Liner Notes

Malegría en la Oscuridad reimagines Reyna Tropical’s debut album Malegría, inviting Fabi Reyna’s musical community to expand the record’s world. The project was sparked by a surprise moment at a Sylvan Esso DJ set during SXSW, where Reyna first heard their sultry, underworld-inspired edit of “Cartagena.” “It opened my eyes and ears to the wild possibilities of what these songs could become in someone else’s hands,” Reyna recalls.

That moment set the stage for Malegría en la Oscuridad, a remix EP fueled by some of the most fearless innovators in Latin music today. Embracing a more nocturnal vision of Malegría, the project reimagines the original album as a collection of songs for the nighttime — deeper, more sensual, and primed for the dancefloor. To bring this vision to life, Reyna Tropical invited Amantes Del Futuro, Sofia Kourtesis, Lido Pimienta, Chancha Via Circuito, and Simón Mejía (formerly of Bomba Estéreo) to join the project. Each of these artists has touched Reyna’s journey, and their interpretations of the songs feel like a conversation between friends who speak a shared language of sound and spirit.

From Amantes Del Futuro’s rebajada-inspired take on “Conocerla”—a slowed-down cumbia celebration of queer love and self-liberation—to Sofia Kourtesis’ lush dancefloor-ready remix of “Conexión Ancestral,” each track deepens the themes of Malegría.

“99% of my songs are actually, lyrically, about pain, sadness, grief, or something that evokes longing,” Reyna explains. “But paired with bright music to dance to or be under the sun in.” Malegría en la Oscuridad represents the next step in healing. It invites listeners to embrace the beauty of darkness—and dance their way through it.