If it wasn’t for a seven-day trip to Jamaica,Malumamay have stopped singing.
The reggaeton star, born Juan Luis Londono Arias, had traveled there in Jan. 2020.
After years of non-stop work, Maluma was tired.
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He felt like he could give it all up.
“When I took that trip, I really needed a break,” he tells EW in Spanish.
“Things get busy and it’s possible for you to’t find inspiration on demand.
The trip also allowed him to honor one of his idols, Bob Marley.
And it wasn’t just his music that I admired but also his activism.
He continues to inspire me every day.”
“I don’t think words exist to express my gratitude to him for his participation.
Working with Ziggy was like having a sliver of the island’s roots embedded in my legacy forever.”
(Black, a reggae and dancehall star himself, is also featured on the EP).
The opportunity gave Maluma insight into a country he’d been wanting to go to for years.
“Before I even began my career, I always dreamed of visiting Jamaica,” he says.
I’m a huge fan of reggae, which heavily influenced reggaeton."
This album is a small way to show my love for Jamaica and for Black culture.
My iPod was full of artists from the Black community and I owe them a debt of gratitude."
“I really didn’t believe that many people would show up.
I really didn’t,” he says with a genuinely surprised look on his face.
“I’m really being sincere here.
Taking out the element of the pandemic, I was really touched to see them all there for me.
This pandemic has been so tough, I really miss being with my fans.
I miss concerts and really connecting with people one-on-one.
I managed to take a few photos but then we had to shut it down.
I want to thank everyone who showed up and let them know I felt the love.
Once things are safe again, I’ll be right back out there with my fans.
That’s my happy place.”
