You might’ve heard Bad Bunny namecheck “Mariana” and “Silvana” in “VOU 787.” Those aren’t random names — they’re from the classic Mexican telenovela Cómplices al Rescate, twins played by the multitalented, mononymous Belinda. And just in case it wasn’t clear, he mentions her directly on “Perro Negro,” praising her charm.
“I answered [Bad Bunny] with a song, ‘La Cuadrada’,” says the immensely likeable Belinda a few weeks after the release of her latest album, Indómita, on which “La Cuadrada” (featuring Tito Double P) appears. She continues. “We haven’t met, but we know each other through the music.”
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After Indómita dropped last year, her Instagram filled with well-wishes from across the Latino creative world — and Jared Leto. Maluma, Lele Pons, J. Balvin, Danna, Ricky Martin, Sebastián Yatra, Juanpa Zurita, and others draw out her name in affectionate messages: “Beliiiiii.”
Indómita is her fifth album and first in 12 years. It blends traditional Mexican sounds with collaborations from corridos tumbados figure Natanael Cano, reggaeton artist Netón Vega, and a pop/rock moment with Leto’s 30 Seconds to Mars. The title reflects her current mindset — indomitable, unconquerable — creatively and personally. And she’s aiming to expand her reach in North America.
“In Mexico, I have a fan base and people know me, but when I do a project, I have this feeling of starting from zero,” she says. “I get excited and nervous, like it is the first time.”
Belinda has been in the spotlight since age 10 as a TV star, then as a pop singer at 14. Her second album, Utopía, earned two Latin Grammy nominations. Her music and acting careers have run parallel ever since, with her latest TV role in Mentiras, la serie premiering just days after Indómita. Before the album’s release, Belinda reflected on being judged by longtime fans. “If I were a new artist, they wouldn’t expect anything. In that way, it’s a little more demanding.”
She’s a self-described workaholic. “It’s never enough and that can be frustrating. It’s difficult to find time to relax and breathe, and I challenge myself to become better every day.”
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