NATSUKASHII YORU

Album ∙ Urbano latino ∙ 2025

SAIKO

One of the more versatile collaborators in the current Latin music landscape, SAIKO has been sought out by everyone from J Balvin and Sech to Manuel Turizo and Mora. On 2024’s SAKURA, the Spanish artist showed his growing fanbase just how effective he can be when he’s the host rather than the guest, with album highlights like “BADGYAL” and “ESKELETO” making his case. Arriving a little over a year later, his moderately shorter follow-up NATSUKASHII YORU shows an emboldened SAIKO maximizing his moment and expanding his sonic breadth. Bookended by “SÍ QUIERO” and “NOSTALGIA,” two tracks that intentionally lean into the traditional, the rest of his 13-song set pushes forward with a futurist edge. That’s evident on the shimmering slowed dembow of “MIAMI 22,” the urgently pulsating electronica of “SAN JUAN,” and the progressive perreo of “WEKEWEKE.” Naturally, he’s invited some guests of his own along, setting his sights on some baddies with Omar Courtz on the thumping “LOKENECESITAS” and blissing out with Leire Martinez over the synth rock of “MARIPOSAS.”