Leila Cobo and Maluma speak onstage at the Sony Music Publishing Iconic Songwriter Q&A with Maluma during Billboard Latin Music Week 2026 held at Furia Miami on October 21, 2026 in Miami Beach, Florida.Jose "Chepe" Devillegas

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 co-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.

Publication : Billboard
 
Author : Natalia Cano