The meeting point between electronic music and cultural tradition has become one of the most exciting spaces in music today. There’s something beautiful about hearing rhythms that have been passed down for generations find a new home on the dancefloor, creating a dialogue between heritage and contemporary sound.
With “Magdalena,” Thombs, Maía, and Albertini explore exactly that. Originally written by Maía as a deeply personal tribute to her daughter, the song was later reimagined by Thombs and Albertini into an electronic production that preserves its folkloric soul while opening it up to a new sonic landscape. “This music is not just rhythm—it’s a way of telling stories, celebrating life, honoring ancestry, and keeping culture alive,” says Thombs.
We caught up with Thombs and Maía to talk about the story behind Magdalena, blending tradition with electronic music, the excitement surrounding the Latin Grammys, and the little things that make life beautiful.
photography press courtesy
First of all, we’re happy to have you both with us.
We’ve been loving “Magdalena” — it feels like one of those songs made for long summer evenings. (smiles) Looking at the track today, what does “Magdalena” represent to each of you personally?
Maía: Well, Magdalena is a very personal song for me because Magdalena is my daughter. I wrote the song as a tribute to her. It carries a lot of this strength and the rich flavor of Colombia’s Afro-Caribbean oral tradition and it speaks about Magdalena’s roots, origins, ancestors.
When I started writing it, composing, the song just flowed so naturally. It came to me within an hour, and now it’s just amazing to have this song not only with that deep folkloric essence but also reimagined in an electronic world.
Thombs: For me, Magdalena represents a musical evolution, where we managed to fuse Colombian Caribbean folkloric rhythms with electronic music without losing the essence of either world. It’s a celebration of tradition and innovation coming together, creating a sound that honors the roots while opening new possibilities for the dance floor and contemporary audiences.
Do you remember the first conversation where this collaboration started, and what made you both feel it was the right moment to create something together?
Thombs: I remember the first conversation very clearly. I met Maía in December 2025, thanks to my colleague Albertini, who was also part of the process of creating the song and the official video for Magdalena. We all had a great musical connection and immediately discussed the project.
Maía already had the song Magdalena composed, carrying that rich Colombian folkloric flavor, and I brought it into the electronic world with some adaptations and arrangements that work really well for clubs and DJs. The combination of our musical visions and the natural synergy we felt made it clear that it was the perfect moment to collaborate.
Maía, your voice carries so much history and emotion. What was it like hearing yourself within this more electronic landscape for the first time?
Maía: For me, it was incredible. It’s such a beautiful feeling to see your dreams come true. I imagined something like this many, many years ago, but I never thought the day would actually come when I would create a fusion this unique, this original, this exotic.
I’ve always written a lot of traditional music, a lot of folkloric music that was never officially released because what I mainly do is tropical music, not raw Colombian folkloric music. So to bring this folkloric sound into an electronic and house environment is amazing.
The song opens a conversation between past and present. What is one tradition you hope never disappears?
Thombs: I would love for our Colombian folklore and ancestral roots to never disappear. They are a vital source of inspiration and identity, and I believe we have a responsibility to keep them alive. For me, it’s about honoring the past while finding new ways to bring those traditions into the present, just like we did with Magdalena.
“Life’s greatest luxuries aren’t material. For me, the true luxury is spending time with my family. Time is priceless.”
Maía
Thombs, you’ve spoken about bringing Afro-Colombian sounds into a global club context. What have these rhythms taught you about the places and people they come from?
Thombs: They taught me that these sounds carry history, identity, and community. When I started exploring the Colombian Caribbean coast, especially Magdalena, I began to understand more deeply the African roots that live in that region.
Rhythms like fandango de lengua, chalupa, and bullerengue, and instruments like the alegre, tambora, llamador, and maracones, showed me that this music is not just rhythm—it’s a way of telling stories, celebrating life, honoring ancestry, and keeping culture alive.
Bringing those sounds into a global club context has taught me to approach them with respect. They come from places and people with a very strong spiritual and cultural connection to music, and that reminds me that every beat has a history behind it.
The most interesting collaborations often happen when artists don’t try to meet in the middle, but instead bring their full selves into the room. Do you feel that was the case with “Magdalena”?
Thombs: Absolutely. With Magdalena, we brought our full musical roots and influences into the process. We didn’t try to meet in the middle; instead, we let the song speak to us, allowed the rhythms to guide us, and adapted only what needed adapting.
By including everything necessary, we created a fusion that felt complete, authentic, and joyful, and that energy is exactly what we wanted to share with the world.
Maía, over the years you’ve built a strong connection with your audience online. Social media has become such a big part of an artist’s career today. What do you enjoy most about sharing parts of your life and creative journey online?
Maía: Social media is really a window into a more direct, thoughtful, honest, and genuine conversation with our audience and with all the new people discovering us online.
Of course, we talk about music, but I think what both the audience and I enjoy the most is everything that surrounds that music: my life, my hobbies, what I do outside of music, and my opinions about life, the world, and our country.
I think all of that helps people understand more clearly why I make the kind of music that I make and why my music carries the message that it does.
I have to say, my life is filled with a lot of laughter and peace. That’s why we do a lot of humor sketches online. People love that because I try to bring that same energy my life has right now into both my music and my social media.
There’s something magical about it. It’s an energy people can really feel and connect with, especially nowadays when everything feels so controversial. Living a life online without drama can actually be a sweet breath of fresh air for a lot of people.
“These sounds carry history, identity, and community.” Thombs
The Latin Grammys are just around the corner and you’ll be presenting “Magdalena” there. Congratulations! Are you more excited, nervous, grateful—or a bit of everything? (smiles)
Thombs & Maía: It’s definitely a bit of everything, but above all, we feel grateful and excited. When we saw that the Latin Grammys opened the category for Best Electronic Music Performance, we felt that Magdalena belonged in that conversation, so we decided to submit it.
Just having the possibility of being considered already means a lot to us. We have faith that it can happen, and we’re very excited about the idea of Magdalena reaching that stage and representing this fusion of sounds, roots, and electronic music.
Thombs, what is one change that would make the music industry a better place for artists?
Thombs: One change that would make a real difference is ensuring fair compensation for artists. That means proper payment of royalties, transparent contracts, and systems where creators can actually make a living from their work.
Music carries emotions and tells stories, but many talented artists today don’t have the resources to live well from their craft. Fair rights and fair payment would help change that.
And finally, what are a few little things that are making life beautiful for you these days?
Maía: I’ve realized that life’s greatest luxuries aren’t material. For me, the true luxury is spending time with my family—my daughter, my parents—creating the music I love freely, without a boss, and being able to use my time as I choose.
Time is priceless, and I value every moment I invest in it.
These days, I dedicate my time to love: love for music, for my home, for my family, and for myself. Living with gratitude, appreciating our health, embracing new projects, and stepping into each new chapter allows me to live more deeply and with greater respect for myself and others.
Thombs: The little things that make life beautiful for me are creating music, composing, and exploring different places and cultures through this amazing art.
I also find inspiration in everyday life itself. Moments, experiences, and the world around me keep fueling my creativity and joy.
Check out “Magdalena” here:
li.sten.to/magdalenahouse
Follow Thombs, Maía & Albertini for more:
www.instagram.com/thombs
www.instagram.com/maiamusical
www.instagram.com/albertogonzalezcreative
