“It's been a beautiful journey, creating this whole new vibe,” Maluma tells Apple Music about his first proper album since 2020’s provocative Papi Juancho. As an artist who frequently reaches for first-person characters to drive his projects, the Colombian superstar is taking a more mature turn. “Before this, I was thinking, all the things had to be in a rush, because I'm always racing,” he says of the shift and its impact on his focus. “I feel like I'm in a marathon right now. This is a career that needs to last forever.” The diversity and potency present throughout Don Juan reflect undeniable growth. Singles like the refreshing “COCO LOCO” and the thumping Gordo team-up “Parcera” provide contrast with more balladic numbers “La Reina” and “Sobrio”. He indulges in bright, explosive dance pop on “Ave Maria” and “Junio” in addition to rhythmic cross-pollination on the beat-switching “Diablo, Qué Chimba” with Anuel AA, two more examples of his ever-expanding range. He knowingly nods to a Fugees classic on “Los Polvos” and enlists Yandel for the cinematic reggaetón of “Trofeo”, all the while maintaining a clear, optimistic ethos. “This album is pure joy,” he says. “Every track is full of positive vibes.” From the eye-opening Carin Leon team-up “Según Quién” to his Marc Anthony salsa blast “La Fórmula”, the collaborations he’s curated are as broad as they are impressive. All in all, Don Juan represents Maluma’s most ambitious project, no small feat in a discography full of creative risk-taking. “Every time I wake up every morning, I'm like, ‘Okay, this is a new day. This is full of opportunities. What's next?’ I love being busy.”