In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Mexican singer-producer Nsqk argued that his music bridges distinct cultural worlds and diverse sonic influences ranging from indie rock to salsa.
Born Rodrigo Torres de la Garza, the 28-year-old artist grew up in both Monterrey and Texas. That background shapes his music, which merges electronic production, R&B melodies, rap, and distorted guitars.
“I grew up in Houston,” he told the Los Angeles Times. “I understand what it’s like to be a second-generation Mexican growing up in the States.”
This shared cultural duality connects him with his listeners and collaborators. Nsqk said that many individuals face a sense of not feeling entirely American in the United States nor entirely Mexican in Mexico.
“You’re not American [enough] for the Americans, not quite Mexican [enough] for the Mexicans. The Chicano experience: I grew up like that,” he told the publication.
“I see a lot on Twitter and TikTok, people fighting about it: “Just because you were born in Chicago, but your parents were Mexican, and you speak Spanish, and you eat Mexican food,” he said.”
Following his earlier albums Roy in 2022 and ATP in 2024, Nsqk released his album Mosca on Oct. 15. The record features collaborations with Chicano experimentalist Jean Dawson, indie icon Julieta Venegas, and folk balladeers Pedro Tovar and Kevin Kaarl.
For the mixing process, Nsqk worked with longtime Gorillaz collaborator Stephen Sedgwick. Sedgwick utilized an analog setup involving a physical wall of effects, compressors, and limiters.
“One of the craziest things about working with him is that everything is analog, everything’s physical,” he told the Los Angeles Times. “He’ll run his Pro Tools out into this gigantic wall of effects and compressors, amplifiers and limiters.”
The album also reflects structural influences from electronic producer Porter Robinson alongside the cinematic pacing found in Radiohead and classic salsa artists like Willie Colón. Nsqk explained that these varied acts share an understanding of when to let instruments drive the music.
“They’ll sing a verse, then let the instruments speak for a minute, two minutes,” he told the Los Angeles Times.
“I was also listening to a lot of salsa: Willie Colón, Héctor Lavoe, Celia Cruz,” he said.
“What did you try on “Mosca” that you wouldn’t have trusted yourself to do on “ATP”?” he was asked, and he answered, “I tried letting the music ride a lot more.”
Nsqk's audience has grown following two consecutive sell-out shows at Mexico City’s Palacio de los Deportes in 2025. He is scheduled to perform at Tyler, the Creator’s Camp Flog Gnaw festival on Sunday at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.
An upcoming performance in January at Mexico City’s Estadio GNP Seguros marks his next major milestone. Meanwhile, his current U.S. tour features intimate room settings that allow for direct engagement with fans.
“It’s a lot easier to see their faces and reactions and literally talk to them,” he told the Los Angeles Times.
