Don Juan

“It's been a beautiful journey, creating this whole new vibe,” Maluma tells Apple Music about his first proper album since 2020’s provocative <i>Papi Juancho</i>. As an artist who frequently reaches for first-person characters to drive his projects, the Colombian superstar is taking a more mature turn. “Before this, I was thinking, all the things had to be in a rush, because I'm always racing,” he says of the shift and its impact on his focus. “I feel like I'm in a marathon right now. This is a career that needs to last forever.” The diversity and potency present throughout <i>Don Juan</i> reflect undeniable growth. Singles like the refreshing “COCO LOCO” and the thumping Gordo team-up “Parcera” provide contrast with more balladic numbers “La Reina” and “Sobrio”. He indulges in bright, explosive dance pop on “Ave Maria” and “Junio” in addition to rhythmic cross-pollination on the beat-switching “Diablo, Qué Chimba” with Anuel AA, two more examples of his ever-expanding range. He knowingly nods to a Fugees classic on “Los Polvos” and enlists Yandel for the cinematic reggaetón of “Trofeo”, all the while maintaining a clear, optimistic ethos. “This album is pure joy,” he says. “Every track is full of positive vibes.” From the eye-opening Carin Leon team-up “Según Quién” to his Marc Anthony salsa blast “La Fórmula”, the collaborations he’s curated are as broad as they are impressive. All in all, <i>Don Juan</i> represents Maluma’s most ambitious project, no small feat in a discography full of creative risk-taking. “Every time I wake up every morning, I'm like, ‘Okay, this is a new day. This is full of opportunities. What's next?’ I love being busy.”