Maluma Gets Emotional While Reflecting on His Hits During Latin Music Week: ‘I Feel Complete’

Maluma was moved to tears on Wednesday (Oct. 21) as he listened to his 2020 hit “Hawái” and reflected on different stages of his 15-year career during Billboard Latin Music Week. The Colombian superstar headlined the “Iconic Songwriter Q&A” presented by Sony Music Publishing, where he shared the stories behind some of his most popular tracks.

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“I cry out of gratitude, I swear,” said the Medellín-born star when he heard the opening notes of the song, which topped Billboard‘s Hot Latin Songs chart for nine weeks. The song also reached No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 thanks to its remix with The Weeknd.

“When I hear songs like that, so many memories come to mind; that’s why I got emotional. It’s that beautiful gratitude deep in my heart,” the singer-songwriter told Billboard‘s Chief Content Officer Leila Cobo during the conversation. “How many things we’ve achieved! I feel complete, fulfilled.”

In addition to “Hawái,” other songs that have made Maluma one of the biggest exponents of Latin music today were featured during the talk, including his recent single with Shakira, “Agua”; “1 + 1” with Kany García; and “Amor de Mi Vida.”

Regarding “Agua,” the sensual merengue that marks a new chapter in the creative relationship between the two Colombian stars, Maluma shared that the track — released on Sept. 17 — had been created some time ago, but it wasn’t until he transformed it into a merengue with Sky Rompiendo that the idea of inviting Shakira arose. The two had previously collaborated on “Chantaje,” “Trap” and “Clandestino” and shared a Billboard cover in 2018.

“Personally, I love working with Shakira,” Maluma said. “It’s a big opportunity for growth… People already know we have incredible chemistry in the studio and on stage. She’s one of those artists who has shaped her career through discipline and focus. I say this because she’s someone who’s reached where she is because of her character.”

About “1 + 1,” his duet with Kany García released this past January, Maluma explained that the song reflects the moment he is living in, with “that desire to return to the basics, to simplicity, to my roots, to my beloved homeland, Colombia.” The singer-songwriter acknowledged that he wouldn’t be who he is without his native Medellín.

He also spoke about “Según Quién,” his 2023 collaboration with Mexican music superstar Carín León, which he believes represents the marriage between Colombia and Mexico. Maluma revealed that he learned about Mexican culture through his parents and grandparents, and he stated that some of the best concerts he has ever performed took place in Mexico. “I would love to experiment much more with regional music,” he said. “It’s a path I haven’t started yet.”

At the end of the panel, Maluma received a commemorative plaque from Jorge Mejía, president and CEO of Sony Music Publishing Latin America and U.S. Latin, celebrating more than 30 songs that have reached No. 1 on various Billboard charts.