From the moment she steps onto the stage at London’s Roundhouse, Nathy Peluso has the crowd in the palm of her hands as she effortlessly commands the stage with her infectious energy and flawless vocals. As a performer, the Latin superstar is an all-encompassing force of nature that radiates confidence and supreme talent.
As the dust settles from a memorable evening, a soft-spoken and relaxed Peluso talks over Zoom from the waiting lounge of Madrid Airport as she prepares to fly to Miami for the US leg of her GRASA Tour. The dates are in support of her sophomore album by the same name, which took Peluso’s career to the next level. Raw and authentic, when it was released in May of 2024, it received wide-spread critical-acclaim, winning her three Latin Grammys, including Best Rap/Hip Hop Song with “APRENDER A AMAR.”
Today, she kicks off her US tour at Miami’s The Fillmore and shares her latest single, “Erotika” with an accompanying video — a track inspired by the early 1990s salsa erotica scene in New York City, further showcasing Peluso’s ability to bridge the gap between traditional Latin music and new wave with electrifying results.
Your London show was incredible. What was that experience like?
Thank you! It was so good. It was one of those shows where I didn’t want to leave the stage. I was having so much fun with the public and everything was magic. It was an incredible experience.
What can fans expect from your upcoming US tour?
They can expect to feel so much freedom. [My shows] are a space where I communicate power and catharsis. It’s so important that when people come to my show, they are not the same when they go home. They learned something, they discovered something and felt it. For me, music has this power and it’s so important for me to pay attention to that. I always try to give all that I have to make such an experience for my fans because they trust me. It’s a very fun and emotional concert and very attractive to see. You can sing, dance, kiss and everything.
It must feel so empowering on stage because you have complete control of the audience and you almost become one during the show?
When you are communicating and the people are taking it and giving you energy, it’s such an important moment for an artist because when you are in the studio and shooting and composing, you are with a little crew or alone. When you are on stage, something very powerful happens because you are exchanging energy. That’s the moment you realize why you are doing all of that shit because it’s to share. If you don’t share it then it’s like it’s not real. The shows are important for me as an artist to realize what I am doing in this world.
I loved GRASA. Did you feel like you were bridging the gap between traditional Latin music and new wave?
Yes. I am always looking to show people what I love and amplify it. It’s an honor for me. Folklore is the most important thing to understand and to investigate like Bolero, Salsa, Merengue and Bachata. I go crazy for it, it’s like my medicine. For me, it’s natural. I want to play Bolero because I love it and I listen to it every day of my life. I also start my day listening to Salsa. It’s natural, I listen to Salsa, so I’m making Salsa. If I can share with people how I feel listening to Salsa then I want them to feel that way too. I make Salsa and Bolero and it’s so romantic. There is a mystic thing inside our music that really lifts me up.
I love the new single, “Erotika.” Is this a sign of where your music is heading with this Salsa vibe?
I’ve always loved Salsa. I’m crazy for Salsa. It’s my real relationship in music, I always go back to it. I’m always looking to tell stories with Salsa because it’s such a good space to tell stories and develop characters.
No matter where you are in the world, listening to Salsa must transport you back home?
That’s right, that’s the feeling! When I am around the world, I play Salsa and I feel like I’m in a good place. It is like a ritual. It’s my medicine. When I am feeling bad I put on Ray Barretto, Willie Colón or Frankie Ruiz and I start to feel like something good is going to happen.
After the success of GRASA some people might feel the pressure to live up to expectations for the next album. But for you, it must give you more confidence and freedom as fans love the authenticity you bring with your music?
It’s an honor and a privilege that I can do whatever I feel like. Real fans are always trusting and listening and supporting, even if they don’t understand something because I am going crazy. They have patience and wait for me.
I’m so grateful because I can do whatever I want. I feel free with music to go with what my intuitions are saying. People are trusting and they come to the show and sing the songs. They want me to be like that. They don’t want me to do what I’m supposed to and industry shit, they want me to be authentic.
Does it feel like Latin artists have more space to take creative risks now? We have seen the success of GRASA but also the latest Bad Bunny album — Latin artists can get success by being authentic more than ever before.
For me, the real success is authenticity. If you’re not authentic, then maybe it’ll work short-term, but if you want something to live forever, then you better be authentic and real because you have to deal with it. I prefer to be real and do what I feel, that’s the real success to have the opportunity to listen to how I feel and communicate that. Artists are responsible for sharing that realness to the world and create conversations with people, even if they don’t like it. Even if it doesn’t work, it’s still successful because you’re learning and doing what you feel.
You’ve been doing music professionally for over a decade and it has been a surreal journey. Do you ever have a chance to take a step back and see how far you’ve come in that time with sold-out tours and Latin Grammy success?
It feels so natural because I work a lot. I’m working non-stop to be able to be a better artist, to be a better person, to be a better singer, to be a better dancer, to be a better daughter and everything. So, when I see the fruits [of my labor], I feel proud and grateful, it empowers me to get even better. It feels like a blessing for me to be here and respected. All the Grammys, sold-out tours and success are a blessing to me but I never take it for granted. The people are always supporting me. I can’t wait for more, I think I have a lot to learn, to win and to grow. I’m in the present and I’m having fun.
Photography Courtesy of Nathy Peluso