INTERVIEW: NXNNI talks “El Problema Eras Tú,” self-love, and choosing yourself again

NXNNI is part of a new generation of Mexican artists who are expanding the sound of regional music without treating genre as a limit. Born in Monterrey, she has built a project where Mexican music can coexist with urban, pop, R&B, and, in the future, maybe even K-pop. She likes to try different sounds while keeping the vulnerability, playfulness, and honesty that define her as an artist.

With “El Problema Eras Tú,” NXNNI enters a more painful but necessary emotional space. The song speaks about a woman who realizes how much of herself she gave up while trying to save a relationship that was hurting her. Through direct lyrics about waiting alone, changing for someone, losing friends, and feeling insufficient, NXNNI turns a very common experience for many women into a song about heartbreak, anger, self-respect, and liberation. Joined by Yoss Bones, she brings together pop sensitivity, regional Mexican elements, and urban/R&B textures to create a track that feels personal yet deeply collective.

You are from Monterrey, and your sound blends Mexican music with urban, pop, and R&B elements. How did you arrive at that combination of sounds, and what are you interested in exploring within the new wave of Mexican music?

Since I was little, I’ve always been a very curious person. I love exploring and learning new things, so as I grew up and my surroundings changed, I kept discovering new music. In my teenage years, I was super into rock; then, in high school, I got really into R&B because I was fascinated by melismas and vocal harmonies, and I wanted to learn how to do them myself. I’ve always thought that music is too beautiful to lock yourself into just one genre. It’s like if your whole life you only ate mango ice cream because it’s your favorite—No way! I want to be tutti frutti and try everything. Hahaha.

I think all that curiosity is reflected in my project. I’m interested in continuing to explore different sounds that still feel like NXNNI, but in an evolved version. I’d like to get a little closer to pop and K-pop, without losing the elements of Mexican music that are part of my artistic identity.

We love how empowering your music is. “Plakozona Inventada” has become an anthem for women who refuse to ask for permission or apologize for taking up space and living life on their own terms. What inspired this song?

“Plakozona Inventada” is like the evolved comeback of “Monster High,” the first collaboration I did with Sam Vázquez. I like to think of it as if it were the Bratz movie when they’re already teenagers and have grown up: driving their pink cars, going out to party, and living new adventures, but with a much more “plakozón” vibe.

I wanted to convey exactly that energy, which is why we added dancers and choreography to the video. The idea was to show fun, freedom, and that feeling that we don’t always have to ask for permission to live our lives the way we want. At the end of the day, it’s about enjoying yourself, being true to who you are, and having a good time.

The chemistry between you and Sam Vázquez is undeniable, and your friendship really shines through in the music. How did this collaboration come about? Did the two of you write the lyrics together, and what was the creative process like?

The process was really funny. The lyrics were written by our friends at El Nido, the same people we worked with on “Monster High.” We were at a camp, and they stepped out to the terrace for a bit—that’s where they wrote this song, thinking specifically about us.

The coolest part is that, since they’re our friends and we’ve made so much music together, the song already feels very much ours, even though Sam and I didn’t put our pen to it this time around. When they played it for us, we loved it from the very first moment.

“El Problema Eras Tú” is your latest release, and it speaks about a woman who wakes up after giving too much of herself in a relationship. What was the emotional starting point of this song?

Precisely because it’s a situation I’ve lived through and that many of my friends have gone through too. I think almost everyone has had a moment like that, where you have to learn the hard way that stopping loving yourself is one of the worst things you can do.

And then it even makes you angry to think about all the photos you never posted, the parties you missed, and all the things you stopped doing for someone who didn’t know how to value all the love you were giving them. I think that’s a very human experience, and that’s why so many people connect with the song.

The lyrics say, “I don’t know at what point I became the girl waiting alone in her room.” Why was it important for you to show that side of a relationship without softening it?

Because I was literally describing something I lived through one day. Hehe. When I was younger, that happened to me a lot; I was in a very toxic relationship, and I remember spending my time in my room, in the middle of the night, waiting for him to text me to find out if he hadn’t gone out to a party or things like that. Really bad, honestly.

I’ve always been very honest, especially with my music. That’s why sometimes I don’t know how to soften or sugarcoat things. When I write, I prefer to tell emotions exactly as I lived them, even if they’re sometimes uncomfortable or leave me a little exposed.

The song portrays something many women experience. Changing for someone, stopping doing things, taking distance from friends, or not feeling enough in a relationship. There is a very direct line: “I changed for you / I forgot myself.” What message do you want to share about that loss of identity? What would you like women to take away after listening to your song?

That they don’t feel alone and that, at the first red flag, they run from there. Hahaha. It’s easy to say, but I know it’s not. Learning to set boundaries, protect them, and respect them is a process that can sometimes be really hard.

I think respecting and loving yourself is one of the most beautiful things you can do, because if you don’t, no one else will do it for you. I hope this song can be a little band-aid for those who are going through a similar situation and reminds them that they deserve so much more than what they sometimes settle for.

The collaboration with Yoss Bones brings together two very interesting worlds. On one hand, there is your pop vulnerability; on the other, her urban signature with R&B influences. What did she bring to the song, and how did that chemistry between the two of you happen?

We met at a UMPG publishing event. I had already been listening to her music for a while, but I hadn’t had the chance to meet her in person and talk. We connected really beautifully from the very first moment, and that same night we went out to party.

That’s when she told me: “We have to make music together, I want to enter your universe.” I got really excited because she has a very unique style. She even confessed to me that it was a challenge for her to write over a corrido, but I think that’s exactly what made the result so special.

In addition to your music, you have CHUKICUARTO, a space where you mix different kinds of information, songs, and feelings. It feels more relaxed and intimate. How did that project come about, and what does it mean to you today?

I had already been doing late-night lives with my fans for a while, and that’s where the idea came from. I really enjoy hanging out with people, connecting and having a good time, so we decided to create the Chukicuarto: a space where I could talk about more intimate things and show a little bit of everything that happens behind the music.

So far, I’ve had only women from the industry as guests because I like for them to also have a space where we can be ourselves, talk about our experiences, and even chat about girl stuff. But above all, I like it to be a place where we can inspire more girls who dream of making music and remind them that yes, it is possible to follow their dreams.

We’d love to know what your plans are for the near future. New music, new collaborations?

Yes! I’m super excited about everything that’s coming because I’m about to release an EP—and I’ll spoil it for you here—it’s called “Doki Doki” and it includes some of the singles you already know, like “Plakozona Inventada” and “El Problema Eras Tú.” God willing, it comes out this summer, and truth be told, I’m really excited because I feel like it captures a very special chapter of my project. Plus, there are some collaborations coming that I know you’re going to love and that I can’t wait for you to hear.

Beyond the song, NXNNI is also building a wider universe around her music through projects like CHUKICUARTO, a more intimate and relaxed space where she talks about songs, feelings, personal experiences, and the realities of women in the industry. With a new EP titled “Doki Doki” on the way, featuring “Plakozona Inventada” and “El Problema Eras Tú,” NXNNI continues to shape a project that is emotional, playful, honest, and rooted in the idea that women can take up space, tell their stories, and choose themselves.

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