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What’s behind Keityn’s extraordinary ability to pen hits?
The 27-year-old from the small city of Palmira, Colombia, was ASCAP’s Latin Music Songwriter of the Year for the second consecutive year, thanks to a string of hits that included Shakira’s “Acróstico” and Shakira and Karol G’s “TQG.”
But, he says, it’s not like everything he touches turns to gold, and definitely not immediately.
“Out of 10 songs I make, one becomes a hit,” Keityn said in a candid interview with Billboard News. “There are many more songs that never come out. You do a lot, and out of that whole, two or three become huge hits.”
In the last couple of months, Keityn (real name Kevyn Mauricio Cruz Moreno) has had plenty of huge hits. They include Karol G’s “Me Curo Del Cora,” which was inspired by the title of the album Mañana Será Bonito (Tomorrow Will Be Pretty). “If tomorrow will be pretty, it means today isn’t. That’s why we made ‘Me Curo del Cora’ (I Heal My Heart).”
As for “TQG,” the track was written with Karol G while the singer was in Los Angeles filming Griselda, the Netflix series starring Sofia Vergara. “Karol had the foresight to send the song to Shakira,” says Keityn.
And then, there’s the most meaningful song for him, Shakira’s “Acróstico.”
“The fact that such an important woman would let me make a song about something so personal … it’s something that fills me with pride,” Keityn says. “I’ve seen her as a mom, and she’s an amazing mom and sings what she feels. I said, ‘If you want to sing what you feel, let’s give some play to the kids.’”
Watch the full interview here.
Watch Latin American Music Awards This week, Billboard’s New Music Latin roundup and playlist — curated by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors — features fresh new releases from artists such as Belinda, Marc Anthony, Jay Wheeler and Anitta, to name a few. Marc Anthony’s Muevense is a testament to his musical prowess. The 10-track set is home to tracks like “Ale Ale,” […]
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New Music Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs and albums recommended by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors. Check out this week’s picks below.
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Anitta, Funk Generation (Republic Records & Universal Music Latin Entertainment)
No one does funk like Anitta. Singing in Spanish, Portuguese and English, the trilingual superstar doubles down on her efforts to globalize Brazilian funk with Funk Generation. The enthralling 15-track set (her third trilingual album) is a masterclass, as Anitta serves cheeky, club-ready dance songs that will have you grasping for air — a nod to her set opener “Lose Ya Breath.” A fierce proponent of funk, Anitta has no intentions of adapting this music to mainstream or pop, she does quite the opposite introducing mainstream to a genre that breaks all the rules and thrives on experimentation. For collabs, she casts a wide net that catches artists including Brray, Bad Gyal, DENNIS, PEDRO SAMPAIO and Sam Smith.
“My new project is very special, because it signifies my intention to create an international funk album, something I’ve always dreamed of,” Anitta says in a statement. “It’s fulfilling to see that funk is now a source of inspiration and art in the global music scene — a genre with value, awards, and admiration.” The set comes on the heels of her upcoming first-ever North American trek, set to kick off May 21. ¡Vai, Anitta! — GRISELDA FLORES
Marc Anthony, Muevense (Sony Music US Latin)
If anyone knows how to craft tropical anthemic hits, it’s Marc Anthony, and his latest album Muevense testifies to this. Its title, in fact, is designed to make listeners move to the festive rhythms. Renowned for revitalizing salsa music in New York City and well beyond, the Grammy-winning performer shines all on his own in this 10-track release, with the exception of the ranchera single “Ojalá Te Duela,” which features regional Mexican music royalty Pepe Aguilar. From the invigorating opener to the infectious energy of “Ale Ale” — which already has the makings of a summer 2024 anthem, following its debut at the Latin American Music Awards — and other songs like like “Si Te Enamoro,” “Amarte a la Antigua,” and “Pasemos a los Besos,” the artist showcases his vocal prowess, allowing his pipes to soar unlike any other.
“A new Marc Anthony album is always cause for celebration, and it speaks to the timelessness and consistency of his voice and his musical collaborators that at any moment you can turn on any radio station and within the same commercial-free music block, hear a song he recorded last year next to a song he recorded 30 years ago,” writes Lin-Manuel Miranda, “He is our Sinatra, and when we hear him, we also hear the echoes of all the unforgettable moments in our own lives.” We couldn’t agree more. — ISABELA RAYGOZA
Aitana & Sebastian Yatra “Akureyri” (Universal Music Spain S.L.)
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Aitana and Sebastián Yatra return to music together, and apparently also as a couple, with their third collaboration “Akureyri”. The moving pop ballad, which would address their reconciliation months after confirming their breakup, talks about an intense emotional connection between two people who are going through a difficult time; in addition to the desire to escape reality, they are fantasizing about a future together and forgetting the worries of the present. The cover of the release is reminiscent of the Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, which is about a couple who undergo a procedure to erase the memories of their relationship. The video, directed by Felíx Bollaín and produced by Habemus Roma, was recorded in analog in the city that titles the song, Akureyri, in Iceland. Additionally, it includes various clips of the couple during their trip to the location last year in the post-credits scenes. — LUISA CALLE
Mau y Ricky, Guaynaa, “Gran Día” (Why Club Records)
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Mau y Ricky are pure sunshine in “Gran Día,” featuring Puerto Rican artist Guaynaa, an uptempo feel-good pop song with optimistic lyrics about the good and simple things in life. “Today is going to be a great day because I’m going to kill it/ Money guaranteed, baby, today is going to rain, no, no, no, no/ If you run out of battery, I want to give you a new one/ A life from another league, I’m hotter than yesterday,” they sing.
Released under their new independent label Why Club Records in collaboration with Warner Music Latina, “Gran Día” is the latest single off their upcoming album Hotel Caracas, an homage to their native Venezuela, where the brothers recently returned in search of their identity after moving with their family to the U.S. when they were children. The music video, beautifully shot by director Daniel Durán, was filmed in the Venezuelan Llanos during their trip, and features the humorous voice of Venezuelan iconic radio host Luis Chataing. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS
Luis Fonsi & Laura Pausini “Roma” (UMG Recordings)
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Luis Fonsi makes an essential stop in his new album El Viaje’s journey to reunite musically with a special friend, after 16 years of collaboration. His longtime friend and collaborator Laura Pausini arrives to unite her powerful voice with Fonsi’s in the magical collab “Roma.” This beautiful ballad, written by Fonsi, along with producers Andrés Torres and Mauricio Rengifo, was announced during one of Laura’s world tour concerts in Miami last month. This single is accompanied by a video filmed in black and white at an airport, directed by Carlos Perez, and portrays the reunion of an eternal love, like those couples who always find a way to meet again. — INGRID FAJARDO
Belinda & Natanael Cano, “300 Noches” (Warner Music México)
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Belinda’s corridos tumbados era gets a co-sign from the subgenre’s pioneer, Natanael Cano. The two team up for “300 Noches,” Belinda’s latest single, which cements her commitment to música Mexicana. The track is striking both lyrically and sonically: It starts off with a soft piano tune and Belinda’s evocative delivery, setting the tone for this truly heartbreaking song. “I waited so long for you to realize you had left me behind/ What do I do now to forget?” she sings, almost wailing.
Then, the requinto guitars take center stage, transforming the ballad into a corrido tumbado, or a corrido coquette (a term coined by Belinda). Doesn’t take long for Cano to join Belinda, as he sings with sorrow about not being able to move on from a broken relationship, while clearly the other person already has. “I can’t be a king without my queen,” he declares. “I loved being able to collaborate with Beli for this song,” Cano says in a statement. “I’m a fan of hers and I’m excited to see more female artists raising the flag of corridos tumbados. Belinda put her ‘coquette’ touch on it and it was magical.” — G.F.
Bruses & Humbe, “Bestia”
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Tijuana poetess/producer Bruses and Monterrey singer-songwriter Humbe join forces to unveil a nuanced blend of electro alt-pop that delves into the intricacies of battling one’s inner demons while embracing a glimmer of hope. The pair confront delicate subjects, merging complex elements with finesse. With lines like “They speak ill of you, my monsters/ They want to meet you/ I look for love in places where no one can see me/ Kiss kiss in the dark,” Bruses delivers her verses with a captivating blend of vulnerability and serene defiance.
“‘Bestia’ is a song where Humbe and I found each other,” she says in a statement. “His light and my darkness complemented in a way that I never heard before.” Bruises recently signed with RCA, and will be performing at the Central Park’s SummerStage in celebration of the LAMC for their 25th anniversary on July 10th. — I.R.
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Watch Latin American Music Awards Shakira is opening up about her perspective on love following her split from professional soccer player Gerard Piqué. “I cannot say that I don’t believe in love because I see the example of my parents after 50 years together; how they look into each other’s eyes and hold hands and can’t […]
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Taking a regional Mexican music route has led Thalia — often referred to as the Queen of Latin Pop — back to her roots, as she embraces the resurgence of música mexicana on her latest EP, A Mucha Honra.
“This album was created at the source from which this [new corridos] movement comes and emanates,” the superstar tells Billboard Español. In collaboration with Jimmy Humilde of Rancho Humilde and music producer Edgar Rodríguez of Yellow Room, the singer dives deep into the musical heritage of her beloved home country.
She reflects on the power of songs like the timeless “Amor a la Mexicana” as a key inspiration for this project. “It’s the perfect circle of why I’m singing regional [Mexican] right now,” says Thalia about the classic 1997 Mexican cumbia-pop hit. “[This genre] evokes a nostalgia in me. It gets into the Mexican DNA and provokes a catharsis in you, this style, this sound, these chords.”
The 9-track EP, released on Friday (April 26) under Sony Music US Latin, includes the corridos tumbados of “Bebé, Perdón,” “Para Qué Celarme” and a remake of “Amor a la Mexicana.” There’s also the sierreño pop jam “Choro” featuring Estilo Sin Límite, the norteño song “Silencio,” and a nor-techno remix of “Te Va a Doler,” courtesy of Deorro, which she premiered last night at the 2024 Latin American Music Awards; the original version features Grupo Firme.
“For me it has been a pleasure to be able to create this music for such a long time, to be able to perform it”, the artist explains. “It has been incredible for me to release A Mucha Honra little by little. I always try to experience different things, new things, things that challenge me and add to me.”
Below, Thalia breaks down five essential songs from her new EP, in her own words.
“Te Va a Doler” (with Grupo Firme)
“Te Va a Doler” is a song that despite being regional [Mexican], has a little bit of both worlds. It has a little more of the Thalia universe, of my musical and interpretative style, but it still has the power and sonority of the new regional Mexican. For more than a year we have been talking with Eduin Caz [of Grupo Firme] about doing something, about working together, and for me this song was the perfect ring for this union. The truth is that our styles merged well, his voice sounds very powerful in this story, and it was spectacular.
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From the same song, “Te Va a Doler,” a more electronic version was done with Deorro, who since I heard his work I loved it, so I said: “You have to do something for me.” I love Deorro’s work, and he did the remix version of this song.
“Amor a la Mexicana”
It’s the perfect circle of why I’m singing regional right now. For me, singing to Mexico and singing in the styles of our musical [heritage] has been a constant in my discography. If you look for songs, videos and hits by Thalia that have a regional or Mexican sound, there are many, and the classic of my entire career is “Amor a la Mexicana.” So, it could not be missing in this album called A Mucha Honra. I feel honored to be Mexican, to celebrate what is happening with culture, with music globally at this time. And what more than with the icing on the cake, which is to sing a new version of “Amor a la Mexicana”, which really turned out spectacular. Without a doubt, it is one of my best versions of “Amor a la Mexicana.”
“Troca” (with Ángela Aguilar)
It is a song that has such beautiful lyrics, so pure, so simple, so much love, that I needed. It resonated with me to sing something with beautiful, with delicate lyrics of love. It made me feel good to pronounce these words and these lyrics. It was also a great opportunity to bring together two generations, two Mexicans, singing at this time. I feel that our voices came together very cool, and very velvety, like a cozy blanket around you. And that makes me very happy to be able to say how cool it is that two Mexicans from different generations coexist in a love song.
We made an animated video which is also something new and different for me. It’s super cute.
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“Choro” (with Estilo Sin Límite)
“Choro” features Dania from Estilo Sin Límite, an emerging artist who has incredible talent, and is a great songwriter with a very special voice. When I heard her, I said, “Let’s do the song, let’s work”, and we recorded “Choro.” The interpretation is super cool. I feel a responsibility, of someone who has already come a long way [in my career] to extend a hand and support new talents.
[Choro] is a very Mexican thing to say. I thought it was a good title, a good concept for a song. Later it made me laugh because in other countries it has different connotations.
“Para Qué Celarme”
I think it’s my favorite of the album. The arrangements are nostalgic, it does something to my heart. I love the lyrics, the story is so awesome, and it allows me as an actress to sing it and get into character. And that’s what I really like about this song. It’s a ballad with pride, with strength. It reminds me a little bit of that song of mine, “Equivocada,” in the subject matter. My fans likes to see the party Thalia, the Thalia who sings irreverent songs, dance songs, but also the romantic one, the one who sings songs of broken hearts, and intense ballads. This is the ballad of this album.
Watch Latin American Music Awards One thing you cannot say about the 2024 Latin AMAs, which aired live last night on the Univision network, is that they lacked guts. Beyond its 21 performances on the evening, the awards featured many up and coming acts, as well as a group of hosts that included two music […]
Ricky Martin will headline LA Pride in the Park, which will return to the Los Angeles State Historic Park on Saturday, June 8. This marks Martin’s first-ever headlining Pride performance. Moreover, Martin will be the first openly gay Latin artist to take center stage at the popular Pride event.
The theme for this year’s Pride season is “Power in Pride,” which celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community’s ability to live authentically.
“I am thrilled to be headlining LA Pride in the Park because it’s an incredible opportunity to celebrate love, diversity, and equality,” Martin said in a statement. “LA Pride is a testament to the power of community, the power of visibility, and the power of standing up for our rights. Being part of this vibrant community fills me with pride and purpose.”
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“With his electrifying stage presence and chart-topping hits, Ricky Martin has long been an inspiration to millions around the world,” said Gerald Garth, board president of CSW/LA Pride. “His participation in LA Pride in the Park goes beyond mere entertainment; it symbolizes a powerful affirmation of queer Latin identity and a celebration of diversity within the LGBTQ+ community. We cannot wait to be ‘Livin’ La Vida Loca’ while beaming with Pride!”
Across 20 acres and with a capacity of 25,000, LA Pride in the Park is one of the largest official Pride concerts in the country. The nonprofit Christopher Street West Association has produced the LA Pride celebration for more than 50 years. General admission and VIP passes are now available to purchase at lapride.org.
Throughout his nearly four-decade career, Martin has brought Latin music and culture to the mainstream, paving the way for an explosion of crossover talent.
Born in Puerto Rico in 1971, Martin gained fame as a member of Menudo before embarking on a highly successful solo career, which has brought him two Grammy Awards and four Latin Grammy Awards.
Martin’s 1999 smash “Livin’ La Vida Loca” topped the Billboard Hot 100 for five consecutive weeks and received Grammy nods for record and song of the year. It was also nominated for record of the year at the inaugural Latin Grammys in 2000 – a show that became a reality because of the undeniable crossover success of artists like Martin, Santana and Marc Anthony, among others.
In May 1999, Martin appeared on the cover of Time in a story headlined “Latin Music Goes Pop!” In November 2006, at age 34, he became the youngest-ever person of the year recipient at the annual gala put on by the Latin Recording Academy.
Martin is also an accomplished actor, earning a Primetime Emmy nod for his role in FX’s The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story and displaying his talent on Broadway. He starred in Jingle Jangle for Netflix, opposite Forest Whitaker and Anika Noni Rose and can now be seen in the Apple TV series Palm Royale alongside Laura Dern, Kristen Wiig, Allison Janney and Carol Burnett.
The Latin American Music Awards 2024 are a wrap, but the best looks on the red carpet must be immortalized. Mexican-American star Becky G, who co-hosted the ceremony, which took place live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on April 25, was among the first to arrive. Shining bright in a sparkly cutout mermaid […]
Karol G and Feid have swept the 2024 Latin American Music Awards, taking six trophies each on Thursday night (April 25).
The former nabbed the coveted artist of the year, song of the year (“TQG” with Shakira), and album of the year (Mañana Será Bonito); whereas the latter took home collaboration of the year (“Yandel 150” with Yandel), global Latin song of the year, and streaming artist of the year, to name a few accolades.
Other top winners included Shakira and Young Miko with three awards each; and with two awards each, Marshmello, Peso Pluma, RBD, Romeo Santos, and Yandel, who also swept the special Latin AMA Pioneer Award for his contributions to the reggaetón movement. (See complete winners list here)
Under the theme “We Speak Música,” the awards ceremony broadcasted its first-ever bilingual edition co-hosted by Thalia, Becky G, Alejandra Espinoza, and Carlos Ponce.
“It’s my first time coming to one of these awards shows and not feeling ashamed of being a Pocha, speaking in Spanglish,” Becky exclusively told Billboard ahead of her co-hosting opportunity. “The fact that this is a historical moment that I get to be a part of, for me, brings me so much pride.”
The Latin AMAs aired live at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 25, from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas via Univision, UNIMÁS, Galavisión and ViX.
Meanwhile, Billboard was backstage at the red carpet and media center catching all the things you missed on TV, such as Jay Wheeler celebrating his 30th birthday with press, and more. Check them out below:
Morat Talks Grupo Frontera
Deservingly so, Banda MS was honored with the Legacy AMA at the 2024 Latin American Music Awards.
The special award recognized the band’s more-than two decades of artistic career that began in 2003 in their native Sinaloa and eventually saw them become one of the biggest exponents of regional Mexican music around the world.
Presented by Eslabon Armado and Joss Favela, Banda MS took the stage to deliver an emotional speech, acknowledging the new generation of regional Mexican hitmakers. “More than 21 years ago, we started a dream in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, to be able to take this music to all the corners of the world, to fight for a purpose,” said frontman Oswaldo Silvas.
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He continued: “Not just to take the name of a band, but the name of the regional Mexican music, of a genre, all over the world. We have not yet achieved the purpose but we are still in the fight. The new generations have to achieve more than what we have achieved. Here we have a generation of musicians who have taken music to a new level and at home there is another generation that will take the genre to a higher level. To all those people who think we deserve this, thank you. Long live music, long live Mexican music.”
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Later that night, Banda MS — backed by their live musicians that power their banda sinaloense signature sound — took the stage to perform a show-stopping medley with real star power, bringing out artists like Carin León and A.B. Quintanilla. They kicked off with their latest hit, “Tu Perfume,” and were then joined by Los De La S for “Somos Los Que Somos.” Then, León joined the group to sing their collab “Ojos Cerrados” and Banda MS wrapped with special guest A.B. Quintanilla to sing the the party anthem “Es Viernes.”
The 2024 Latin American Music Awards took place Thursday, April 25, live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas via Univision. Hitmakers Feid and Peso Pluma lead this year’s list of nominations with 12 nods each. The Colombian singer and Mexican star, who are up for the coveted artist of the year award and album of the year award, are followed by top nominees Bad Bunny (11), Grupo Frontera (11), Karol G (9), Shakira (9), Eslabon Armado (8) and Fuerza Regida (8).
Thalia, Becky G, Alejandra Espinoza and Carlos Ponce co-hosed the award ceremony that presented in a combination of English and Spanish, marking the first time any major U.S. award show featured a bilingual broadcast.