Nino Augustine wanted to showcase his deep roots on “Callaíto.” On Thursday, the Panamanian musician dropped his new single, which he says blends a touch of Afrobeats with Spanish lyrics and Latin sounds.

“For me, being Afro-Latino means living in a constant state of fusion. I’m hugely inspired by what’s happening in Africa — there’s an incredible creative energy — but I also can’t forget the music I grew up with,” he tells Rolling Stone in Spanish. “The most beautiful thing about being an artist is that you can create from your roots, without having to follow trends.”

Augustine pointed to the trend of artists singing “Afrobeats in Spanish,” but said he’s noticed a lot of other singers tapping into the culture he’s long worked to represent. (Last year he dropped the amapiano track “

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