Alternative Pop from Ivelisse del Carmen

London-based Puerto Rican singer-songwriter Ivelisse del Carmen has been on her own exciting path in modern music, bringing together the sounds of her heritage with a cutting edge aesthetic. Classically trained and informed by the traditions of Latin America and Spain, she draws from bolero, bossa nova, Latin jazz and danza stylings while blending them with urban grooves and slick pop-focused production. Dubbing her sound as “minimalist opulence,” she presents intimate truths framed by layered arrangements and carried by a voice that moves between tenderness and power.

Her advenvoyageture so far has seen her reach across continents, from New York to Brussels to London, each stop leaving its own mark on her artistic vision. Beginning with traditional disciplines, her music has grown increasingly adventurous, expansive and genre-fluid, marking her as an artist who’s equally comfortable reinventing Latin classics and crafting original compositions that dance across cultural and musical lines.

Past releases have already showcased her ability to pair sensual vocals with instantly memorable melodies while her award-winning track “De poco a poquito” earned acclaim for its compelling vocal performance and unpredictable rhythmic shifts. More recently, her single “Las Mariposas” was produced by award-winning Paul Stanborough, resulting in a bossa nova-inspired cut infused 808s with alluring vocal lines to reflect on the fading spark of love; delicate yet forward-thinking, it marked a significant moment in her developing catalogue.

Now she brings us her most personal release to date with her brand new single titled “Sin Filtro,” a track that fully crystallises her artistic mission. Once again linking up with Paul Stanborough, she blends reggaeton vibes with orchestral strings, operatic touches and Spanish guitar to craft a cinematic collision of styles wrapped up in her engaging alternative pop sound. Thematically, the song distils ideas of self-doubt, rejection and reclaiming identity, based in her complicated relationship with reggaeton itself. Growing up in 90s Puerto Rico, she recalls how the genre was often censored or criticised, leading her to suppress her connection to it.

With “Sin Filtro,” she reclaims the sound on her own terms and filters it through her training, her cultural identity and her quest for honesty. Brought in by the swell of elegant textures and soft piano plinks, Ivelisse’s theatrical voice glides in, soaring high above the arrangement to spin fluttering melodies before the gentle pulse of the beat injects a smooth groove into the track.

Flowing with warm guitar tones and bouncy energy capped by rolling vocal leads, the track progresses with the hop of reggaeton rhythm while her expressive vocal performance stitches infectious melodic moments throughout. It’s an incredible jolt of genre-bending alternative pop, cut with graceful lead guitar leads, emotive vocal work and subtly danceable energy. As she continues work on her forthcoming debut album, Ivelisse del Carmen is set to deliver a record that will channel anger, healing and joy in equal measure and we can’t wait to see what its got in store.

Listen to Sin Filtro below

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