Mi Nuevo Yo

“The *corrido* says it all,” Natanael Cano tells Apple Music about “Compa Bladi,” a highlight off of *Mi Nuevo Yo*. “It’s about a friend of ours who really likes to party. He’s the king of the party.” Having spent much of 2019 leading the way for the regional urbano movement with groundbreaking releases like *Corridos Tumbados*, the teenage singer celebrates the year by dropping off this Nochebuena gift. Composed and recorded in the wake of that release and the Bad Bunny-infused remix of his hit “Soy el Diablo,” the project reflects his exemplary growth as a songwriter in such a short time frame. Cano cites opener “Amor Tumbado” as his personal favorite from *Mi Nuevo Yo*. In keeping with the titular theme, it serves as a rare ballad of embittered heartbreak from an artist better known for singing about drug consumption than romance. “It’s my first song about love,” he says, stressing that he’s not the first-person protagonist of its otherwise true-to-life lyrics. The forward-thinking record also features two notable collaborations, the first being a team-up with his Southern California-based labelmates Fuerza Regida. Entitled “Aunque Les Pese,” the single strikes a triumphant tone after a tremendous year for the respective acts. Coming at the end of *Mi Nuevo Yo*, his “Golpes de la Vida” duet with relative newcomer and fellow teen Ivonne Galaz shakes up the male-dominated corridos category as these kindred spirits detail their considerable struggles. Ultimately, as on the boldly named “Corridos Tumbados,” Cano remains clearly committed to the signature hybrid style that bridges música urbana and regional Mexican in such a natural way. “This song is the sound of *corridos tumbados*—and nothing else,” he says.