Types of Latin Music

While many people speak of universal Latino music as a single genre, Latin American music comes to the ear through a multitude of forms and influences. Hispanic Caribbean music (known idiomatically as Latin reggeaton music) relies on the complex polyrhythm of African origin. While Mexican music shows combined influences of largely Spanish and Native American decent, African influences are present along Mexico's Caribbean coast. Alternatively, traditional Northern Mexican music and the music of Mexican-Americans (including norteno, banda, and tejano music) are more flavored by country-western music and the polka music that was brought to Texas by central European settlers. Quite apart from Northern Mexican music, Peruvian and Bolivian music find their shape from native Andean sounds and melodies. Andean music also largely influences the popular music of most South American countries and is greatly blended into the folk music of Ecuador, Chile and Colombia. The largely followed nueva cancion of Chile and Argentina again incorporates Andean sounds and melodies. Popular Latin music (such as ritmo Latin music, disa Latin music, Latin rap music and Latin house music), Latin rock music and ballad styles (such as Latin music in guitar and Latin instrumental music) aptly attract the broader Hispanic population.