With Colombian swagger and hustle, singer Juan Duque is rising to the top while putting his hometown on the map and supporting his country in its time of need.
‘Verraco’ in Colombian slang describes a person who’s determined, hard-working, gutsy, and a go-getter. An artist on the rise who’s embodied the spirit of that word is Juan Duque. Since racking up nearly five million monthly listeners on Spotify, the 30-year-old heartthrob has proudly represented his roots in his hits while putting a spotlight on his charming and quaint hometown of Marinilla. On the path to becoming Colombia’s next big pop star, Duque wants to inspire his fans to embrace their inner verracos.
“We are all verracos in Colombia,” Duque affirms proudly. “I drew inspiration from that vibe. It’s a spirit of resilience no matter where you come from. We all have that same grit. We’re all verracos and that’s what my new project is all about.”
Medellín has become Colombia’s reggaeton capital and churned out stars like J Balvin, Maluma, Karol G, and Feid. Duque was born on the outskirts of Medellín in a small town called Marinilla. It was his humble upbringing in the countryside that instilled his hustle in him at a young age. Duque’s ascent to the top was gradual. First, he won over Colombia in 2023 with the romantic reggaeton of “Maria” and the song’s remix featuring Ryan Castro. Two years later, Duque scored his first global smash with Afrobeats-infused “Solcito” alongside Miguel Bueno, which racked up over 226 million streams on Spotify. With more eyes on him than ever before, now he’s taking it back to where it all began with his next EP, “Verraco Vibe”. Duque returned to Marinilla for the music video for his latest single, the flirty reggaeton romp “Songo Sorongo.”
Duque is also channelling that same essence of willpower into supporting his home nation following the recent earthquake that devastated a large part of the country. Along with his family and friends, he helped move donations and supplies to the affected cities. Duque has also performed at a few benefit concerts, including Colombia: Voces Por La Vida, which raised over $3.6 million for earthquake relief. In an exclusive interview with Wonderland, he opens up about giving back to Colombia, putting Marinilla on the map, and entering his Verraco era.
What does it mean for you to represent your hometown of Marinilla?
It’s wonderful because people are getting to know Colombia better, but they’re also discovering other cultures and different ways of life. People might think it’s all about Medellín and how they look, speak, and dress a certain way there, but then they see that the culture of Marinilla is completely different. It’s a small town, a different lifestyle, and a different pace of life too. People in that town live very peacefully and they truly understand the value of life. It’s great to represent my hometown. When people talk about me and they learn there’s this place close to Medellín called Marinilla that offers something unique, I love that. I want people to visit my hometown and experience it for themselves.
How would you describe this era of your career that you’re in now?
I’m deeply connected to my roots. It feels great to return to my roots in Marinilla and show who we are. Now that I’m so reconnected with my roots, I love showing that and I’m feeling very proud of where I come from. I’m showing everything: the differences between the city and the countryside, my hometown, and my upbringing. Honestly, I’m having a lot of fun showing that side of myself.
How does that return to your roots tie into your upcoming EP “Verraco Vibe”?
I told myself before starting a new project that I needed to reconnect with where I come from. I had to go back to Marinilla and the rural areas where my family lives. I listened to them, partied with them, and stayed up all night with them. I wanted to remember what music they play when they’re partying, working, chilling at home, or out and about. I realised that people living in Marinilla, especially my family, listen to a lot of reggaeton, and I thought, “I want to do that.” I have a really beautiful reggaeton project coming together. It’s got a bit of everything: the reggaeton music you can play in the club, the car, or at home. It’s music with a great vibe that makes you want to do something, whether it’s partying, being at home, or hanging out with friends.
What was the inspiration for your latest single “Songo Sorongo”?
It’s about doing things quietly, calmly, and on the low. The phrase songo sorongo is about being low-key but focused. It also implies a casual and unassuming approach to relationships. I thought that expression was beautiful and perfect for this song because it captures a lot of our local culture, especially the vibe when I’m with my family. It’s got a playful and laid-back feel. We started writing it with a guitar out on a farm while I was goofing around with my cousins and cracking jokes.
You’ve also recently gone viral on Emyl Rusev’s “Así de Rico (Va Uno a Ver y Ve Remizzz)” that’s become an anthem for Colombia. How did you come up with your guest verse?
That verse turned out beautifully because the song isn’t about me, Emyl, or Juliana. It was made for Colombia as a whole. I essentially wrote my verse describing a Colombian verraco. My verse was meant to capture that spirit. My part of the song alludes to any criticism or obstacles that have been stacked against us Colombians. Despite that, we’ve never been afraid. Going against the odds, dealing with criticism, or having limited resources, we always know how to handle and navigate those situations. It’s a beautiful expression of the Colombian verraco.
What does it mean for you to use your hands, your platform, and your music to support Colombia as the country recovers from the earthquake?
More than an act of solidarity, for me, it’s an act of responsibility. If we artists have achieved some level of recognition, it’s because the people of Colombia have supported us. This is our way of giving back to our country and returning all the love that we’ve gotten from our people. It’s a beautiful thing to be able to join in. It’s wonderful that we have this voice and visibility to make a massive impact. We’re spreading the message far and wide and encouraging more aid collection and donations. It’s great that the country can use us to reach more people and we’re inspiring them to donate, attend benefit concerts and events, visit collection centers, and give whatever they can.
Who are some artists that you would love to collaborate with in the future?
If we’re talking about the near future, I would love to collaborate with Carlos Vives. I feel like it’s getting close to happening. I’ve seen him a lot lately at different events. If we’re talking about a future that’s further down the line, I would love to collaborate with my fellow Colombians like J Balvin, Ryan Castro, Karol G, Ferxxo [Feid], and Maluma. I will always be down to collaborate with any of them.
You have songs that are romantic, sensual, and sexy. How do you feel about some of your fans seeing you as a Colombian sex symbol?
I’m fine about it. Let people enjoy what they see. It’s no big deal. Use your eyes however you like to, but always with respect of course. Eyes were made for looking, so go ahead and use them because that’s what they’re for.
What more can we expect from you this year that you can tell us?
With the “Verraco Vibe” EP, there’s still a lot to be done, but it’s going to be really great. I know that people are going to really enjoy the music. It’s a new sound from me that they likely haven’t heard before. I have a concert with Piso 21 coming up at the Movistar Arena in Bogotá on 26th November. That’s another dream of mine that became a reality. I’m going to be in the United States at the end of the year. I had to postpone my world tour because of the earthquake in Colombia. I actually think it’s for the best because we’ll have more time to book larger venues and really polish the show. Between now and then, if more of my songs take off, then people will have even more songs to sing along to. I’m excited, and I can’t wait to be in the US to kick off the tour.
Words – Lucas Villa
