Julieta Venegas

The Cali-born queen of Latin alt-pop, Julieta Venegas, was 10 years old when she first began learning piano. From that initial step she has, over the years, blossomed into one of the most refreshing and talented musical forces in the world. Gifted on the accordion, on the guitar, as a songwriter, as a producer and as a singer, Venegas probably deserves even more love than her Grammy (Best Latin Pop Album, 2007, for Limón y Sal) and five Latin Grammys would indicate. Her seven albums, which all incorporate elements of traditional Mexican music within an alt-pop (or adult contemporary, if you prefer) framework, showcase a restless creativity that belies both her charm and massive success. Venegas, now 45, also has a reputation for putting on spellbinding shows all across the world. If you’re looking for a good place to start with this singular talent, I recommend her absolutely perfect sophomore album Bueninvento, an accordion-heavy, rock-leaning album of emotive fury and self-affirmation, as the most immediately enchanting entry point.