Natalie Ann Yepez,[1] better known by her stage name Maluca,is an American singer who grew up in Washington Heights, Manhattan.

[1] Raised on a steady diet of bachata, cumbia, merengue, and mambo, as well as hip-hop and other club music,[1] Maluca's music has been described as "experimental tropical punk, ghettotech, and hip-house".

[1] Although a bad case of stage fright kept her out of the spotlight for much of her life, a chance meeting with Diplo while performing karaoke eventually led to "El Tigeraso", Maluca's first single.

[2] The years 2009 and 2010 saw her touring, performing, and releasing what she calls "tropical punk" tracks.

[3] Since the release of her single in 2009, Maluca has recorded tracks that range from merengue mashups to kuduro to old-school deep house and focused on her stage show, which includes two dancers named the Cookies.