Maluma Says He Was ‘Super Obsessed’ With Collaborating With American Artists, But ‘Not Anymore’

For Maluma, his priorities as an artist have changed drastically, to the point where he says he is no longer interested in collaborating with American artists or pursuing the crossover success that once motivated him early in his career.

During a recent interview on Univision’s All Access, the Colombian singer spoke about the shift he has experienced. He reflected on how his mindset has evolved after years of chasing opportunities in the U.S. music industry. The artist, whose real name is Juan Luis Londoño, shared that there was a time when working alongside iconic English-speaking industry names was one of his biggest goals.

“I used to really want to collaborate with American artists. I was always, like, super obsessed,” Maluma shared during the conversation. According to him, that ambition was tied to what he once considered the next natural step for his international career.

“I was chasing what you could call the American dream, right? Not anymore. Now it’s the Colombian dream, it’s my dream and my country’s dream” added Maluma, whose standout collaborators include The Weeknd, Black Eyed Peas, Jason Derulo and Ty Dolla $ign, as well as Madonna on the single “Medellín,” named after his native city.

In 2022, he even took his first steps as an actor by starring in Marry Me alongside Jennifer Lopez. He spent years building strong ties within the mainstream American music scene, helping expand his global audience beyond Latin music. But now, Papi Juancho, as some of his fans call him, says his focus has shifted away from seeking recognition in the United States and toward investing his time and energy into Colombia’s growing urban music movement.

“It’s my dream, it’s my dream of my homeland, it’s the dream of my grandparents,” the singer explained to All Access. “It’s the dream that has always existed and that keeps my feet on the ground.”

The artist also shared that his focus is now on looking inward to find the next step in his career. He no longer feels the need to constantly look outside his country for inspiration or validation. “That phase of always having to look to the United States to see what’s next is over,” he added. “Now I’m looking at my country.”

Maluma’s remarks come at a moment when Latin music continues to dominate internationally without relying as heavily on English-language crossovers as in previous years. While he has a roster of stellar collaborations with Colombian artists such as Karol G, J Balvin and Shakira on songs including the latter’s “Chantaje” — which spent 18 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 — his plan now is to continue supporting emerging talent within the country.

The artist also recently released his latest album, Loco X Volver, a project that showcases his current focus and reflects the more personal and grounded chapter he appears to be entering both professionally and personally.