Maluma Talks New 'HP' Video, His 'Magical' Next Album, And Working With Madonna

"I feel very, very pleased now says Maluma, and it's impossible not to believe him — you could practically hear him smiling over the phone. The Colombian superstar has been putting the finishing touches on his fourth album, and on Friday (March 1), he officially launched his new era by releasing the video for lead single "HP." Directed by Nuno Gomes, it's a vibrant explosion of positive vibes, and there's plenty more where that came from.


"We wanted to do a very, very eye catching video because that's what I'm doing with my next album, 11:11, is showing a lot of happiness, a lot of positive energy," Maluma explained to MTV News. "We wanted to show all these colors and this happiness that I'm going through in my life."


Shot in Miami, the new video takes the song's cheeky message — "HP" is short for "hijueputa," or "son of a bitch"; Maluma explains, "the 'HP' is the douchebag who doesn't respect ladies — and sets it against a fun-loving atmosphere. Maluma and his crew ride around Miami in ATVs, throw an outside dance party, and chide the douchebags who attempt to get in their way. Animated effects give the video a quirky touch, and Maluma sets the vibe with an instantly catchy hook about drinking, partying, and letting loose.


While 11:11 doesn't have an official release date although, Maluma mentioned he's eyeing a "early summer" drop, which should compliment his new music's "very positive" energy.


"This project is special. It has a cute, cute magic because I feel like I'm reinventing myself. And right now that I'd like to be a world artist, that's what I have to do. I have to keep moving forward," he explained, adding, "I'm doing the music that I really love. So everything is great; I'm growing as an artist and as a human being."


so far, though, Maluma is focused on finishing the album while also carving out time in the studio with other artists. One of these possible collaborators is the one and only Madonna — she recently shared some pics of these in the studio with each other, though he's tight-lipped about what exactly they're working on.


"Well... We're cooking," he mentioned, laughing. "We're chefs, we love cooking. We were there making some music. I met her at the VMAs and that was a pretty experience, and then we became companions. ... She asked me to the studio, and yeah, we were there in the lab, cooking some nice things."


Hopefully we'll find out what they whipped up with each other soon — although you could probably expect more of these feel-good vibes. That's Maluma's wave for 2019, soon after all.