The latinx powerhouse blends salsa and latin jazz with RnB and soul to create a sound all of her own - catch her with full band Los Milagros

A LatinX powerhouse has emerged from the growing London latin music scene, and her name is Desta French.

Having grown up a Londoner to immigrant Colombian /Italian parents, it’s clear that Desta makes no compromises when it comes to the cultural dualities that live and breathe within her music. A blend of Latin Jazz, RnB, Salsa, Cumbia, Hip- Hop, and more which culminate to form her very own distinctive sound. A passionate performer and songwriter, her position in the U.K. scene is unique. She is the first U.K. born LatinX artist to have an entirely Spanish song played on BBC Radio, supported by prominent tastemakers like DJ Target and Jamz Supernova as well as selling out the Jazz Cafe in 2020 which was a groundbreaking moment for the Camden native, as well as for her community who showed up for the unforgettable moment.

2023 for Desta, began with her first North American tour which included a number of performances at SXSW festival, where she proudly waved the flag for LatinX music coming from the UK. A rare and important milestone to have a latinX artist supported internationally by the likes of PRS, Selector Radio and the BBC.

She spent the first half of the year living in Mexico City, performing at festivals and developing a bed of new collaborators. This has heavily influenced the sonic landscape for her upcoming singles, which she will be perform for the first time with her newly formed band, Los Milagros.

Sophie Castillo

Sophie Castillo is an Indie Latin artist based in London. Born to a Colombian mother and Cuban father, her musical influences stretch across the Atlantic and all the way back to her place of birth, London, to produce an Alternative Dark Pop sound with a Latin twist she makes her own.

Embarking on a fusion of Pop, Alternative, Indie, and Latin music, she breaks the barriers of genre. Pairing her soft flowing vocals with catchy melodies and sensual rhythm, she echoes the romanticism of the Latin music she grew up with to create a cinematic, dreamy and glamorous sound.

Throughout her catalogue, Sophie combines her intercontinental inspirations, singing in both English and Spanish, and tackling the topics of love, the self, and the spiritual.

This event is part of EFG London Jazz Festival