Felix Contreras
Felix Contreras is co-creator and host of Alt.Latino, NPR's pioneering radio show and podcast celebrating Latin music and culture since 2010.
In addition to his post behind the mic, Contreras programs music from the Latin diaspora for the acclaimed Tiny Desk concerts and hosts a weekly Instagram Live interview with a wide-ranging roster of guests.
A knowledgeable international ambassador for Latino heritage and arts, "Tio Felix '' travels extensively in search of new talent and new music and captures important legacy performers in jazz and Latin genres. Various national and international publications have quoted his expertise on the contemporary influences of Latin culture, music, and media.
His a recovering TV journalist whose first post at NPR in 2001 was as a Producer/Reporter for the NPR News Arts Desk. He is also NPR's resident Deadhead and performs around the DC area with his Latin music Beatles cover band, Los Day Trippers.
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Alt.Latino hosts Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre talk artistic growth and precocious talent. Featured artists and songs: • Natalia Lafourcade, "Cancionera" • Natalia Lafourcade & El David Aguilar, "Como Quisiera Quererte" • Natalia Lafourcade & Hermanos Gutierrez, "Luna Creciente" • Irene Diaz, "Anything For You" • Eladio Carrión & Myke Towers, "Vetements" • Eladio Carrión & Lia Kali, "Me Muero" • Kayatibu, LUIZGA & Yaka Huni Kuin, "Nai Basa Masheri" • Santi Sc, "Cuando Nos Besamos" (feat. Dirk) • Santi Sc, "Home Run" • Maria Marquez, "La Lagrima" Credits Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Simon Rentner. Our project manager is Grace Chung. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins. -
The popular Dominican merengue vocalist Rubby Pérez died after a roof collapsed at a popular nightclub on Tuesday night. Here's what the loss means to the vibrant Dominican merengue scene.
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Alt.Latino hosts Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre play the new music that caught their ears this week, plus Felix delivers a deep dive into the roots of psicodélico. Featured artists and songs: • Eslabón Armado, "Esa noche" • Adrian Quesada, "Ojos Secos" (feat. Cuco) • Jessie Reyez, "**I NEVER SAID I WAS SANE**" • BALTHVS, "Year of the Snake" • Grateful Dead, "Dark Star" • Os Mutantes, "A minha menina" • Duane Eddy, "Rebel Rouser" • Valeria Castro, "debe ser" • Valeria Castro "sentimentalmente" -
Alt.Latino's Felix Contreras moved out of his long-time apartment, and in the process, he unearthed some amazing music. Co-host Anamaria Sayre shares the new songs currently moving her. -
The Honduran musician, one of the most recognized proponents of a Caribbean culture dating to the 17th century, died Monday in an airplane crash. -
Alt.Latino host Felix Contreras gives his co-host Anamaria Sayre a primer on Latin Jazz. She returns the favor with a new track from Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso (of Tiny Desk fame) and a Mexican ranchera that sounds older than it is. Featured artists and songs: • Edison Machado & Boa Nova, "Naquela Base" • Michi, "Memmy (Recuerdo)" (feat. Gabriel da Rosa) • Adam O'Farrill, "Nocturno, 1932" • Vivir Quintana, "Más Libre Que En Casa" • Lucia Sarmiento, "Look Up" • Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso, "#T****" Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Simon Rentner. Our project manager is Grace Chung. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins. -
This week Alt.Latino hosts Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre balance their passion for new discoveries with reissued music from an iconic Latin American songwriter. Featured artists and songs: • Ezra Collective, "Body Language" (feat. Sasha Keable) • Patti LaBelle, "Teach me Tonight (Me Gusta Tu Baile)" • Teri Gender Bender, "SANAR" • Kevin Kaarl, "recuérdame x siempre" • Violeta Parra, "Cantores Que Reflexionan" • Ben Aler, "Honest" • Jose Luiz Martins, "Cravo e Canela"
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This week we balance our passion for new discoveries with reissued music from an iconic Latin American songwriter. Featured artists and songs:• Ezra Collective, "Body Language" (feat. Sasha Keable) • Patti LaBelle, "Teach me Tonight (Me Gusta Tu Baile)" • Teri Gender Bender, "SANAR" • Kevin Kaarl, "recuérdame x siempre" • Violeta Parra, "Cantores Que Reflexionan" • Ben Aler, "Honest" • Jose Luiz Martins, "Cravo e Canela" Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Simon Rentner. Our project manager is Grace Chung. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins. -
Alt.Latino host Felix Contreras takes us on a tour of African influences throughout Latinidad, with a little help from Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Miguel Zenón. Featured artists and songs: • Betsayda Machado & Parranda el Clavo, "Oh, Santa Rosa" • Bia Ferreira, "Quando Você Me Olha" • Cheo Feliciano, "Anacaona" • Ismael Rivera, "Las Caras Lindas" • Ruben Blades & Willie Colón, "Plantación Adentro" • Roberto Roena y Su Apollo Sound, "Lamento De Concepcion" • ÌFÉ, "Higher Love" -
Our digital mailboxes continue to overflow with new music. This week, we hear from a Colombian-Venezuelan super group, a new Afro-Brazilian band, and Ana gets another jazz lesson from a Latin jazz orchestra. Songs featured in this episode: • XIXA, "Xolo de Galáxia" • Meme del Real, "Princesa" • Jessie Reyes, "GOLIATH" • Arturo O'Farrill & the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, "Dia de los Muertos III Mambo Cadaverous" • Trinka, "Grego" • Astropical, "Me Pasa (Piscis)" Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Simon Rentner. Our project manager is Grace Chung. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins. Special gracias to Hazel Cills: Thanks for everything!!
