- What does your name Maluma mean?
- My mom's name is Marlli, my dad's name is Luis
and my sister is Manuela.
So I took the first letters of each name.
It's a very special name for me
because it's talking always about my family.
- You're such a family person yet you're always on the road.
How do you stay grounded being away
from your mom, dad, and sister?
- My family man, I would say like my family they're
always super real with me, you know.
They don't have to lie to me for nothing.
So it's amazing every time, they know I'm a human being
and I do mistakes like, as everyone so,
they're always super honest with me
and they tell me the truth.
Now they are going to Mexico, I think the Mexican tour,
I think I'm bringing my family with me.
For the last tour I did here in the States,
they came with me everywhere.
They live in Colombia.
I have my house in Colombia you know,
and I still have like those roots
that's very important for me.
- I've always wanted to know, what was that moment
that gave you your first really big break in the US market?
- When I did the song, "Arms Around You" with
Lil Pump and Swae Lee and XXXTentacion.
That's when everything changed for me
in the American market.
After that I did this huge collaboration with Madonna.
That is "Medellin."
So I'm trying to break the market, man.
And I feel so grateful with the American fans
because they're supporting me in a very nice way.
- Yeah, let's get in to "Medellin."
How did you and Madonna first meet?
- Well actually, that was here in New York,
when I came for the VMAs.
I got a connection a very nice connection with her
the first time that I saw her.
Then I was in London working,
I was doing some concerts and she texted me
and she told me that she wanted to do a song
with me that was named "Medellin."
Medellin is my hometown.
I came from Medellin, Colombia.
And immediately I went to the studio,
we started working on the song.
After that we went to L.A. and we finished
the song there and we did another song for her album.
And then when she wanted to leave like at 2 a.m.,
I was like you know what?
Please, I want to have another collaboration with you
for my album, '11:11.'
And she said yes, she recorded the vocals there
and man I still can't believe that it happened.
I'm so happy.
- Tell us about the record, "Soltera?"
- "Soltera."
- Yeah, yeah, what's that mean?
- Single, single, single, single
because Madonna right now, she's single
and she's a boss lady you know.
And she does what ever she wants to do.
So that's what I'm trying to say and communicate
with this song, "Soltera."
Like she's single, and she's having a great time like that.
This is like another chapter in my career like I would say
like I'm reborning right now with this new concept
that I'm working.
I've been in the game for a while and trying to
evolve every time is kind of difficult you know,
but that's what I'm doing right now, I love changing.
I try to keep my essence, you know that's very important.
That's why '11:11' is a very colorful,
and very positive album.
'F.A.M.E.,' my last album, was kind of dark you know,
because I was going through a lot of things.
But right now my personal life
and my career I'm feeling so grateful.
I just try to keep my essence but keep evolving.
I have Ricky Martin in the album.
I was working with Nicky Jam, Ozuna,
all these very important reggaeton artists too.
I feel like '11:11' is an album
that I really wanted to do since I started my career.
Because it's got like the same sounds that I had
when I started my career you know.
But now with a lot of quality
and all these big and huge collaborations.
So yeah, who else I have? Zion and Lennox,
I have Madonna on it.
- I know you are a big fan of Justin Timberlake.
Are we ever going to see you two work together?
- Man, I would love it.
I would love it.
That's actually that's my dream collaboration
but I know it's gonna happen.
With all these things that we're living with '11:11,'
the wishes, the space, the universe, everything,
I think with the Law of Attraction, that's how you say it?
- Yes.
With the Law of Attraction, I would say like,
it could happen, soon.
Why not? Justin.
I'm here Maluma, baby, pay attention!
- You heard, Justin, pay attention!
Make it happen, man.
- Yeah, make it happen, man!