NATTI NATASHA CONQUERS MOTHERHOOD AND SUPERSTARDOM AS SHE PRESENTS HER LATEST ALBUM, NATTIVIDAD.

PHOTO BY MIGUEL DUCOS/COURTESY OF PINA RECORDS

Natti Natasha (@nattinatasha) is a force to be reckoned with. As one of the most influential women in the Latin music industry, she’s amassed over 33 million followers on Instagram, was the most-watched woman on YouTube for two consecutive years in 2018 and 2019 and has received multiplatinum recognition for hit tracks like “Sin Pajama” with Becky G, “Criminal” with Ozuna, “No Me Acuerdo” with Thalia and “La Mejor Versión de Mi” (remix) with Romeo Santos. Her debut album, Iluminatti, featured collaborations with Anitta and Kany Garcia and scored the largest sales week for a Latin album by a solo woman in more than a year and a half, cementing her as one of the most recognizable figures in the industry.

Now, she’s releasing her latest masterpiece, Nattividad, aptly inspired by the birth of her baby girl, Vida Isabelle Pina Gutiérrez, who was born on May 22, 2021. It also signals a rebirth of herself, on both a personal and professional level. Never one to shy away from a challenge, Natti embraced pregnancy and motherhood full steam ahead, all the while balancing her booming career. And in typical Natti fashion, she brings her unrivaled spunk and unapologetic energy to the forefront, inspiring other women to feel empowered to let their true selves shine, no matter what they may be setting out to accomplish.

“As a woman in general, you’re empowered,” she notes. “For me, this album is a perfect representation of that. It’s a very urban project. During the pandemic, I found myself pregnant and playing around with different types of music. I realized I wanted to put out music that you can have fun with. But then I doubted if people would accept a pregnant girl putting out these kinds of risky lyrics and themes.”

PHOTO BY MIGUEL DUCOS/COURTESY OF PINA RECORDS

Maintaining her mentality to be unabashedly herself, Natti moved forward with the album, knowing that if she remained true to what she loves and what inspires her—rather than adjusting her music and style to fit the preconceived biases of what a mother should be representing—people would love the music too.

“I can’t punish myself for something that makes me happy, worrying about what other people are going to say or think. And that goes for everything in my life. I love music, I love what I do. I love being a mother, I love being a partner. At first I worried that maintaining this balance would be hard and I don’t know where I found the strength, but I somehow balanced my life even better than before. I think if you have enough motivation, you can accomplish whatever you want.”

Her baby girl, Vida, serves as her greatest source of inspiration, which is depicted beautifully in the cover art of the album—undeniably feminine in pink with a stunning floral design surrounding a baby stroller with a hanging microphone from above. Merging both her worlds together seamlessly, Natti has reinforced her incredible talent and capability as an artist that showcases her as an icon for women all over the world.

“The album features amazing collaborations, like my track with Maluma, who I’ve always wanted to collaborate with. But one of my favorites was ‘Ram Pam Pam’ with Becky G. I love working with female artists, and I don’t understand why the music industry often pits women against each other. We have so much fun, and we created something so special. It was also amazing to work with great producers like Daddy Yankee again, who understood my vision and respected my essence, being very expressive and wanting to push boundaries,” she shares.

PHOTO BY MIGUEL DUCOS/COURTESY OF PINA RECORDS

Having created the album throughout the uncertainty of the pandemic—where personally and professionally she faced many challenges and life changes—she shares that the theme represents a sweet and sour vibe.

“When I first started the album during the pandemic, I found out I couldn’t get pregnant. And we were going through a global crisis. And then I found out that I was pregnant, and it all just came together. From the moment you start the album, you’ll be taken along that journey with me through ups and downs. It was one of the best moments of my life, and the album is indicative of that.”