Pitizion had a promising 2020 ahead of her that included a music video with Greeicy and touring with Alejandro Sanz as his opening act. But despite the current health crisis putting plans on pause, the Colombian-born emerging artist has continued creating music and getting her name out there.
Born in the Llanos Region, Pitizion (real name: María del Pilar Pérez) got on the radar with her acting career, making her debut on the popular 2011 Nickelodeon Latinoamérica show Grachi. About three years ago, she decided to share her musical talent on social media because her “music never left her room.”
“My passion for music derives from my father’s passing when I was a child,” the now Miami-based artist tells Billboard. “I didn’t know how to express my feelings and my way of doing so was writing lyrics and singing for him.”
Pitizion was ultimately discovered by record producer Andres Saavedra, who not only believed in her project, but also took her music to Universal Music Latin, where she officially signed in early 2019.
“I’ll be honest: I never saw this dream come true. I never imagined myself signing with a record label. I don’t know if that’s good or bad, but I didn’t have a lot of vision back then,” she admits. “It’s incredibly and completely changed my life. The most beautiful part is saying that Universal and Andres have taught me to dream and believe in myself.”
Since joining the Universal family, Pitizion has released her debut single “Ella” on July 5, 2019, dropped an eight-track EP dubbed La Piti, and nabbed collaborations with artists such as Greeicy (“No Pasa Nada”) and Rafa Pabon and Big Soto for the remix of “Ella.”
Though she does not like to be boxed in a genre, Piti describes herself as a modern singer-songwriter with pop-urban melodies and hints of rap. Her empowering, witty lyrics and bohemian, global fusions are primarily influenced by artists such as Cuban rappers Los Aldeanos, Puerto Rican rapper Rene “Residente” Perez, Spanish artist Bebe and Colombian vallenato stars. “I grabbed a little bit of what I heard in life and created my own version,” she concludes.
She’s currently making the rounds with her single “Tú,” which sends a powerful message about self-love and diversity. Learn more about this week’s Latin Artist on the Rise below.
Name: Maria del Pilar Perez. “My mom always called me ‘Piti,’” she says of her artistic name. “When I was 19, a man named Papa Zion did dreadlocks on me. Joking around, he blessed them with ‘Pitizion’ and it just stuck from then.”
Age: 28
Major Accomplishment: “Signing with a record label that supports my career. Releasing my first EP was also very magical — seeing your dreams, endless nights, happiness, and disappointments come to life. There are many stories behind this EP that become something special and a big accomplishment for me.”
Recommended Song: “‘Tú.’ The message is very broad. I originally wrote the song for my boyfriend because of his simplicity and essence captivated me. I consider myself a very spiritual girl. I’m normal. I make errors. I analyze my life. There are people out there who are beautiful on the outside but ugly on the inside. Unfortunately, that’s what society is selling us. This song is for anyone and can be dedicated to your mom, a friend, to yourself, even! It’s a reminder to not forget that we are unique.”
What’s Next? Piti had many plans slated for 2020, but despite the global pandemic, she’s been working more than ever. “I haven’t stopped! I will continue releasing music this year, and hopefully release my first album.”
