12 January 29 - February 4, 2026 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | NEWS | LETTERS | CONTENTS | Month XX–Month XX, 2008 miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | FILM | ART | STAGE | NIGHT+DAY | METRO | RIPTIDE | LETTERS | CONTENTS | Key Change Luis Fonsi taps into a salsa groove on his new single. BY OSVALDO ESPINO W hen Luis Fonsi decided his next chapter would begin with a salsa record, it wasn’t part of a calcu- lated reinvention or a genre pivot designed for playlists. It was in- stinct. A feeling. A song that refused to be anything other than what it was meant to be. “I don’t really have a specific answer,” Fonsi tells New Times, laughing slightly when asked why salsa, why now. “Sometimes songs come along that make you think differently. No two songs are ever the same, no two writ- ing sessions are the same. This one just hap- pened.” That sense of surrender to the music has quietly defined Fonsi’s longevity. Over a career spanning nearly three decades, the Puerto Ri- can singer-songwriter has built his reputation not by chasing trends, but by trusting his ear and his emotional compass. Even now, as Latin music dominates the global mainstream more than ever, Fonsi remains guided less by strat- egy and more by authenticity. Releasing a salsa record was never on his to-do list. Professionally, he has long lived in the singer-songwriter and pop ballad space, a lane where vulnerability and melody reign. But personally, salsa has always been home. “I’m about as big of a salsa fan as it gets,” he says. “It’s the genre I listen to the most in my personal life. I grew up with it. It runs through my blood.” Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Fonsi’s earliest musical memories are tied to car rides with his father, the radio tuned to clas- sic salsa records that never seemed to age. That foundation resurfaced naturally as he began shaping the new single, even as he and his producers initially experimented with different production approaches. “The song wasn’t having it,” he recalls. “It needed to be a straight-up salsa record.” Rather than overthink it, Fonsi leaned in. The result is “Cambiaré,” a track that feels both reverent and refreshing, grounded in traditional salsa melodies while delivered through his unmistakable vocal tone. It is not a costume or a detour. It is a reminder of where he comes from. “I’m not changing genres,” he clarifies. “This song just needed to be like this. I wanted to do it with respect and do it correctly.” That respect extends to the details. Writ- ing soneos, improvised melodic phrases com- mon in salsa, was new territory for Fonsi. He wrote far more than made it onto the final cut, already imagining how the song might evolve onstage with a live band. “It was actually fun,” he says. “You step into this new world inspired, but humble. That’s what makes it exciting.” If the salsa foundation raised eyebrows, the featured collaboration with Colombian super- star Feid pushes the record even further into unexpected territory. Known primarily for his work in reggaeton and urban pop, Feid might seem like an unconventional choice on paper. But for Fonsi, that tension was the point. “The obvious move would’ve been to call a salsa artist,” Fonsi explains. “But I didn’t want it to feel predictable.” Instead, he imagined the song opening it- self up to a second voice, one that would ele- vate the track by contrast rather than conformity. Feid, whose versatility as a singer, songwriter, and producer Fonsi deeply ad- mires, fits perfectly. “I wanted to push the envelope,” he says. “We were already doing something different, so why not take it further?” The cultural connection was deeper than genre. Colombia holds a rich place in salsa history, and both artists grew up immersed in the same sounds through their families. Con- versations between the two quickly turned into shared nostalgia, discussions of influ- ences, and mutual respect for the tradition they were stepping into. “We both approached it humbly,” Fonsi says. “Just trying to put our flavor into it.” The result is a collaboration that feels or- ganic rather than forced, blending two worlds without diluting either. That balance between honoring the past and embracing the present feels especially resonant as Fonsi reflects on the current mo- ment in Latin music. Watching Bad Bunny’s historic Puerto Rico residency unfold, Fonsi speaks with visible pride about what it means for the island and for future generations. “What he’s doing is historic,” he says. “The fact that we’re even talking about Span- ish music at the Super Bowl is insane. That’s something we never imagined.” For Fonsi, it is a reminder of how far things have come since another pivotal mo- ment in his career. As nostalgia for 2016 re- surfaces online, he looks back at that year with clarity and gratitude. “2016 was a beautiful year,” he says. “My son was born that year. That alone makes it unforgettable.” It was also the year “Despacito” was writ- ten, recorded, and filmed. Though released in early 2017, the song took shape during a pe- riod of reflection and transition for Fonsi, who had stepped back from tour- ing to recalibrate creatively. Col- laborating with Daddy Yankee marked a shift to- ward urban sounds, one that once again felt risky at the time. “The song called for it,” he says simply. “When it feels right, you go for it.” What followed needs little retelling. “Despacito” became a global phenomenon, the most viewed music video in YouTube his- tory, and a cultural touchstone that placed Puerto Rico front and center on the world stage. “What I’m most proud of isn’t just the suc- cess,” Fonsi says. “It’s what the song repre- sents. The island, the flag, the culture.” As he steps into this new era, Fonsi resists the urge to define it too narrowly. The upcom- ing project, still in progress, will reflect the freedom he feels in today’s musical landscape. “There are no rules anymore,” he says. “People don’t listen by genre. They just listen to what they like.” That openness will shape an album that blends pop foundations with tropical influ- ences, stripped-down ballads alongside songs designed to make people dance. Some tracks may never top playlists, but Fonsi is comfort- able with that. “It’s who I am,” he says. “I’ll never aban- don that.” This moment marks the beginning rather than the conclusion. The salsa single is not a destination, but a door opening. As Fonsi be- gins rolling out new music, he remains guided by the same principle that led him here. “Everything comes from an honest place,” he says. “When it does, people feel it.” Nearly 30 years into his career, that hon- esty continues to be his most enduring sound. [email protected] ▼ Music Releasing a salsa record was never on Fonsi’s to-do list. Photo by Elastic People “I’M NOT CHANGING GENRES. THIS SONG JUST NEEDED TO BE LIKE THIS. I WANTED TO DO IT WITH RESPECT AND DO IT CORRECTLY.”
