9 Female Singers in Spanish to Play on Repeat
What if I told you the key to sticking with Spanish until you can really speak it is adding a little-known secret to your practice?
Yes, you’ll have to put in the work, show up, nail those verb tenses, and find ways to get over your fear of speaking.
But to do all of that, you’re going to need a heavy dose of passion.
Not grit, not willpower. Passion.
So, where do you find passion exactly?
As someone who learned Spanish as an adult, I found mine in the voices of Spanish singers—particularly female voices.
Listening to female singers in Spanish helped me connect emotionally to the language in ways I never had before. Their clear pronunciation and expressive delivery not only helped me perfect my accent but also deepened my understanding of the language.
But on a deeper level, songs that speak to universal experiences—like love, heartbreak, empowerment, and motherhood— just seem to resonate more when expressed by female voices.
This emotional connection to the language through music has been the bedrock not only in my Spanish but also in learning but also in feeling more confident and empowered when I express myself.
And it turns out it’s not just me. Building an emotional connection to your language learning is a little like catching lighting in a bottle.
In fact, depending on your language learning style, you may not be able to learn well when your emotions and empathy are absent from the story.
In today’s post, I’ll share my hand-picked list of genre-busting female singer-songwriters who will change how you connect with Spanish. Add these songs to your playlist, and let their voices sweep you away.
1. Julieta Venegas (Mexico)
Born in Long Beach, California, Julieta Venegas grew up between Tijuana and San Diego, got her big break as a musician in Mexico City, and now lives in Buenos Aires in a quiet apartment with her 12-year-old daughter and a piano.
But don’t let that quiet life fool you; she’s sold millions of records and earned multiple Latin Grammy Awards.
Here are two songs I think you’ll love:
Here’s a quintessential breakup song full of beautiful melody and a bit of healthy defiance and self-respect. Not going through a breakup? It’s still a fantastic one to sing in the car.
Dime si tú quisieras andar conmigo…Literally, “Would you want to walk with me,” but in this song, it’s more of a “go out with me.” The playful sound will help you connect with your sense of joy, and the simplicity of the lyrics will have you singing along in no time.
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2. Natalia Lafourcade (Mexico)
Natalia Lafourcade, born in Mexico City, grew up immersed in music and found inspiration in her musician mother. She began her career in the early 2000s, blending traditional Mexican sounds with contemporary music.
Lafourcade is known for her dedication to preserving Mexican culture through her work, particularly with her project “Musas,” which honors Latin American folk traditions.
Songs to tune into for love and loss.
With its modern sound, clear and passionate vocals, and imagery of rivers, mountains, white sand, sugar cane, and love, what’s not to love?
The simple guitar and acoustic feel highlight Lafourcade's voice. You’ll find melancholy and beauty in the lyrics, lo que construimos se acabó, (“what we built is over”), reminding you that life goes on even after love is lost.
3. Ximena Sariñana (Mexico)
Ximena Sariñana, born in Guadalajara, began her career as a child actress before transitioning to music. Sariñana is known for her blend of indie pop with electronic elements and often mixes both English and Spanish lyrics.
Her debut album, Mediocre (2008), earned her both Grammy and Latin Grammy nominations.
Here’s a song to help you sing through the hard times:
From her debut album, this song takes you on a ride through jazzy-sounding vocals, piano, and percussion before landing in something a little more…indie rock. And the lyrics?
They follow the piano, capturing the feeling of being “essential” in a relationship, only to wind up “mediocre” and naive (that’s when the electric guitar kicks in).
And somehow, following the ups and downs of this song in all its passion makes the whole emotional roller coaster feel ok.
4. Shakira (Colombia)
Shakira penned her first song at eight and landed her first record deal at 13. Her first two albums, Pies Descalzos (1995) and ¿Dónde Están los Ladrones? (1998), are the easiest to follow along to if you’re a Spanish learner.
Here’s a song recommendation of an oldie but goodie from Shakira:
Ready to tune into some stirring Latin Pop Rock by a woman who writes her own music and sings her own songs? And just in case you find yourself starting to get complacent and thinking that life is about homework, dressing up, and getting married before thirty, crank up this track and rock out.
This classic Shakira hit will quickly remind you of who you really are. My favorite lines:
“Perteneciste a una raza antigua de pies descalzos y de sueños blancos…”
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5. Ana Tijoux (Chile)
Ana Tijoux’s Chilean parents fled the Pinochet regime to France just before she was born in 1977. It’s no coincidence that her first album 1977 tells the story of how she discovered her voice in hip-hop.
Tijoux’s music is as eclectic as she is blending Latin rhythms and rap with socially conscious lyrics.
Her difficult origins infuse her songs with a unique resilience, something that truly shines through in her latest album, Vida.
Here are a few songs that celebrate life--even in difficult circumstances:
In this song, Tijoux reflects on the year of her birth. You can find hints of Latin roots, but also the African hip-hop Tijoux heard around her in France. Despite the somewhat dark beginning to her story, the song radiates strength.
Tijoux’s music has softened and slowed in recent years, but you’ll still find the same dynamic style that will keep you on your toes here.
This particular song is about the artist’s late sister, who died of cancer. It starts out sad and poetic but turns into a strikingly danceable celebration.
6. Danna Paola (Mexico)
In 2020, the former child star and actress in the Netflix series Elite, Danna Paola, officially put acting squarely in her past with her latest album…Child Star.
Many of her latest songs blend English and Spanish because, according to the artist, she “speaks and thinks in Spanglish.”
Her latest release doesn’t stick strictly to Latin sounds either; instead, she embraces the freedom to explore pop.
For anyone who has ever had her romantic choices called into question, “Mala Fama” or bad reputation is unapologetic and empowered in the face of public scrutiny.
I don’t think you need to be a child celebrity or pop star to know what it’s like to face a little too much scrutiny or judgment, so you just may find you connect with this one as well.
When a romance goes wrong, does it turn salty? According to this song, it does. Here’s a singable, danceable pop song with a strong, clear female voice to help you turn the page.
7. Lila Downs (Mexico)
Lila Downs fuses different genres of Mexican music like ranchera, cumbia, and folk. Her music also draws from her ties to Oaxaca, a region of Mexico with an incredibly diverse indigenous population.
A former anthropology student, Downs weaves Indigenous culture into her music and lyrics, often using her platform to champion activism.
Here are a few songs by Lila Downs for a little cultural and emotional connection:
This song is all about defending one’s homeland and the fight for justice. You’ll find themes of national identity and resistance mixed with plenty of passion and empowerment to sing along with.
You’ll notice La Patria Madrina also features Juanes, who you may know from this post on easy songs to sing in Spanish.
Lila Down has several takes on this traditional Mexican folk song, but this one is full of passion.
Traditionally, many interpret la llorona as a lament about the problems faced by Indigenous and marginalized women--and you will get just that feeling from the simple guitar, piano, and incredible voice.
My favorite line from this song:
“Negro, pero cariñoso, yo soy como el chile verde, llorona, picante, pero sabroso.”
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8. Mon Laferte (Chile)
According to the New York Times, Chilean artist Mon Laferte has a voice that captures every passion.
Tune into a few of her songs and discover her original blend of traditional styles like bolero, cumbia, and rock combined with contemporary topics like feminism and personal struggles.
Here’s a song to sweep you away with emotion en español:
This song draws you in with its traditional Latin-style opening and some serious sorrow at a failed relationship.
Yet Laferte’s vocals in this song shift with rhythms and moods guiding through different emotions and music styles from pop to rock.
Love karaoke? Check this one out--or just belt it out when no one is listening for a moment of Spanish and passion.
9. Gaby Moreno (Guatemala)
How do you describe music that samples soul, country, rock, and Latin American Alternative styles? According to Gaby Moreno, "Spanglish folk-soul,”
As a teen, Moreno left her home in Guatemala City to pursue her music career in the US. Her first album, Illustrated Songs, offers all kinds of surprises with its blues, jazz, and Latin influences.
Moreno tackles contemporary topics, including immigration and violence toward women. Need music that makes sense of the world--and some very intense emotions--in Spanish? Sing along to Moreno.
Songs you don’t want to miss:
A 1944 Guatemalan waltz revered as Guatemala’s second national anthem comes alive in Moreno’s modern re-recording with actor Oscar Isaac.
If you’re looking for a haunting yet timeless song about unrequited love to listen to on repeat, add this one to your playlist.
Stripped down to nothing but an acoustic guitar and Moreno’s clear vocals, Fronteras acts like a conduit for emotion on a timely topic.
The song explores the struggles of undocumented immigrants brought to the US as children.
I’ll leave you with a line I love:
Hay un camino que nos trajo hasta aquí, no conoce las fronteras de esta pasión dentro de mí.
Takeaway
In my own experience, there’s magic in singing alongside other women, tapping into a world of emotion. Making sense of your experience in Spanish goes way beyond just ‘improving your pronunciation’ or learning vocabulary.
Tune into female singers in Spanish, and you’ll forge an emotional connection with the language.
And that’s what I hope you found here today.
So what’s next for you? Maybe it’s time to go on to sing along and express your emotional side en español.
You know, the real you. Because there’s someone there who has a lot more to express than just asking for the bathroom or ordering food at a restaurant.
Time to step out and hit play on your new Spanish playlist.
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