The sky behind him is a whirlwind of gray clouds caressing the peaks of the Andes. But Maluma, Who is sitting on a terrace overlooking the surrounding vegetation and the center of Medellin, does not flinch, interested only in his look, which includes a Nike Air Force 1black, an Audemars Piguet watch, a denim jacket and huge glasses Kenzo skier style. After a few moments of struggle with the Zoom, he manages to activate the audio and starts with a cheerful one “How are you, how are you?”.
The dress and greeting are as powerful as this singer is supposed to be and 27-year-old Colombian composer, The seductive mix of reggaeton and Latin trap has managed to attract a huge global audience in the midst of a pandemic. Its subject Hawaii, second single of the album Papi Juancho – recorded during the confinement and published in the summer – reached number 12 on the charts in the United States (and number 1 in our country), and his nightclub collaboration with Black Eyed Peas, Feel the Beat, Has also been a success.
While acknowledging that, “Of course, 2020 was hard for everyone”, He sees it as his best year: “Both artistically and on the personal side. I feel reborn ». Like a lot of people, he spent most of his days at home, putting his priorities in order. “Recently, I was talking to my parents, and they are happy that I have stayed so long in Colombia, but they are worried because they do not know what will happen to my work. For me, it has been positive to be here. I’ve reconnected with myself », daus.
The truth is that Maluma’s parents have nothing to worry about, because 2021 looks like it will be another magical year for their son. On January 28, coinciding with his birthday, he launched his sixth studio album, titled # 7DJ (Seven Days in Jamaica-Seven Days in Jamaica) and full of reg-gae and dancehall influences. In addition, if nothing prevents it, he is expected to resume the tour interrupted twelve months ago by the pandemic, which in July would take him to Madrid, Barcelona, Murcia and the Concert Music Festival of Sancti Petri. I on June 18 will premiere in Spain Casa’t amb mi, a romantic comedy in which he shares a poster with Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson, And which is an unlikely love story between a pop star and a teacher. He gives life to Bastian, her fiancé until he discovers his infidelity with his assistant.
This film debut is quite a rarity, as few Hollywood projects have had two Latin protagonists recently. According to a statistic, only 4.9% of the roles with dialogue in the top 100 films of 2019 were played by Hispanic actors. And the director of the film, Kat Coiro, admits that in the script was not like that. “But when we met him, the story took on more nuances.”, Stands out. “Beyond sharing the language of fame, there is also a common language and culture, which makes Owen’s character feel even more outsider.”. It was Lopez herself, as a producer, who proposed to Maluma. “We shuffled a lot of people: Adam Levine, John Mayer, Drake … And then I suggested, ‘You know what? It would be nice to release a bilingual album with the movie. Why don’t we choose a Latin superstar?’.
What is clear on screen, as well as in their duet performance at the American Music Awards 2020, is that between the two is what Coiro says “A palpable chemistry”. And does he have anything to add? “Jennifer is not just a companion … I would say she is my friend; a person I admire and the career I have followed since I was a child. For me, being part of this cast was surreal. And, although it was a surprise to be offered it, I was ready ». If that’s the case, it’s probably because this isn’t the first time you’ve seen them with icons. He has recorded several times with his compatriot Shakira and has collaborated with Mdonna on the song Medellin and its music video, as well as singing together at the Billboard Music Awards 2019. This is how he describes the pop queen: “She loves to do things organically; it is very spiritual. The shooting of the video was almost 48 hours non-stop, and I was impressed that, at 62, he looks younger than me. The good vibes, by the way, were mutual. “When I met him, I was attracted to his positivity and energy.”, Madonna account by email. “And when I found out what it was like, what surprised me was his ability to work. We saw that we were twin creative souls and we had fun together ».
The word spiritual often arises in conversation, which is far removed from his image of other times, when songs like Four Babies earned him that reputation of Don Juan Malote. However, lately he is willing to get rid of the character. “I think today’s artists are losing their spirituality, and that’s sad.”, he says. “I don’t see them resenting or meditating; that’s why I connect better with people like Madonna, Shakira and Jennifer. People often tell me that I am an old soul, but in the end you can be the biggest star in the world, that if you are not spiritual, you are empty inside. With Ricky Martin, for example, you feel that his aura is very blue, very clear. However, if you go to a session in Miami with lads my age, they only talk about material things. And I’m in plan: “Okay, it’s great to have a Lamborghini, it’s okay to have a Rolex and a big house … and when are you going to have a great soul?” ».
In 1994, just three years before Jennifer Lopez rose to fame with the film Selena, Maluma was born in the district of Envigado, in Medellín, with the name of Juan Luis Londoño Arias. Her mother was a housewife and her father an employee of a logistics company. “We were not rich, although we did not pass penalties”, Underline. “Then my father lost everything and they divorced.”. He does not go into details, but points out that this experience at the age of twelve inspired his work ethic: “It made me realize that I had to do my best so that my family could eat and buy a house. Even so, my childhood was happy ». One of his most important memories is putting a CD he had recorded in a local studio with his high school classmates. “They started laughing and dancing at the same time. I was confused; I was thinking, are they kidding me or do they really like the songs? At last they said to me, “We laughed because you have talent and you will succeed.”.
Although in recent years he has lived between Miami and the private plane that takes him to his con-certs and television appearances, for him his home is still with his in Colombia. In fact, the place from which he has connected is his father’s house. “Medellin is quiet”, He assures as he glances at the trees. “I know it’s known globally as a violent place, but it’s not like that anymore. We are more than that. Pablo Escobar is not Medellín. There are many beautiful things to tell about this place». His love for his hometown has also inspired his foundation, The Art of Dreams. “When I started my career, I wanted to help the people who had helped me, and these were the neighborhood guys, the ones who heard my issues and were my first fans. Of course, they sell drugs and go armed “, Explain. The organization offers them singing and dancing courses, as well as hope: “I often repeat that music saved my life. And to mine. Music is everything to me.
Family has always been key to Maluma. Not in vain, his stage name unites the first letters of the names of his mother (Marlli), his father (Luis) and his sister (Manuela). Now he is even inseparable from the latter, with whom he was not too united as a child. “We love going to the farm, riding horses, talking …”, Aim. “She’s a psychologist, and it’s nice that someone like that is by your side. This world is very crazy; you need people to support you and listen to you. He is like my spiritual guide. ”Another childhood memory has to do with his obstinacy to dress himself, even though his aesthetic decisions are sometimes … questionable. “At the age of eight, my mother would not let me, because I would take, what do I know, hats and boots with boxers and a T-shirt of lentils. I always wanted to choose my looks “, he reiterates.
Today he receives invitations for fashion shows in Paris or New York … although he still asks his stylist, Ugo Mozie, for what he defines as “a machine”. An example? “I start, ‘Brother, do you know I dreamed of a pink dress with pearls?’ And he said, “Wafer, where am I going to find this? Let’s see, give me a second.” After a couple of calls, he writes, “Okay, you’ll have to do it.” It doesn’t matter what you put on — or what you don’t put on; see if not his hypersexual lingerie campaign by Calvin Klein with a hose-, because nothing is wrong with it. So it is no mystery that it has become muse of designers such as Olivier Rousteing, of Balmain, or Kim Jones, of Dior Homme, Author of several looks for his 11:11 tour.
However, he is seen to be no happier with his fashion getaways than wakesurfing with his childhood friends at the Guatapé Reservoir, two hours east of Medellin. It was there when we made the first interview attempt, the day before this one, but the wifi prevented us from doing it. He says his closest group has remained unchanged: “The truth is, I don’t like making new friends. I’ve tried it in the music industry, and it’s hard. Sometimes I feel like they want to be, and when I turn around, they stab me. I prefer to stay with the security they give me. When I had no money, they were here, inviting me to lunch at their house. The same ones who laughed at me, now enjoy my success. That’s life; you have to be grateful for everything that happens ».