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 major turning point in Latin pop when Sin Bandera came out, which changed everything once again. Then came Camila, Reik, and Jesse & Joy — yet, I was always waiting for my moment. I prepared myself extensively as an artist. The real breakthrough came when I finally found myself, and my major influences are José Luis Perales, Franco De Vita, and Tommy Torres. We all carry a little bit of many artists we like.”
Billboard Latin Music Week coincides with the 2026 Billboard Latin Music Awards, which will broadcast live on Oct. 22 via Telemundo and Peacock from James L. Knight Center in Downtown Miami. It will also be available on Universo and the Telemundo app, as well as throughout Latin America and the Caribbean via Telemundo Internacional.
