Christian Nodal is a star in Mexico, but not yet known in Spain. There are almost 20 million on Spotify of monthly listeners, but the people along the Gran Vía follow their course without giving them a complicit sideways glance, an interesting exercise to heal the ego. Nevertheless, they know that there is someone: both the entourage that accompanies them and the tattooed face are two attributes that make the necks of some passers-by turn 180 degrees. He is 23 years old, a hiking tour and songs with maluma, Romeo Santos, Maná, Tini and a whole bunch of these super famous singers whose names the over forty year olds don’t know. I admit, not many are in their 20s. Indeed, with a series of lyrics of his own writing, he has territory to conquer.
“I really enjoy going to a country where my music is not known.” I have enjoyed traveling to the United States, Costa Rica, Guatemala… You sow something that begins to grow quickly. It’s nice to be stopped on the street, but I also enjoy the anonymity I experience here, although I’m used to it: I’m not known in Argentina, where I live either. Eating without taking photos is another privilege.
The first time he sang in public was well before this fame he’s a part of: “First I made my school debut when I was five years old. I was nervous, I didn’t know the lyrics well and my mother screwed me up. The following took place in Tijuana in front of 8,000 people, as I only sang in the family and with classmates. Practice makes perfect, but I still prefer to be in the kitchen with the songs. To get out I jump and connect with myself to receive energy. I do not have any hobbies. jump aid.”
Pros and cons of Spanish culture
However, the first time he performed on Spanish soil was in 2017. He did it alongside Bisbal at the Wizink Center, where he returned solo on May 20 with tickets sold out for weeks. As you can see, Anonymous is actually more you and me than him. “I like the Spanish culture: the food, the security… And the music: I’m a fan of Porta. I rarely say that because I know he retired for ten years, then came back three years ago and now it doesn’t sound like much. Next to Alejandro Sanz, Rosalía, Tangana… What they do with Spanish culture is similar to what I do with Mexican culture. I feel very identified with this wave. Suddenly, in a beautiful song, you incorporate elements of today and young people love it. You add little things, but that was already done,” he explains.
Christian Nodal
“My references, among others in this norteño genre, were Ariel Camacho and Joan Sebastian. In addition to the music I listened to at home since my parents, uncles and brothers are musicians and have taught me since I was a child. It’s weird that I don’t name many of the ones I heard growing up, but I get the hang of them. That’s the root. Grow with a sound».
However, what draws his attention to Spain is quite different. Here, the engineer is one of the few characters who, unless he wants to crank the reverb even further, can speak with a certain disdain to the superstars he’s seen so many of. “In Mexico we are very willing to talk. Here a taxi driver tells you with a lot of fuss to close the door like this. I have to calm down. I have to get used to the fact that it’s not disrespectful, it’s a matter of rhythm.” Certainly the other title that allows for a harsh tone towards the untouchables is The Taxi Driver. And the window, boy, you can’t roll down.
Among his hobbies, he balances the obvious: listening to songs like this, sharing them with friends… And does it hurt to get a face tattoo? I ask him. “Yes very much. A face tattoo hurts, but everything else hurts too». I tell him an anecdote about a friend who tattooed his thigh so his parents wouldn’t get caught. And of course I ask him about his parents, since at 23 he hardly has room between his eyes and his ears for more ink. Then the Bajuno blossoms: “It’s another hobby.” I want to open a studio in Los Angeles. My dream is to become a tattoo artist So far I’ve only practiced drunk with friends. They can tell you that I’m not good ».
Because the passers-by on the Gran Vía may not know him yet “bottle by bottle” what ties in with what I mentioned above might serve as a gateway. Also “Goodbye darling” and “They didn’t tell you wrong”. Nodal lives the way he tattoos himself: fast. Therefore it fills the filling to the same extent as the skin. When he performed in the expensive branch, the seats were empty, but both were filled with heartbreak and wrong turns. In one of his songs he says he does it “pa” to cover up the kisses they left him. So he composes for the same reason he sticks pins in his forehead, although he hopes to go beyond the flesh.
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