From career milestones to new music releases to major announcements and those little important moments, Billboard editors highlight uplifting moments in Latin music. Here’s what happened in the Latin music world this week.
Maluma on Mental Health, Fatherhood and Learning to “Love Discomfort”
Maluma spoke candidly about therapy, anxiety, fatherhood and the challenge of balancing family life with a demanding career during the “Like Minded” conversation at Billboard Latin Music Week on Wednesday (Oct. 21). Moderated by Billboard’s co-chief content officer Leila Cobo, the BetterHelp-presented session also featured bilingual therapist Patricia Arrieta.
The conversation came shortly after the birth of Maluma’s second child, Orion, whom he said has brought him a new sense of calm and clarity. “I’ve finally been able to find that balance between my personal life and my artistic career,” he said. The Colombian star described therapy as an ongoing practice rather than a quick fix. “For me, therapy is being quiet, it is meditation, it’s constantly feeling uncomfortable and learning to love that discomfort,” he said.
Maluma acknowledged that he still experiences anxiety while managing his responsibilities as a father, artist, entrepreneur and leader of a large team. After undergoing a tension headache during an especially demanding week, he used ChatGPT to help organize his schedule and prioritize his well-being. “I started prioritizing my peace, lowering my burdens and stress,” he said. “I need at least four hours in the afternoon to spend with my family.”
He also spoke about moving away from extreme approaches to fitness and developing a healthier relationship with food and his body. “If you love yourself, you make good decisions,” he said. “My health is not negotiable.”
Reflecting on his latest album, Loco por Volver, Maluma said the project became part of his personal transformation. “It was the album that gave me back so many things I had lost,” he said. “The music transformed me.”
“Help is closer than we think,” he added.
Pablo Alborán & RIZA Turn a Latin Music Week Collab Into a Finished Song at Billboard Latin Music Awards
What began as a live songwriting experiment at last year’s Billboard Latin Music Week became a finished release — and then a Billboard Latin Music Awards performance on Thursday (Oct. 22). Pablo Alborán and RIZA delivered “Deditos Cruzados,” the dreamy collaboration they created during last year’s “Making the Hit, Live!” panel with producer Julio Reyes Copello and engineer Natalia Schlesinger.
Released Oct. 1, the song blends soulful vocals, Middle Eastern-tinged rhythms and lyrics about longing. Onstage, the pair performed from a warm, living room-inspired set, turning a creative experiment born in front of an audience into a full-circle musical moment. Check out “Deditos Cruzados” live below.
Nanpa Básico and Nella Bring Hope During Billboard Latin Music Awards After Colombia and Venezuela Earthquakes
Colombian artist Nanpa Básico and Venezuelan singer Nella delivered a moving rendition of “Todo Cambia,” the classic written by Julio Numhauser and famously popularized by Mercedes Sosa. Their Billboard Latin Music Awards performance on Thursday (Oct. 22) acknowledged the devastation caused by earthquakes that hit their home countries. Images of shattered buildings and concrete paved way to green plants emerging from the rubble. Nella sang beside the wreckage in a flowing brown gown, while Nanpa brought a cowboy-inspired touch to the bittersweet duet. By the end, the stage had transformed into a portrait of renewal — a reminder that, even after tragedy, something hopeful can grow. See their performance below.