Billboard In Conversation

13 Mar 2025

Myriam Hernández on How She Met Karol G & Their ‘El Hombre Que Yo Amo’ Duet | Billboard In Conversation

Myriam Hernández shares how she began hosting the Festival de Viña, recounts the story of how she met Karol G and their memorable duet of “El Hombre Que Yo Amo” during her performance at Viña del Mar, reflects on her personal growth since her divorce, discusses what it’s like working with her son as her publicist, highlights her friendship with Luis Miguel, reveals plans for her upcoming tour later in the year and more!

Leila Cobo:
Myriam Hernández, I would tell you, “Welcome to Billboard,” but it looks like you’re the one who has to tell me, “Welcome to Viña del Mar.”

Myriam Hernández:
Welcome to my country. Welcome to Viña del Mar, Leila. You’re always welcome here, and you’re always welcome in my heart because I have great affection for you, just like your husband, who is a tremendous musician, Arthur Hanlon. I know your family, and your children as well. So, there is a closeness and affection there since always. 

The feeling is totally mutual. I should say that the first time I came to Chile and to Viña del Mar was for a Festival de Viña where Myriam was the lead. 

It was in 2005.

And you welcomed me in Hotel O’Higgins. Do you remember?

Exactly.

At the Hotel O’Higgins with a bottle of Carménère, which was the first time that I drank Carménère in my life. I remember a lot.

How beautiful, but you’re always welcome here, always.

Myriam, you did Viña for five years?

This came up. Well, I lived in Miami. You remember I lived there for 10 years. And in 2001 they invited me — well, they sent me the invitation in December for the festival in 2002. At first, I got really nervous because it was like I’m not a host, and I took this as a challenge. I said, “Well, it’s one night and it’s the overture for the festival,” and in the end, I stayed for five years with different hosts.

Keep watching for more!

12 Mar 2025

Ha*Ash Talk Working With Thalia on ‘Amiga Date Cuenta’ & More | Billboard In Conversation

Ha*Ash shares how performing at Viña del Mar in 2018 changed the trajectory of their career, how they’re able to maintain their energy after 23 years, working with Thalia on “Amiga Date Cuenta,” an upcoming release for a new single, red flags they have for men and more.

Ingrid Fajardo:
Hi, friends at Billboard! Today we’re here in Chile, and look at who we brought from Miami! Now we’re in Chile at Viña del Mar, how are you, Ha*Ash?

Ha*Ash:
We’re so happy with life, emotional, grateful. It’s our second time at Viña del Mar, so … We’re so happy to talk to you. 

Aw, how cute! So the last time you were here was 2018. How do the emotions feel this time around because, obviously, it’s totally different. This time you’re going to be singing. 

Well, the first time we came we were judges and we sang and it was a beautiful experience. We’ve talked about it a lot, but they were feelings that marked a “before” and an “after” in our career because Viña is watched by all of Latin America, and it was an opportunity for people to get to know our music. And I remember that there were countries where we were going to do performances in theaters, but after Viña we were able to do stadiums. So it was a “before” and “after” that was really important for us, and we’re so grateful for Viña. Now that we’ve received the invitation to come back again, we got really emotional because now we’re touring all over South America, and it’s a festival that we have a lot of appreciation for. It’s very prestigious, and it’s a monster, but we’re happy because our Chilean fans make us feel worthy of being here.

Keep watching for more!

11 Mar 2025

Kidd Voodoo on How He Started Making Reggaeton, His Love for Rock & More | Billboard In Conversation 

Kidd Voodoo shares his experience of being on the panel for Viña Del Mar, how he went from making rock music to reggaeton, why he chose Kidd Voodoo as his stage name, his feelings about Chilean music starting to spread, defining Chilean slang and more!

Leila Cobo:
David, welcome to Billboard!

Kidd Voodoo:
Thank you.

Well, for the people that don’t know, David is Kidd Voodoo. So here in Chile, you guys know him by his artistic name, Kidd Voodoo. He’s one of the biggest trap rappers in Chile at this moment, but his real name is David León. In other words, why Kidd Voodoo? 

Because I needed to start releasing music and I wanted to give myself a name. In that moment in Chile, it was really trendy to put a prefix like it was in the United States, putting “Lil” or “Kid,” too. So I preferred to put “Kid” because there were a couple of artists that I really liked that had it and I needed to upload the song in that moment because I had already announced it.

So you didn’t have a lot of time to think about this?

No, I thought about it a lot, but I said, “If I never get this song out, I’m never going to start this.” So I said, “OK let’s go through with this,” and I looked at the pedals of the guitar and someone said, “Kidd Voodoo — it doesn’t sound too bad.”

So because of a guitar pedal that had nothing to do with rap, truthfully–

Exactly. 

Well, it was a song about what? Was it rock, or was it rap?

Rap. It was a rap song, trap. Yep, and from there the name stuck and now I’m here.

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10 Mar 2025

Bacilos on Being Carín León Fans, If They’re Coming Out With a New Album This Year | Billboard In Conversation 

After performing at Viña del Mar, Bacilos sits down to talk about how they feel about their performance, being huge Carín León fans, how their career has changed since they first started, releasing Pequeños Romances as independent artists and more!

Ingrid Fagardo:
Hi, friends at Billboard, we’re here at Viña del Mar, finally. Today, we’re here with Bacilos. How are you?

Bacilos:
Really good, thank you. What a great invitation, and it’s great to be considered for Viña, thank you.

Ingrid Fagardo:
We’ve really enjoyed this week in different forms. We’ve seen you guys as judges. How do you feel about Bacilos:this week being a judge and being a fan?

Bacilos:
Because we’ve also had the opportunity to see artists that we admire on the stage, and obviously we admire the guys to have the courage to come here, to this novelty of a stage, and to be able to come to this monster. It requires a lot, it inspires a lot, and there’s a lot of respect.  

Ingrid Fagardo:
It’s the first time you’re judging right?

Bacilos:
Yes, the first time. 

Ingrid Fagardo:
I know that the night when you guys were performing, you guys made us dance. It was a really, I don’t know, it was a night full of partying. It didn’t matter how cold it was, the time didn’t matter, it was literally a Bacilos party. 

Bacilos:
Yes, it was beautiful. The people were great. After Marc performed … Well to sing and perform after Marc felt like a responsibility, a challenge almost, but the people stayed. They stayed outside on a cold night. 

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07 Mar 2025

Eladio Carrión Previews What to Expect From His New Album & Tour | Billboard In Conversation

Eladio Carrión shares what he loves about his fans, what to expect from his new album, how he’s preparing for the tour, why he loves performing and more!

Ingrid Fajardo:
Hello, my friends at Billboard! Today from Viña del Mar we are with the great Eladio Carrión. 

Eladio Carrión:
Hello, hello, hello!

How are you? It’s a pleasure to have you here. We’re enjoying the view. I was telling you that we brought a bit of San Juan.

Clearly, I feel like I’m in San Juan here next to the hill. 

Exactly, next to the hill. How are you, Eladio? How do you feel? Nervous?

I’m really good, I never get nervous. I was an athlete for many years. Those are pure nerves when you’re going to compete against other people. Do you get me? This is moreso eagerness to get on the stage, to see how the experience is, to see how people enjoy the show. You get me? It’s more eagerness than nervousness.

What–

I’m doing good though, how are you?

I’m doing good, too. What have you listened to or what expectations do you have for the “monsters,” as fans call it here,

The “monsters?” They call themselves “monsters”?

The fans do because it’s not easy.

Oh no, what are they here? They’re the best, right? Here they’re part of the top five fandoms in the world. I love to come here for that reason. They live the music, the feelings at the shows. You get me? They enjoy it because there’s nothing more beautiful to be an artist, a singer and see the people enjoying the music. Do you really get me? There’s nothing more beautiful than that.

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06 Mar 2025

Morat on Best Parts of Being in a Band, Debuting at Viña del Mar & More | Billboard In Conversation

Before Morat’s debut at Viña del Mar, the beloved Latin pop rock band shared how their dreams have evolved over time with their growth, what they love about being in a band together, how they get inspiration for their music, their personal style and more!

Ingrid Fajardo:
Hi, friends at Billboard. Today we’re in Chile at Viña del Mar. Morat, how are you?

Morat:
We’re happy to be here. 

It’s so nice to see you guys, obviously, at your debut at Viña del Mar. How are you feeling?

It’s a really profound emotion. I believe we’ve been preparing for this moment for many years. I believe its been seven … six … seven years looking at Chile. And Chile has helped us fulfill a lot of our dreams. In  fact, we found out that our fans here campaigned for us to be at the Festival de Viña, so that’s good. We feel a huge responsibility, but also emotions bigger than that. 

Yes, it’s been a minute, but in your conference you also talked about your dreams and how they’ve changed. But how do you live all of this? How far did you guys dream of going from the start when you guys first started the band?

Look, there’s one thing that we’ve ultimately talked about because I believe we came off of the stadium tours. It was not only a great dream that we were able to fulfill, but also, as if it automatically opened doors for what happens after, so we have to keep dreaming. We have been asked this several times and I believe that part of this, that I mentioned a while ago, is that I liked the way you said it. It’s like dreams fall apart and are reconfigured into different things.

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04 Mar 2025

Beyond the Music: Get to Know Carlos Vives on a Personal Level | Billboard In Conversation

Carlos Vives sat down with Billboard’s Leila Cobo at Vina del Mar and shared personal stories about his life, like going with his dad to sing for patients in the hospital, his South American tour El Rock de Mi Pueblo Vive and more. 

Leila Cobo:
Carlos Vives. Did you see the set we made for you in Viña with the sea behind us?

Carlos Vives:
No, no, no please. You look like the queen of the sea, Leila.

I was just about to say that this was to remind you of Santa Marta.

Totally, the sea always unites us. Well, greetings to you and to all of our people from Billboard and welcome to Viña del Mar. 

Well, before I ask you anything, I want to ask for that jacket that you have on because it’s so chic and I’m not used to seeing you in a formal mix.

I do mix a little bit of Bogotana things in — aren’t I dressed really Bogotano right now?

Really? That’s the thing for Bogotanas?    

Yeah, but with tennis shoes. Like this. 

Those silver tennis shoes.

Silver? Yes, you know a mix. And you know that one always … I’ve had … My dad always said that I have an old soul since I was little because I liked to be around the older people. And now that I am older, I like being with the bald ones. So you see I have a mix of– 

A mix of the old and a mix of the new. And I love that you told me that because I thought, “I’ve interviewed Carlos so many times and now with the Person of the Year they talked to him about cumbia and tradition.” And today I want to explore Carlos … the other side of Carlos that a lot of people don’t know about. 

Keep watching for more!

03 Mar 2025

Duki on His Relationship With Emilia, Touring in the U.S. & More | Billboard In Conversation

Duki opens up about his relationship with Emilia, touring in the United States for the first time, who his favorite American rappers are, what it was like to create Ameri, plays a fun game of defining Argentinian slang and more!

Leila Cobo: 
Duki, welcome.

Duki:
How is it going?

The last time that we spoke, we were in Miami. Now, we’re in Chile. It looks like I’m following you around the world. How does it feel to have a groupie?

Good, apart from that it’s from a high level. Thank you so much.

Category one, groupie from a high level. First, before anything else, what do you have on today? 

Today, I have on, also a kiss for days to Way Tri. I have on an outfit from Way Tri from Yoji Yamamoto. So thank you to God for the love all the time. I came a bit elegant because you’re always very elegant, and today I wanted to be a little bit on your level. 

Today I wasn’t that elegant. I said I’m going to dress in jeans because …

Because you thought I was coming in basketball shorts. You said, “Oh Duki is coming, he’s a rapper, he’s going to be in basketball shorts.” Right?

Exactly! I didn’t know that you had this side to you, this super tailored side, but is this clothes from your closet or did they let you borrow it?

Nope, it’s from my closet. For everyone over there, I’m my own stylist. I don’t have a stylist or anything. It’s all me.

Do you like it that way?

Yes.

You have new hair, too. 

New hair?

Keep watching for more!

02 Mar 2025

Sebastián Yatra Talks New Single ‘La Peliroja,’ New Album & More | Billboard In Conversation

Ahead of Sebastián Yatra’s performance at Viña del Mar, the singer sits down with Billboard to share the inspiration behind his upcoming single, “La Peliroja,” reveals a new album is coming this year, his friendship with Carlos Vives, performing on Broadway and more!

Leila Cobo:
Hi, Sebas.

Sebastián Yatra:
Hi, Leila. How are you?

It’s been many years. I was here with my story of sadness, and I said the last time I sat down to talk with Sebastián seriously was when he put out Dharma, and we did an Instagram Live.

And we were also in Austin for City Limits.

No, for SXSW. 

SXSW we saw each other.

Ah, you’re right! SXSW.

We were there having a conversation with the public and live.

It was fun!

It was super cool. 

And what has happened since then? 

What hasn’t happened? Wow! What I can tell you that hasn’t happened yet is that I haven’t put out a new album since Dharma.

I know. 

So I haven’t put out anything in three years.

Why, Sebastián?

With my albums, I’ve taken a long time with each one. It’s been almost 10 years of my career and up until now I’ve put out three albums, so it ends up being one every three years. 

Like the old days?

Yes, like the old days a little bit. We’ll do one and we’ll give it time like every song someone puts out. I think that there are some songs that are really special, and especially in today’s world, there’s a lot of information, and it’s worth it to give them their place.

Keep watching for more!

28 Feb 2025

Carín León Talks New Country-Influenced Album, ‘Palabra De To’s’ Inspiration & More | Billboard In Conversation

Ahead of Carín León’s debut performance at Viña del Mar, the Regional Mexican singer shared his thoughts about the impact he has made worldwide with his music, the inspiration behind his latest album, Palabra De To’s, how he is incorporating country influences into his new album for 2025, his musical inspirations and more!

Ingrid Fajardo:
Hi, friends at Billboard. Today we are really happy because we’re here at Viña del Mar with the great Carín León.

Carín León:
Thank you so much. 

How are you? It’s a pleasure to have you!

Thank you. 

We’re so honored to have you here at Viña, on the day of your show. 

We’re almost there, almost desperate and a little restless, nervous, but fascinated to be here and so far away.

Your debut at Viña del Mar, can you believe it? Obviously it’s a very different crowd that maybe hasn’t listened to a lot of regional, and now …

Yes, look, the truth is that I think, and I always say this, we had no idea when we started this whole thing. We didn’t know how far we’d go or all the things we’d be able to achieve. But it makes me really happy that this is happening with Latin music in general, and above everything else, with our Regional Mexican genre. Today, everyone listens to it everywhere, so we’re here, happy with life and eager to continue promoting Mexico’s name, especially here since we’re so far away. It’s a really important show.

And I love that because it’s been opening — I don’t know if you’ve noticed — but opening different doors. You were in Madrid with an incredible concert. You literally brought “El Palenque” to Madrid.

Keep watching for more!