Tropical Magic

Juan Luis was born just two months after the death of the Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar in Medellín. Although the streets took a while to become calm and safe again, he escaped the wave of violence that swept through the city. His family’s support helped the boy develop his greatest love: singing. He stresses his gratitude to his family at all times, and he even created his artistic alias from the first syllables of his mother’s, father’s and sister’s names. In recent years, Maluma has joined the elites of commercial musicians, as confirmed by numbers (billions of clicks on online streaming services) and names of his collaborators: he recorded Chantaje with Shakira, he was joined by the former Brazilian footballer Ronaldinho in the video for Corazón, and his album 11:11 features guest performances by Madonna, Ricky Martin and Ozuna. He has captivated Polish audiences with his Latino energy: after the sold out show in Gdańsk last year, Maluma brings his hot rhythms to Tauron Arena Kraków on 28 February. (Bartosz Suchecki, “Karnet”)