NOZTRA
Interviewed by: Angela

NOZTRA: Hey how are you Angela?

ANGELA: I am great, how are you doing?

NOZTRA: I'm good. Thank God everything is running smooth.

ANGELA: Nice. Wow, you are only 22 and doing Huge things in the music industry. How do you feel about all of your success?

NOZTRA: I feel that finally it’s paying off. I've worked real hard for mine. I thank the public for the acceptance they giving me, which is great.

ANGELA: Do you feel that it has changed you as a person?

NOZTRA: I would say it has changed me into being a more positive person. Now I see life from a diff angle, I have too much to lose now. I have a promising career ahead of me & I will make sure I take advantage of that.

ANGELA: That's a great outlook. I wish more artists looked at things that way and stayed out of trouble. You are signed to Machete Records, how did that happen?

NOZTRA: Yes I am. I'm the 1 artist they signed from the US & that is not Puerto Rican since I'm from NY & also Dominican. This happened back in mid 2005 when I had finished my album "Ya' Ain't Ready” Which was worked in Puerto Rico by the top producers in the game. Machete saw the buzz I had w/ the track "Damelo Duro" and they were interested in me, from there things became what they are. They recognize I'm 1 of the main artists in NY repping Reggaeton the way its done in PR.

ANGELA: oh ok. Nice. How did they approach you?

NOZTRA: I actually gave Carlos Mendez (1 of the sales Rep. From Universal Latino) a sampler of my album. He mentioned that Universal was opening a new branch strictly for Urban, Reggaeton that would be known as Machete Music. From there I met w/ Gustavo Lopez & things started to move biz wise.

ANGELA: What do you have to say to critics that say that you lose "realness" once you get signed?

NOZTRA: I've always kept it real. People that hate will criticize no matter what. Those are the people I don't pay attention to & stay away from.

ANGELA: You moved to NY from DR at the age of 7. Have you ever been back there? Do they show you love there like they do here?

NOZTRA: Yes I have been back there. Right now I got 4 tracks hitting real hard out there. My Dominicans are giving me a lot of love, especially since I'm the only Dominican Reggaeton artist that is International signed to a Major Label that is representing them. I just got back from there a few weeks ago from doing promotions to my album in the entire country.

ANGELA: That's great! Was it a tour?

NOZTRA: It was a Promotional tour, not shows. It was TV, Radio, Press, Etc.

ANGELA: Oh ok. Got you. Where else have you been sent on Promotional Tours?

NOZTRA: Around the US, West & East Coast, Dirty South. Soon I'm hitting South America. I got a tour coming up later this year to Japan & Europe along w/ Wisin & Yandel and Don Omar.

ANGELA: What other artists have you had the opportunity to collab with?

NOZTRA: In my album I didn't have many featurings. The album was produced by Luny Tunes, Nesty, Notty-Mekka, Sonic, Dj Urba & Monserrate, Myztiko and A&X. I've shared stage w/ many artist thought like: Daddy Yankee, Don Omar, Wisin & Yandel, Tego Calderon, Etc. I've been part of the main events last year, Megatons, Etc.

ANGELA: How did you get your start in the music industry?

NOZTRA: Back in 99 when I 1st started freestyling back in School. Nothing serious @ 1st u know. I started my own in-home recording studio, working hard like always. Started recording tracks, preparing a Demo, meeting many people. Some were real but many were fakes. Then I finally met the right person which is my manager Ammo, who believes in me & my talent & worked my career to land me where I am now.

ANGELA: That's great. It's nice to have that initial someone who believes in you. You conducted one of the first Reggaeton shows to be aired in NYC. How did that come about?

NOZTRA: It came about when Rene Santiago a good friend of mines, was the spokeperson for the show and he needed someone to do the music, I was that guy. The show aired for about 6 months.

ANGELA: So were you Djing, singing or being an on air personality on the show?

NOZTRA: I was djing. I didn’t speak much.

ANGELA: Wow. On top of everything else, you can Dj too?

NOZTRA: Not Really. Not really my field, but I did a lil something back then, not anymore.

ANGELA: Oh ok. Got you. So what other music industry things have you dipped into?

NOZTRA: I'm very opened minded & I listen 2 everything. Urban is my main Field. I grew up Listening 2 Hip Hop & R&B, Reggaeton, Etc. Since I grew up in NY I didnt follow much the Latin side when I came to Merengue or Bachata but I listened to that as well.

ANGELA: You were featured on “Sangre Nueva”, “Da Fuxion: Mas Que Perreo”, “El Draft 2005” and you will be featured on "Mas Flow Millenium", “Dj Ecko: Invasion Vol. 1”, “Las 9 Plagas 3”, “Los Compadres”, “Mafia”, and “Sopranos Special Edition”. How do you choose which albums you would like to jump on?

NOZTRA: I Actually Dont Choose The Album I Jump Off. Most Of The Album Producers Call About It. But Be On The Look Out Since I Will Be Appearing In Most Of The Productions Releasing This Year!

ANGELA: Nice. How exciting is it to have people calling you and dying to have you on their albums?

NOZTRA: Wow, Very Exciting U Know. Shows That My Music Is Being Respected The Way I Want To & That I'm Becoming WHat I Wanna Be, An Artist That Is Here To Stay, Not Being A 1 Hit Wonder.

ANGELA: Ha ha ha. Yea that is VERY important! Do you write all of your own music?

NOZTRA: Yes I Do, all my tracks are written by me. I also write for other artist as well. I'm signed to Universal Latino's Publishing.

ANGELA: Wow, that's tight! Who have you written for, or is that confidential?

NOZTRA: Thats confidential. That is the meaning of being a ghostwriter. What I can tell you is that it’s for artist of genre such as Baladas, etc. I just don’t stick to writing Reggaeton!

ANGELA: Wow. Nice. When you write your songs (for you) do you write them based on personal experiences?

NOZTRA: Yes I do. That’s the easiest way to write.

ANGELA: I can imagine. So now for a few questions that all the lady Noztra fans want answered: Are you single?

NOZTRA: Yes I Am. Single, No Kids. I'm Focused on my Career & I'm too Young to Get Married as Well.

ANGELA: I feel you. So what is your ideal night out when you aren't working?

NOZTRA: Sometimes I like 2 spend the night chilling @ the crib, watching a movie but most of the time i'm clubbing even when i'm not working.

ANGELA: Do you have anything that you are currently working on now that's not a featuring?

NOZTRA: Yes. I just recorded a track with Biggie that has never been released. This is gonna be huge. The radio stations are calling like crazy, this will start airing soon.

ANGELA: That's great! Ok so out of all the tracks that you have ever done, honestly, which is your favorite?

NOZTRA: I dont know. I have a few.

ANGELA: Can you tell us which ones, and why?

NOZTRA: Damelo Duro is one of those since it was the 1st track I got on Radio with. This track was also one of the tracks that helped me get the deal I landed with Machete. El Maquinon I like a lot. Same as Te Quise Amar, which has a story that happens daily.

ANGELA: How do you describe your musical style in your own words?

NOZTRA: I'm a versatile artist. I manage to write about anything. I'm very commercial, but can be underground as well. I'm the diamond in the dirt that hasn't been found just like 50 Cent said.

ANGELA: What are some of the things you would like to accomplish in 2006?

NOZTRA: Many. 1st of all keeping my fans happy & getting known where they still don't know me. I'm about to start working on my 2nd album which still doesn't have a due date (it can drop late 2006 or early 2007). The album will be entirely produce in PR by Luny Tunes, Nelly, Tainy, Eliel, Monserrate & DJ Urba, Myztiko among others and will feature some of the top artist like Wisin & Yandel, Don Omar, Gallego, Hector El Father, which are part of Machete Music. "King Of New York" that's the name of the album as of now. There are many things I'll be doing throughout the year, which will help my career, so be on the look out for Noztra!

ANGELA: What is your official website?

NOZTRA: My official website is being worked on. It should be up in the following weeks. Its www.noztraonline.com you can find info about me in www.machetemusic.com that's the site to the label

ANGELA: Do you have any advice for up and coming musicians?
NOZTRA: They have to follow their dreams. Work hard & create good music. This is the way to make things happen.

ANGELA: How about to all those fans, if you could say one thing to them, what would it be?

NOZTRA: Thank you so much for so much love. Without you guys us artist wouldn't be what we are. Trust me when I say I will never make my people look bad (Dominicans) I'm the 1 that's carrying the flag & repping the country internationally. Also remember that this now is more than Reggaeton, this is now a Movement!

ANGELA: Do you have any shout outs that you would like to give?

NOZTRA: Yeah to all those that believe in me, to the 1's who don't and live their life hating, thanks for keeping me in ya' mind & for the free promotion. To Ammo my Manager, Heist, Steve, Filo, CIN Productions, Machete Music, Dj Spanky and all them sexy single Ladies, BMC, My Jeweler Baby J & Co. And to Reggaeton Wear (Since I'm the face of that clothing line which is the official Reggaeton line that's coming out this fall) …………One Luv always... The Real King of NY.... NOZTRA - YA' AIN'T READY !

ANGELA: Well thank you very much for giving our readers the opportunity to find out a little more about you. I appreciate it.

NOZTRA: Thanks Angela...Cuidate and have a good 1... Bye!

ANGELA: Ok have a nice night.