aquí Siempre is an awareness campaign to support our dynamic, bicultural Latin community and the myriad of musical genres it continues to influence. Spotify’s goal is to amplify the voices shaping Latinx culture today, including those that challenge stereotypes, fight adversity, and uplift Latin American communities through their work. The campaign pays homage to our community and those who keep pushing it forward through a mix of portraits by Camila Falquez, one of the most celebrated Latinx photographers of today who centers her subjects based on their identity and the power they bring to the world.

Kali Uchis

Her subjects include Maria Antonia Cay “Tonita”, the owner of The Caribbean Social Club in New York City; Djali Brown, a filmmaker, racial justice activist, and archivist; Tahtianna Fermin, a trans activist, organizer, former sex worker, and founder of non-profit Bridges4Life; and Chucky73; Eliseo Equihua, and artist, DJ and community organizer; Jose Richard Aviles, a multimedia artist, urban planner, and social worker; Kati Hernandez, a choreographer, educator, movements coach, performer and Director at Kimbaluban Club Dance, Kali Uchis, singer/songwriter, and, Mala and Diosa — Hosts of Locatora Radio.

Mala and Diosa Hoss of Locatora Radio

Additionally, the campaign features an original poem by Yesika Salgado, a recipient of the 2020 International Latinx Book Award in Poetry and internationally recognized body-positive activist.  The poem, also called “Aquí Siempre,” speaks to the strength and passion of the Latin community and depicts its multifaceted culture. It’s available on Spotify starting today, along with a podcast playlist curated by Yesika herself.

The portraits and quotes from the poem will be displayed across Spotify’s social media, the Spotify app, and out of home billboards nationwide.

Ongoing efforts include:

The newest extension of its highly successful podcast accelerator program, Sound Up Latinx continues Spotify’s mission to raise up and inspire the next generation of podcasters through education and support. You can read more about the program on Spotify’s For The Record blog HERE.

Spotify Singles has driven more than four billion streams since the program began in 2017, it was created to give artists an opportunity to record new versions of their own songs, and the songs of the artists they love. The Singles scope usually includes a unique version of each artist’s own song (Side A) and a cover song of their choosing (Side B). To date, there have been over 600 Singles recorded as part of the program. Most recently, Mon Laferte, Twin Shadow, Amber Lucid and Tokisha have been featured. The full catalogue can be streamed HERE.

Spotify’s global emerging artist development program, RADAR, works to propel the success of artists at all stages of their development and strengthens their connection to audiences. Among the artists featured are:

• Alaina Castillo, a bilingual singer-songwriter from Houston, Texas whose incredible voice is starting to make waves in the music industry. Her hit “i don’t think i love you anymore,” produced by RØMANS, has over 14 million streams on Spotify.
• Nathy Peluso, the Argentina-born and Barcelona-dwelling singer, songwriter and producer has been streamed over 450 million times on Spotify, with additions to over 190 playlists on the platform including Hits Virales España, Viva Latino, Hits Urbanos, and Fresh Finds Latin. As part of the partnership, Spotify released a full mini-documentary that can be found HERE.
• Boza, was the first Panamanian RADAR artist to be upstreamed to the US after being selected as a RADAR artist for Central America and the Caribbean in March of last year.  In addition to being selected as part of the RADAR (US) program, Boza was featured in a biographical mini-documentary that is viewable HERE.