Artist Interview: 1-on-1 with Natty Rico

A few weeks ago Natty Rico released “If you were gone”, his new single featuring vocalist Chaz Mason. Until this release, I wasn’t familiar with his work. After doing some digging, I quickly learned Natty is known for his charismatic DJ sets that blend feel-good track selection with his masterful live saxophone performances. Natty has worked with several big names, producing tracks alongside some of the biggest names in music, including Snoop Dogg, Frankie J, and Willy William, as well as playing alongside David Guetta, Jason Derulo, Major Lazer and Bob Sinclar to name a few.

After hearing “If you were gone” I did some digging and fell in love with his sound. Other tracks like “Hold that suker down” and “Trap Queen” bring the sax front and center and I can’t imagine how powerful a live set would be. “If you were gone” is his latest release and I expect more from him soon. Until then, I reached out to learn more. This was a fun interview and it is my pleasure to introduce you to Natty Rico.

Tell me more about your new single “If you were gone” featuring Chaz Mason.
Totally random song, I recorded Chaz for another song and then I really loved a specific moment of his vocal that I kept looping it, and I remade a track disco with this loop.

How did you and Chaz connect?
I saw him live and I talked to him at the end of the show in LA, we connected the day after in my studio and recorded.

This single is out now on your own label, RED EMPTION. Tell me more about that label and what your plans are with this imprint.
RED EMPTION was created recently, it’s my way to put any songs I love out without depending on anyone else. It works pretty well!

You are originally from Nantes, France. What is the music scene like there and do you get a chance to go visit much?
Jazz and classical are pretty big. There are a lot of festival and concerts there. I haven’t been back for 2 years because of COVID unfortunately!

You are an accomplished saxophonist. Do you remember your first sax? Tell me more about your time with that instrument… I don’t know many people that can play!
I started at the age of 7. The first time I heard someone playing, it was a friend of my parents and I just fell in love. I started to take lesson a few weeks after that.

What can fans expect from a live performance? Any plans for a tour in the New Year?
It’s an experience. Videos can’t really show what I do, it’s something you can only experience live. It’s a mix between real music and DJ style. I give all my heart on stage and all my energy and people give it back to me so it truly is something special.

Your single “Frozen” featuring Melissa Molinaro and Frankie J spent a total of 9 weeks in the authoritative Billboard chart, peaking at #22. Tell me more about that single and working with those artists.
That was a fabulous experience and my first Billboard. I never met Frankie and Melissa in person but Manny, the person who connected and directed the whole project, did an amazing job with his label. I was, and still am, really happy with what we did with the record and what a cool thing to get a Billboard chart placement for the first time!

Digging the “If you were gone” cover. Is that your plane? Where did you take that photo?
It is the plane of my great friend Lorenzo. I took this photo before we took off from Saint Barth to Miami, I was on tour!

What’s the best concert you’ve ever been to?
I Muvrini, in Corsica was fantastic. I’m 50% Corsican and this band is from there.

I LOVE The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. That is such a great space. Tell me more about your time in Sin City.
Vegas is my favorite city in America, I am resident every Thursday at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas and I love the vibe over there. So many people are coming every time from different city and country to see my show and that is amazing. I spend a lot of time in my studio also in downtown Vegas and got super inspired there.

What is the ring on your left hand?
I was wearing a ring on my right actually but recently I just put one on my left… Suspense!

Where do you find inspiration for a new song? Do you sit down with a pad of paper or does it just come to you?
I just got inspired with my life, my tour, what I live, my emotion and my people.

I just got to the studio never knowing in advance what I’m gonna do, but just let my fingers on my piano and create melodies and if I like it I just record and start to build what my heart says.

Who has inspired you over the years? And who are you listening to when you are not producing a new single?
I don’t have anyone specific who inspires me but I listen to a lot of different people and style that inspires me. I love to listen to jazz and chill music.

You had over 2.3 million streams in 2021. 151 countries, too! That is amazing. Thoughts on your Spotify Wrapped stats?
I’m so so excited and grateful for that, honestly “Hold that suker down” was my single of 2021 and it was before to put it out my real love of this year in term of tracks! THANK Y’ALL for sharing the same thought as me!

What was it like working with Snoop Dogg on the hit single “California”?
Snoop is a hell of a guy, nice and very professional. It was a great experience. We played live so many time after and I’m really grateful to be able to work with legend such as Snoop.

What’s next for Natty Rico?
I have a lot of cool stuff coming, but… Wait 2022!

Thank you for doing this. In all of the interviews I do I always give the artist the last word. Go.
Thank you so much guys and if you don’t know my songs yet go on Spotify and follow me on Instagram for following all my new videos and see where I’m playing next.