International singer Maluma covers the February issue of Elle, and the 26-year-old Colombian artist not only makes history as the first male to ever cover the magazine, also makes his acting debut in the Jennifer Lopez film Marry Me.
Inside the latest issue, he dishes on what it was like working with the triple threat. He also dishes on Madonna, who he collaborated with on her last album Madame X.
On 2020 Being A Great Year For Him:
“Musically, artistically, and personally. I feel like I was reborn,” the “Hawái” crooner notes. “I was talking the other day with my parents, and they were very happy because I’ve stayed a long time in Colombia, but they were also a little bit worried because they didn’t know what was going to happen with my work. My job is being on tour, but for me this has been very positive, being here in Colombia. I feel very connected again with myself.”
On How Hard It Is To Make Friends In The Industry:
“I don’t really like having new friends,” Maluma says. “I try to make friends in the industry, but it is very hard. Sometimes I feel like they want to be my friends, but once I show them my back, they stab me. I prefer staying safe with my friends, where I always feel comfortable. When I didn’t have any money, they were there for me, inviting me to their house for lunch. They’re the ones who were laughing at me, and now they are enjoying my success. That’s life — just being grateful for everything that has happened.”
As for Marry Me, JLo always had a musician in mind before settling on Maluma (names like Adam Levine and Drake were tossed around before the Latin superstar got the part).
The rom-com, which will be released in May, follows Lopez, a pop star, who, moments before marrying her rock star fiancé (played by Maluma) at Madison Square Garden, finds out he was cheating with her assistant and spontaneously picks a random math teacher (Owen Wilson) out of the crowd to marry instead.
On his relationship with Lopez Being Much Deeper Than Being Co-Stars:
“Jennifer, she’s not only a work partner — I would say she is my friend,” he explained. “She is someone I admire, and she is someone I’ve followed since I was a little kid. So for me, being part of this movie was almost surreal. It was a big surprise when they called me, but I was ready for it.”
On Collaborating With Madonna on “Medellín,” Which He Also Performed With Her at The 2019 Billboard Music Awards:
“Madonna loves doing things in an organic way — she is very spiritual,” Maluma said. “When we were doing the ‘Medellín’ video, it was almost 48 hours working nonstop, and I was surprised, because Madonna, she was 60 years old, but she looks like she is younger than me.”
Madonna also expressed her admiration for the singer.
“When I first met Maluma, I was drawn to his positivity and good energy,” Madonna told the magazine. “But when I got to know him, what surprised me was his work ethic. Being in the studio with him was effortless, and performing with him on ‘Medellín’ was a gratifying collaboration. We proved to be creative kindred spirits and had a fun time doing it.”
On Forging A Spiritual Connection With the Artists He Collaborates With:
“I feel like the artists right now, the modern artists, are losing their spirituality, and that’s kind of sad,” he said. “I don’t feel like they pray or meditate, and that’s why I feel connected with artists like Madonna, Shakira, and Jennifer. Sometimes people tell me that I’m an old soul because of that, but at the end of the day, you can be the biggest star in the world, but if you are not spiritual, you are empty inside.”
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