NA’VI shares the human side of Latin music and the artists behind the hits

For Colombian producer NA’VI, making music begins long before anyone presses record. Growing up in Bogotá in a family where music was part of everyday life, he developed an appreciation for the sounds and traditions that would eventually follow him to Miami, where he built his career working with Latin music artists.

His approach to production is as much about understanding people as it is about creating a sound. Whether working with established stars or emerging talent, NA’VI believes the most important part of his job is discovering what makes each artist different. And despite the industry’s constant evolution, he sees the same passion connecting musicians across generations.

In a conversation with LatiNation, NA’VI discusses his Colombian roots, the vulnerability artists reveal in the studio, the songs he keeps returning to and two dream collaborations that might surprise his listeners.

[Editor’s photo placement: Lead portrait of NA’VI]

LatiNation Q&A with NA’VI

You grew up in Bogotá and built your career in Miami. How have your Colombian roots shaped your sound?

Music came into my life before I could even understand it. I can’t remember a single moment when I didn’t love it. I grew up in a typical Colombian family, with roots from the Caribbean coast, Huila and Bogotá, one of those families where music is part of everyone’s daily life, from the great-grandmother to the youngest little cousin.

And I think that has to do with something bigger: in Colombia, everything has a sound. The people, the mountains, the food, nature, even the way we speak. It’s a sound you carry in your blood without even choosing to. When I moved to Miami, I didn’t leave those roots behind. On the contrary, they became the foundation of everything I do today as a producer.

You’ve worked with some of the biggest names in Latin music. How do you find each artist’s unique sound?

Every artist is a completely different world. My job is to connect with their soul and help them communicate exactly what they want to say. Each one has their own language, something they need to express, a story to tell, and my role is to listen carefully until I find it.

More than a sound, what I’m really looking for is their essence. The sound itself is constantly evolving, but the essence doesn’t change. And finding it is almost irrational. It happens in the subconscious. The less I think about it, the more naturally it comes out.

That’s why I like to talk a lot with every artist I’m going to work with, to get to know them both personally and musically. Not so much to define a genre or a technical aspect, but to understand them as a whole, with their own unique nuances. That connection between the music and the person behind the artist is what really opens the door to magic in the studio.

What have you learned from working with both Latin music legends and the new generation of artists?

I’m still learning every day, from both the legends and the new artists. And the biggest thing I’ve learned is that, as cliché as it may sound, this is above all a passion. A genuine passion that goes beyond any expectation or mutual benefit.

The most important thing is the love you have for what you do, and any artist I’ve worked with can confirm that. That’s what I see in common between the legends and the newer artists, and what I enjoy most is precisely that: sharing the passion we have for what we do.

What’s something that would surprise fans about what happens behind the scenes in the studio?

I think what would surprise fans the most is that, no matter how big an artist is, how much they’re admired or even idolized, when you have the opportunity to see them up close, you realize how vulnerable they are. And I mean that in a good way.

They open up, they’re very sensitive, they have insecurities and fears, but at the same time, they trust, they let themselves go, they’re open. They’re not beings who are somehow separate from us. They’re just as human as anyone else.

What Colombian song should everyone have on their playlist, and why?

Wow, there are so many Colombian songs that deserve to be there, but the first one that comes to mind is “Amor Latino” by Carlos Vives.

Although the message is about all of Latin America, the sound, the arrangements, the gaitas, the structure, the melody… it captures so much of what defines us as Colombians. It’s a song I identify with a lot, and the mix they did is spectacular.

What artist or song have you had on repeat lately?

From the old school, definitely “I’ll Be There” by the Jackson 5. I love that song, and you can already hear the beginnings of Michael as the enormous star he would become.

And among more current artists, Aria Vega, who everyone is listening to. I think she’s spectacular. It’s a point of pride that she’s Colombian. She’s very original, with an incredible vocal tone and style.

What’s your dream collaboration, and what legacy do you hope to leave in Latin music?

I have several dream collaborations, but two come to mind right now. The first would be to produce and bring Humbe and Rosalía together!!! It sounds crazy, but it would be spectacular!!!

The second is more on the film side. I’d love to get involved in a sound and music project for film, in the style of what Hans Zimmer does. That would bring together several of my passions.

And as for my legacy, rather than leaving behind something specific, I’d like it to be broad and open: to make good music, music that translates into positive feelings for every mood, that accompanies people emotionally and physically, and that always creates a sense of well-being.