Natalia Toache Espouses the Magic and Influence of Mexican Music

kkingme2003@yahoo.com
6 min readOct 1, 2024

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Natalia Toache

Music is magic. It creates common bonding experiences and serves as an emotional touchstone for the key moments in our lives. You cannot touch music and, try as much as you like, you cannot possess it. Those who create it take something from inside themselves and offer it up to others to be used for their own purpose; to recognize a common element that we can all share. Is there any more ideal example of emotional altruism? Noone knows this better than Natalia Toache. Some say that it’s harder than ever to establish a musical career in 2024 but Natalia has gone from a little girl in Mexico singing along with the radio in the backseat of her parent’s car to working with esteemed American industry professionals and graduating from one of the country’s most prestigious music institutions. A proud citizen of her own country who champions its culture, Natalia openly embraces the influence of music from across the world to create her own modern style and brand. The path to music stardom today looks different in many ways than it did in the past with gatekeepers establishing what was marketable. Nowadays, the public decides and artists like Natalia Toache make their own decisions about the direction of their music and their career. To satisfy our curiosity, we went straight to the source and asked Natalia to inform us as to how she became such a popular artist with a loyal base of fans.

You’re from Mexico City. What were the musical experiences that sparked your interest?

Natalia Toache (NT): I was born in Mexico City, but my family and I moved to San Luis Potosí (Mexico) when I was about six-years-old. Traditional Mexican music was a crucial part of my upbringing, particularly in the homes of my grandparents. At my maternal grandparents’ house, Mariachi and Ranchera music were prominent, especially since our favorite activity was watching Mexican black and white movies where these genres were fundamental. These lively and passionate styles created a comforting and culturally rich environment, deeply connecting me to my Mexican heritage. In contrast, my paternal grandparents’ home was dominated by Boleros. The romantic and melodious nature of Boleros offered a different yet equally important musical experience, showcasing another aspect of Mexican musical tradition. But my earliest memories of music are from road-trips with my family. We would be driving to Acapulco, Mexico — listening to Madonna’s “Vogue” and since then vibrant sounds of 70s, 80s, and 90s music, colored my musical palette and till this day those influences haven’t changed. Journey, Queen, Earth, Wind and Fire, are a few to mention when it comes to music I grew up with. This eclectic mix introduced me to a variety of genres and artists that influenced my early musical tastes.

It sounds like music was both introspective for you and social at the time when you fell in love with it.

NT: Yes. And I also found that you didn’t have to limit yourself to liking one type of music, even within my own family. My biggest pop influence growing up was my aunt Nina, my mom’s late sister. Nina was an avid music fan, and we spent hours together listening and fan girling to both new and old music. Our time together was filled with discussions about artists, dressing up, and having fun, which was not only enjoyable but also instrumental in sparking my dream of becoming a singer and performer. Her passion for music and our shared experiences were pivotal in shaping my artistic aspirations and because of that, I will forever share this dream with her. These diverse musical influences, from the contemporary hits of my childhood and the traditional Mexican music of my grandparents to the inspiration from my aunt Nina — have all played a significant role in shaping my musical journey and continue to inspire my work today.

Were there musicians in your family?

NT: Though neither of my parents played music, my paternal grandmother played piano. Her musical presence was a significant factor in my early exposure to music. Both my grandparents’ homes had pianos and having access to these instruments allowed me to start learning and practicing music from a young age. This access was crucial in shaping my early musical development and fueling my passion for music.

You honed that natural ability to a very high level, as evidenced by the fact that you were accepted into what is arguably the most prestigious music school in the United States, Berklee College of Music in Boston. This institution has produced some of the most lauded and important and diverse musicians of modern times like Quincy Jones, John Mayer, Branford Marsalis, Keith Jarrett, Steve Vai, and countless others. What was it about Berklee that attracted you?

NT: By the time I applied to Berklee, I had already had some exposure to American music. However, attending Berklee was a different and transformative experience. It allowed me to delve deeper into the American music scene, refine my skills, and connect with a broader network of musicians and industry professionals. During my time there, Berklee’s multicultural environment played a crucial role in this transformation. Being surrounded by a diverse group of talented individuals taught me to embrace and celebrate everyone’s uniqueness, including my own. The experience at Berklee helped me to see that a talented peer is not someone to fear or resent but rather someone to admire and learn from. It emphasized the importance of hard work and authenticity in showcasing myself as an artist. I learned that every person and situation, whether positive or challenging, offers valuable lessons. The connections I made with inspiring people, who have now become friends and collaborators, further enriched my artistic journey.

In addition to your music, you’ve made quite a name for yourself because you’re an incredibly exciting performer in concert. It seems like many music artists these days fall into one of two categories; those who perform elaborate and specifically choreographed moves and those who rebuke those and prefer to do their own unique style. Where do you fall on this topic?

NT: First of all, I would never judge the direction or decision of any other artist. It’s about expressing yourself the way you want to. I will say that I had the great fortune of working with choreographer Sunny Walters. Sunny worked with Hugh Jackman on the film The Greatest Showman and has worked with legends like Beyonce and Britney Spears. Sunny brought incredible energy, combining her background as a dancer and choreographer. She pushed me to think holistically about how music, movement, and emotion connect, encouraging me to be expressive through authentic, natural movement. Her feedback was always about synergy, ensuring every element of the performance came together seamlessly, and that was incredibly important for me. One of the most valuable lessons I learned from Sunny was to embrace the performance fully.

You are presently working on your first full Spanish language musical release. At the same time, some of your music in the English language is appearing in the upcoming film Ground Control.

NT: I’m very excited about both of these projects. My music producer for the new songs I’m recording is Pedro Kayat who recently worked with (Latin Grammy Award–Winner) Camila Cabello. The modern direction of musical influences from Mexico truly represents where I am right now. The film you refer to is called Ground Control and is sort of an emotional family story mixed with an Outer Space adventure. The executive producer and director is an old family friend, Werner Heinze. I was honored that they wanted to include my music in this film. As a film that comes from Mexico, Ground Control is yet another example of the great art that is being created there.

Is there any possibility that you could see yourself steering towards writing soundtracks and scores rather than focusing on your own brand as a music artist?

NT: Venturing into the world of film is an exciting and eye-opening experience, giving me a glimpse into how music can enhance the emotional and narrative aspects of visual storytelling. I found it rewarding to see my work in this context and enjoyed the creative process. However, while I am open to writing for film and TV, it’s not something I see as my primary career focus. My passion will probably remain rooted in creating and performing my own music. I’m deeply invested in developing my artistic voice and connecting with listeners through my personal material.

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kkingme2003@yahoo.com

Kelly King writes for numerous popular online media outlets in addition to being a staff writer for NYC & LA based/internationally published Drumhead magazine.