Fresh from winning this year's Latin Grammy Award for Best New Artist, Mexican pop duo Jesse & Joy is no longer hovering under the radar in the U.S.

Comprised by real-life brother and sister Jesse and Joy – age 21 and 24, respectively – the pair was raised in a bilingual household. Their American mother and Mexican father exposed the baby-faced siblings to the music of Carole King, Pedro Infante and Los Panchos. And it shows. Their 2006 debut album, Esta Es Mi Vida (This Is My Life) is packed with healthy amounts of acoustic pop, folk and rock. Lead single Espacio Sideral is a cheery, bouncy track about falling in love; Ya No Quiero is a somber break-up song driven by distorted guitars, crashing cymbals and Joy's smoldering vocals.

An opening gig for fellow pop balladeers Sin Bandera in front 100,000 people helped catapult the Esta Es Mi Vida to gold status in México. More recently, Jesse & Joy's Latin Grammy win has given the duo confidence that they're around for the long haul: “In five years we see ourselves making music and working on a fourth or third album with the same excitement as we did the first one.”

see: myspace.com/jesseyjoy

Imagine RBD with a slight edge and you'll get a feel for the sound of Alejandra Alberti and her self-titled debut. Produced by Yasmil Marrufo (Ricardo Arjona, Ricky Martin), the sugary Quiero and its carbonated companion Dignidad de Mujer have built enough of a buzz to land the 22-year-old Alberti a Latin Grammy nomination for Best New Artist.

Born in Nashville, Tennessee (Music City USA) and raised in Miami, Florida, Alberti considers her Cuban dad and Mexican mother – a drummer and a singer, respectively – as the most important musical influences in her life. Although she speaks fluent English, she chose to record her pop-rock in Español – though that may not be an entirely romantic decision.

With the rising popularity of bands like Motel and Camila as well as the "Best New Artist" Latin Grammy nominations of fellow pop-rockers Jesse & Joy and Tulsa, the Latino mainstream may be warming to younger pop acts. If so, Alberti, a college student, could soon graduate to a bona fide teen idol.

see: myspace.com/alejandraalberti