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 hits the road to visit RuidoFest in Chicago, NuevoFest in Philadelphia and the Latin Alternative Music Conference (LAMC) in NYC. -
Cimafunk sees the future of Cuban funk, Chilean vocalist Mon Laferte sings a "Chilango Blues" to her adoptive hometown of Mexico City and Anitta drops a verse on Ozuna's new track. -
Amid the most crucial political crisis to hit Puerto Rico in its modern history, Puerto Rican artists Residente, Bad Bunny and iLe respond with music in real time.
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Alt.Latino pays tribute to the father of bossa nova through his music and the words of his fellow musicians. -
The former Calle 13 vocalist and the roqueros from Kansas City discuss their new albums and how they channel their passions about the world into music.
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NPR's Lulu Garcia Navarro speaks with Alt.Latino host Felix Contreras about his latest Latin jazz picks, including artists both new and long-loved. -
The Brazilian singer and guitarist, who won wide acclaim for his abundant technical skill and minimalist style, was behind one of the best-selling jazz albums of all time, 1964's Getz/Gilberto. -
These songs have the power to say what we feel, even when we can't say them ourselves. We listen back to some of our favorite stories from NPR's American Anthem series. -
A slice of J Balvin and Bad Bunny's Oasis, a new track from Spain's La Mala and a nice samba party from Rua de Pretas. -
Orishas returns with a piano ballad for existentialist insomniacs, Chicago's Divino Niño offers a dream-pop ballad and Mateo Kingman teams up with Gustavo Santaolalla.
