Lenier and Costa Azul’s “Maquillaje” has topped Billboard’s latest new Latin music poll, published on Friday (Aug. 29).
In support of the weekly New Music Latin roundup and playlist, curated by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors, music fans voted for the Cuban artist’s team up with the rising Nicaraguan group as their favorite music release of the week.
“Maquillaje” generated more than 93% of the vote, beating out other new releases, including Carín León & Kacey Musgraves’ “Lost In Translation,” Yeison Jiménez and Natalia Jiménez’s “Pedazos,” and new albums by Luis R. Conriquez (Meneo), Hamilton (Afrorockstar), and Mau y Ricky (La Llave). Meanwhile, “Vámonos de Aquí” by Pablo Alborán and Indiara Sfair was a favorite close second in the weekly poll.
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The song was born spontaneously earlier this year when Lenier and Costa Azul crossed paths at a record studio in Miami. Produced by J-Prod and penned by the Cuban singer-songwriter himself, “Maquillaje” is an urban-tinged romantic cumbia powered by Lenier’s sugary, raspy vocals and the eloquent harmonies by Fred, Oscar and Omar (Costa Azul’s vocalists).
“The heart doesn’t need makeup/ Nor to invent a character, when it comes to love/ The heart is so crazy, so brave/ That it goes against the current, when it’s right,” they chant in the song about loving someone in a transparent and honest way.
Beyond a first collaborative effort, “Maquillaje” marks a historic moment in the Nicaraguan music scene and for the group also known as “El Imperio de la Cumbia.”
Editor’s Note: The weekly New Music Latin poll results are posted if the poll generates more than 1,000 votes.