Latin Music Week 2026: Mau y Ricky & Carlos Rivera Discuss What Defines Latin Pop Music Today
Categoria: Musica
The artists were joined by producer Na'vi at the conference on Oct. 21.
Por Billboard | 21/10/2026
Billboard Latin Music Week’s lineup on Wednesday (Oct. 21) kicked off with its first artist panel featuring Mau y Ricky and Carlos Rivera at “The Many Faces of Latin Pop” discussion. During the 30-minute conversation, during which they were joined by producer Na’vi, the artists opened up about the new sound of pop. Below, read some of the best quotes from each speaker: Ricky on what defines pop music: “It means ‘popular’ — it’s a way of categorizing music for a record store — but it encompasses many styles. It’s very broad; even when I record ballads or incorporate influences from regional Mexican music, I’m still classified as pop — even if we have a track with Arcángel that’s a dembow song, Mau y Ricky will always be classified as pop.” Carlos on what defines pop music: “It’s music that’s perhaps more accessible to everyone’s ears — something more people can relate to, less tied to the specific regional traditions of individual countries. That’s why ’90s Latin pop music was global — it reached more people than other genres.” Na’vi on connecting with an artist: “I compare a producer’s role to that of an airplane pilot: We are at the service of the artist, and our goal is to ensure the best outcome for them. The personal connection is crucial — the psychological aspect, tapping into their talent and their vulnerability. Before diving into the songs, I always make it a priority to connect with the artist.” Mau on connecting with a producer: “That connection is key to the creative process. When I feel secure and trust the person I’m working with, I’m much more open to trying new things and taking risks. It’s very difficult to bring out your best when you’re held back by fear, nervousness or shame.” Ricky on “Las Flores,” a song he wrote for Mau: “Writing a song like this — alone in your own room — can be daunting. It gave me a lot of anxiety because the emotion is so profound that I worry I might not be able to do it justice. Having grown up surrounded by artists who weren’t afraid to express what was in their hearts, you eventually learn how to do it yourself. Some feelings are so deeply personal that only you can put them into words.” Mau on growing up as the sons of singer Ricardo Montaner: “Growing up as Montaner’s sons, we were exposed to an incredibly high level of excellence. My dad is extremely meticulous with his lyrics; he doesn’t just release a song for the sake of releasing it. He holds himself to a very high standard. He has always been a balladeer, but it took us many years to understand and discover our identity. It wasn’t until 13 years later that we truly figured out who we were, and that’s when these fusions of pop and urban music emerged.” Carlos on being a balladeer: “We come from different eras; the great balladeers of the ’70s — Raphael, José Luis Perales, José José — and then Montaner, Franco de Vita. For me, there was a majo