“The Romantic”: A Love Letter To Latin Music

Written by: Madisyn Falto

Photo taken from opening scene of the “Risk It All” music video, showing Bruno Mars surrounded by Mariachi Los Criollos de Guadalajara

On Feb. 27, 2026, Bruno Mars released his first album in nearly a decade, "The Romantic", which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard charts. The highly anticipated album differs strongly from his past three albums, pulling from his Caribbean background, rather than the high-energy pop and modern sounds he is known for. 

His album begins with his single release, “Risk It All,” which opens with a bolero-mariachi ballad. Besides the trumpets and violin heavily featured, Mars also draws from instruments such as the bongos, an instrument heavily rooted in Afro-Cuban culture and genres such as salsa and Latin jazz. 

Various songs showcase a heavy percussion reinforcing the more traditional sounds used in 1970s Latino music that have influenced Mars. 

For example, Track 7, “Something Serious” uses instruments echoing that of the style of Carlos Santana, a popular Mexican-American guitarist from the 1970s. The song also draws its style from the quick spirited themes of Puerto Rican music and Chicano inspirations. 

Track 2, “Cha Cha Cha,” holds the most obvious Latin influence with smooth rhythms of salsa that make audiences want to get up and dance. It uses loud conga drums, cowbell chimes, trumpets, and string instruments to bring that dance to music. 

This song arguably contains the most external influence not only from Latin influences, but also from rap. Mars pulls lyrics from the rapper Juvenile, showing his incorporation of all cultures regarding his musicality and spirit. 

These beats and instruments used are a huge difference from Mars’ past albums with heavier, more dramatic sounds of electric instruments like the guitar, bass, and keyboards. 

The album's impact has already made itself clear. Within days of its release, two songs — “I Just Might” and “Risk It All” — have already surpassed Mars’s previously most streamed tracks, reflecting an overwhelming positive sentiment from listeners. Critics have echoed that enthusiasm, with Rolling Stone Magazine calling the album, “A Retro-Soul Crowd-Pleaser.” 

The success of Mars’s most Latin-influenced album to date reflects a broader cultural shift in the music industry, where Latin music is no longer confined to Spanish speaking audiences. 

In 2025 alone, the genre has dominated, with Bad Bunny’s album "Debí Tirar Más Fotos" winning album of the year at the Grammys’ and Rosalia’s album "Lux" receiving acclaim from many English-speaking celebrities and critics. 

With artists like Bruno Mars beginning to touch back to their cultural roots and incorporate that in their music, it raises a larger question: is Latin music still a separate category, or is it becoming part of mainstream music?