Julieta Venegas

Tijuana chanteuse Julieta Venegas started her career as a quirky songwriter with a punk flair, but quickly demonstrated a keen sense of pop craft with hook-filled choruses. "Eres para Mí" features Venegas' distinctive voice layered over crisp beats and a pulsating bassline. "Me Van a Matar" from the Amores Perros soundtrack put Venegas on the map among mainstream audiences, while "De Mis Pasos" is a dark but riveting knockout from her debut album Aqui.

While Julieta Venegas has scored numerous Latin pop hits, alternative audiences were her earliest supporters. "Casa Abandonada" captivates the listener with its emotional lyrics and Venegas' stellar accordion playing. "Lo que Pidas" was recorded live at Los Angeles public radio station KCRW, and is more spontaneous and raw than the original studio version. "Tiempo pa Pensa" is an unconventional duet with popular Spanish rapper Mala Rodriguez.

One of the leading lights in contemporary Latin pop, few would have expected the one-time frontwoman of Mexican punk pioneers ¡Tijuana No! to become a radio-friendly songstress. Julieta Venegas began her solo career in the late '90s as a brooding-yet-sophisticated songwriter who was not afraid to incorporate the accordion in her music. On subsequent releases, Venegas embraced a more pop-oriented sound that won over the masses without alienating alternative fans.