Ricky Martin shares his thoughts on music, representation, and the energy that keeps him alive.
Some pop culture moments linger simply because they have travelled so widely. And long before streaming blurred borders, Ricky Martin was already a global icon. His music was moving freely across languages, regions, and cultures that had little in common.
Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Ricky Martin first captured global attention as a member of the boy band Menudo before launching a solo career that would make him a Latin pop powerhouse. Over the decades, he has delivered chart-topping hits, including “Livin’ La Vida Loca,” “She Bangs,” and “Maria,” songs that have become synonymous with the late 90s and early 2000s Latin pop explosion. His accolades include multiple Grammy and Latin Grammy Awards, Billboard Music Awards, and recognition for his humanitarian work, cementing his status as a global entertainer and a cultural ambassador.
Ricky Martin last performed in the UAE in late 2024 at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai – FACT Magazine’s first-ever partnered concert. Now, as he returns to the region as part of Saadiyat Nights in Abu Dhabi, FACT got a chance for an in-depth conversation about his music, career, and connection with audiences worldwide.
“It feels incredible that I’m coming back to perform,” Ricky Martin says about coming back to the UAE. “The audience here is passionate, respectful, and very present.” He notes that there’s an openness among the crowd in the region. “People give themselves permission to feel, to dance, to sing,” he adds. “That kind of energy feeds me in a very powerful way.”
Ricky Martin’s history with international audiences dates back over a decade. He was one of the first Latin artists to dominate English-language charts, and has been more than a pop star, including many of us growing up outside the West. His music didn’t need translation. The rhythm and the emotion found their way. That, perhaps, is Ricky Martin’s greatest legacy.
When asked why his music continues to translate so easily, Ricky Martin’s answer was immediate: “Emotion,” he says. “Music is energy. When you sing from a real place, people feel it in their bodies before they understand it with their minds.” And while that plays a role, it isn’t the full story. “Vulnerability is key,” Ricky Martin explains. “When someone sings along in a language that isn’t their own, that’s connection at its purest.”
His experience as a trailblazer gives him a unique perspective on today’s Latin artists making waves worldwide. As Latin artists continue to take up major global stages, from Jennifer Lopez and Shakira at the Super Bowl to Bad Bunny headlining amid both celebration and backlash, Ricky Martin views these moments with pride. “Progress isn’t always quiet”, he adds, “sometimes it’s loud, and unapologetic. And that’s a good thing.” As someone who helped pave the way, Ricky Martin understands that visibility often comes with discomfort, which is often part of change.
Ricky Martin once described music as cathartic, but it has also always “been his release and his medicine”. His perspective has changed. “Over the years, my relationship with the creative process has evolved as I’ve evolved,” Ricky Martin explains. “Each era of my career represents a very personal moment in my life, and I want to honour those chapters by singing those songs in my concerts.”
When Ricky Martin performs songs like “Livin’ La Vida Loca today,” it arrives with decades of history attached and not being weighed down by nostalgia. “Those songs carry memories. Not just mine, but the audience’s as well,” he explains. “When we sing them together, it’s not about the past, it’s about how those moments still live inside us.”
When the spotlight grows intense, Ricky Martin knows exactly where to retreat. “My kids, family, close friends, quiet moments, and time with myself are essential for me,” he says. “The stage is a powerful place, but it’s not where my entire identity lives.” Protecting his mental and emotional well-being, he explains, is what allows him to return to that stage fully present — as a performer and as a person.
Despite a career that spans decades, Ricky Martin is still looking forward. He revealed that he’ll begin recording a new album next year and remains open to collaborations, including with artists from the Middle East, “as long as they feel organic”.
As Ricky Martin takes the stage in Abu Dhabi, it is not simply a return but a reaffirmation of his ongoing influence and relevance. With every note, he demonstrates that music’s power is enduring and that his journey is still far from finished, and you can experience this energy firsthand because tickets are now live.
GO: Visit www.ticketmaster.ae for more information.