Leila Cobo (Billboard) interviews Karol G. Listed here are excerpts from “Karol G talks ‘Mañana será bonito,’ working with Shakira & Finneas and letting go.” [Many thanks to Peter Jordens for bringing this item to our attention.]
Regardless of that includes “TQG,” her vaunted post-breakup collaboration with Shakira, don’t for a second suppose that Karol G’s new album is born out of scorn or heartache. As an alternative, Mañana Será Bonito (out at this time on Common Music Latino), which accurately interprets to “Tomorrow Will Be Fairly,” is a snapshot of Karol G’s second at this time — a second she describes as “genuine and real, now greater than ever.”
Coming off the highest-grossing 2022 tour for a Latin girl in 2022, in addition to a slew of milestones –together with being the primary girl to carry Nos. 1 and a couple of concurrently on Billboard’s Sizzling Latin Songs chart since Selena in 1995 — Karol G has launched an album that features a number of of these smash hits, but in addition a cadre of surprises. There’s her collab with Shakira, one thing each followers and pundits had lengthy yearned to listen to from the 2 Colombian stars, in addition to the gorgeous title observe, which unexpectedly brings within the soulful/different Carla Morrison into a mild reggaetón groove, and the very attractive “X Si Volvemos” with Romeo Santos.
For Karol G, the stakes have been excessive to ship a powerful set after a 12 months of being lauded as the highest girl in Latin music, and notably after the large success of 2021’s KG0516. With assist from longtime producer and collaborator Ovy on the Drums, and an intriguing record of visitor artists that additionally consists of Spanish rapper Quevedo and Panama’s Sech, Mañana Será Bonito strives to cowl the numerous sides of Karol G, utilizing a daring reggaetón and digital palate and counting on instantly relatable, but refined lyrics.
In a heartfelt dialog with Billboard, the Colombian star delved into the significance of this second, why being a bichota isn’t at all times factor, and sure, how that Shakira collab took place.
You’ve mentioned this specific second in time may be very emotional and essential to you, extra so than different main milestones. Why?
All the pieces you do in a profession like this turns into necessary. However positively, I spent a few years working towards a second the place I might display, the place I might elevate – so to talk— the feminine style, and symbolize us in a powerful, highly effective manner. And I feel that is that second, as a result of I’ve been capable of garner the eye and set up myself able the place persons are expectant. Though I didn’t create this album eager about this; I merely made music.
[. . .] Everybody has yearned for a Shakira-Karol G collab for such a very long time. You grew up wanting as much as her. What was the significance of Shakira on this album?
All of us as Latinos have to acknowledge she’s the one who represents us as Latinas world wide. After I was on set capturing the video and I used to be watching her, I used to be realizing all of the superb and legendary moments in her profession, and loads of issues I must work on to get to that time. But it surely was such a blessing to have her.
This music was born the identical day I wrote the verse for “Mamiii.” It was day! We have been within the studio, I used to be with Becky G ending some particulars for “Mamiii,” and I stayed within the studio. I used to be with my crew, with Ovy, with [writer/producer] Keityn. And we have been making an attempt to determine what we have been going to do, as a result of I had mentioned “sure” to Becky, and now we had two songs — however the subject was the identical [heartbreak diss tracks].
Then once I noticed the story about Shakira and her state of affairs, this music once more gained which means. I actually need songs to have a which means and join with actual tales. I known as Shakira, in October of final 12 months — I mentioned, “Hey, I do know you’re going via this, and I’m sorry to be so direct.” [But] when she heard the music, she mentioned, “I adore it!” Then she defined she had this music coming with Bizarrap and I mentioned, “OMG what are we going to do?”
She requested me to attend to launch this music, so we moved every little thing. [Even then I said], “Hey, you could have ‘Te Felicito,’ “Monotonia,’ the Bizarrap session after which ‘TQG’ with me. It’s 4 songs [on similar topics].’ And she or he mentioned, ‘You recognize what? It doesn’t imply I’m singing this music for anyone [specific].’” I’d love for folks to easily hearken to this music, as a music. [. . .]
[Photo above by Lea Colombo.]
For full interview, see https://www.billboard.com/music/latin/karol-g-manana-sera-bonito-tqg-shakira-finneas-interview-1235260300/ and https://www.billboard.com/espanol/musica/karol-g-manana-sera-bonito-shakira-finneas-1235260891/