Fanny Lu recently marked her return to music with Una Vida Bien Vivida, an album full of joyful and positive vibes featuring big collaborators like Bacilos, Carlos Baute, Olga Tañón and Yuri. It’s her first studio album since 2011’s Felicidad y Perpetua, but the Colombian artist points out that she never really left.
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“I’ve always stayed in music with singles,” Fanny Lu tells Billboard Español during a visit to New York. “I went through an emotionally and personally difficult time in my life, and God gave me the opportunity to spend seven years on La Voz, experiencing music from the other side,” she says, referring to her divorce from the father of her two children and her work as a coach on La Voz Colombia and La Voz Kids (Spanish language adaptations of The Voice) between 2012-2013 and 2014-2019, respectively.
Produced by José Gaviria and independently released in May, Una Vida Bien Vivida (which means “A life well lived”) is Fanny Lu’s fourth studio album. Before becoming a musician, she studied (and graduated in) industrial engineering and worked as an actress and TV host. With her charisma and a unique tropipop style, she soon won over a legion of fans. Her debut album, Lágrimas Cálidas (2006), landed on the Billboard charts, reaching No. 13 on Top Tropical Albums, while its single “No Te Pido Flores” hit No. 1 on the Tropical Airplay chart. More hits followed with Dos (2008) and Felicidad y Perpetua.
And yes, between that last album and Una Vida Bien Vivida, she did release numerous singles, from “Mujeres” and “Lo Que Dios Quiera” to “Fuerte,” “El Traidor” and “Lágrimas de Amor.” “But I kept saying, ‘I need an album.’ Because the album-making process is so different and so generous — it allows you to rediscover and reinvent yourself in the process,” she says enthusiastically. As the 20th anniversary of her musical debut approached, she felt it was the perfect time to give herself “the gift I had dreamed of for so many years,” and she did it from a place of gratitude and personal and professional fulfillment.
Below, Fanny Lu answers 20 questions about music, female empowerment, motherhood, tears, good advice, love (she’s since remarried) and cooking.
1. Welcome to Billboard and welcome back to music. What took so long?
I went through an emotionally and personally difficult time in my life, and God gave me the opportunity to spend seven years on La Voz, experiencing music from the other side — from the perspective of someone who shines a light on others, who shares generously what they’ve learned, who admires, appreciates and supports others. And it was beautiful, working with both adults and kids on La Voz Colombia and La Voz Kids. It taught me so much and allowed me to enjoy music in a different way during that complicated time in my life.
2. How did you decide to come back?
During that time, I released several songs as singles, but I kept saying: “I need an album.” Because the album-making process is so different and so generous — it allows you to rediscover and reinvent yourself. I said: “I deserve to give myself this dream of a full album, to tell a complete story like when you write a book with different chapters.” And that’s what I did — a catharsis in the studio over several months, allowing myself to listen to myself.
3. Were you scared? Excited? Both?
Yes, a little bit of everything. But above all, I’m in a moment in my life where I feel deeply grateful — for my dreams, for the blessing of being able to sing to so many people for so long, for feeling blessed in my personal life as a mom, as a wife, as a daughter, as an artist. In that space, fears and doubts fade away because you face life with peace and faith. It’s been a beautiful process, and I’m savoring every second of it.
4. And you returned empowered with Una Vida Bien Vivida and “La Mujer Que Soy” (The Woman I Am). How do these titles define the moment you’re in?
As self-love. I tell my 20-year-old daughter: “I would give my life to teach you what I know now.” I feel like everything is a process in life, and we all come to these realizations at different times. At my age, you think: “How didn’t I learn this earlier? How did I have so many doubts, so much fear?” But it’s all part of the journey. Realizing that self-love gives you everything you’ve ever dreamed of — confidence, faith in yourself, power over your decisions, discipline, valuing your time and your life, living inwardly instead of outwardly — that sums up this album. A life well-lived isn’t a perfect life; it’s not just smiles and fulfilled dreams. It’s a life of falls, tears, effort and sweat. It’s a life of confusion that eventually leads to light and clarity.
5. How does the Fanny Lu of 2011, when you released Felicidad y Perpetua, differ from the Fanny Lu of 2025?
I feel there’s a deeper recognition of myself — my worth, my effort, and my growth. There’s a celebration of my being, my style, my voice, and the way we make music. There’s a confidence in knowing that my lane is my lane, and I value it. Today, I’m not looking for anything else but to be myself.
6. Having a unique and recognizable sound is essential for an artist. How did you find yours?
I spent many years understanding myself musically and gave myself the freedom to experiment so I could truly discover myself in the studio. I’ve been very stubborn about staying true to who I am. I’ve insisted that every song I sing must feel personal, something I can defend and identify with. It’s been a beautiful stubbornness to always be myself so that when people hear my songs, they say: “That’s Fanny Lu.”
7. How would you define your style or genre?
I don’t know. It’s a tropical, Colombian genre — fun, colorful, and very fused and free. It can go from merengue to vallenato, to pop, to corridos. It’s a genre full of light and vibrant brushstrokes, influenced by all the music that’s accompanied me throughout my life.
8. Who are your biggest influences?
I’ve had so many, both in English-language and tropical music, and Colombian music too. For example, Celia Cruz — so iconic, with her powerful voice, unique style, joy, positivity and messages full of light. Yuri has also been an influence since I was little, and it’s been a gift from God to celebrate my 20 years with her [on “Otra Partida”]. I used to dance to her songs all the time. There are so many others: Juan Luis Guerra, Juan Gabriel…
9. Besides Yuri, the album includes collaborations with great artists like Olga Tañón, Bacilos and more. How did you choose your collaborators for this return to music?
It was very spontaneous, as if each song spoke to me. But the beautiful thing was also surrounding myself with people who have been part of my professional journey as an artist. I’ve had the blessing of working with people I’ve admired so much, people I dreamed of collaborating with when I was starting out in music and would think, “Oh, when will I get there?” But also with fellow artists who have walked a similar path, like Bacilos.
10. If you could collaborate with anyone, from any nationality, alive or dead, who would it be?
Juan Luis Guerra. I would love to because he’s such an icon, and I’ve grown up with his music and his influences. I love his heart.
11. What’s the best advice you’ve been given in the music industry?
Perhaps the best advice I’ve been given, in music and in life, is: “Feel like a sun.” My mother gave me that advice. “When you step on that stage, feel like the sun is shining from your chest, that you radiate, that you illuminate, that you bring happiness.”
12. Your son Teo (Mateo Madriñán) has also ventured into music. What advice have you given him?
To always fight to be himself, to always defend his artistic personality, his musical style, what he wants, and what he believes in. And honestly, it’s been hard to give him that advice because now he’ll tell me: “Mom, you told me…” [Laughs.]
13. How did motherhood change your artistic sensitivity?
My music was born alongside my children, really. When I was having my kids, that’s when this dream of mine also began. I made it a family project, because my ex-husband, very generously, fell in love with my voice and my dream, and it became his dream too. So, it was a family effort. I’ve always been very sensitive.
14. You graduated as an industrial engineer from the University of Los Andes. Did you ever think you’d truly dedicate yourself to engineering?
I actually did for a long time, but in creative and entertainment-related areas, because I had a production company called Activa. I used to answer the phone saying, “Activa!” and people would joke, “You mean Hyperactiva, right?” because I was working in radio, working as a TV presenter, then acting, but at the same time, I was producing, directing, and doing executive production for videos. So, as the manager of that company and the executive producer of my projects, all the organization, structure, and executive capacity came from engineering.
15. What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I love traveling, cooking, spending time with family.
16. What’s your specialty in the kitchen?
Well, I have a chef right at home: my husband is an amazing cook. I’ve tried cooking, but then I think, “Why should I cook if he’s so good at it?” But being in the kitchen with him is therapeutic. When you share through food, it’s like giving love, and I’ve learned to really enjoy cooking.
17. Next year marks the 20th anniversary of your debut album, Lágrimas Cálidas (Warm Tears), which landed you on the Billboard charts. What do you remember about that time?
I don’t know why tears always accompany me, even when I’m deeply in love, filled with love for my kids, or so grateful for my mom. When we released Lágrimas Cálidas, I felt this urge to cry from joy but also from fear, because I was stepping into a world I didn’t know. And since “No Te Pido Flores” became so big so quickly, I felt like God was saying: “We’re saving this space for you, here’s your spot, enjoy it.” So, I felt this huge responsibility — for what people expected from me, for what my team expected, and for what I expected from myself. It was happiness, but also this immense responsibility and fear of facing my dream, which was coming true in the best possible way — the most responsible and magical.
18. In no more than five words, summarize what these 20 years in music have been like for you.
A life well-lived.
19. You’re currently part of Spotify’s EQUAL campaign, which promotes gender equality in music. What’s the most important change you’ve seen in the industry in this regard?
Women shining, women empowered. And when I talk about power, for me, the concept of empowerment has changed a lot — it’s about having power over yourself, your decisions, what you do. But beyond that, I’ve seen a beautiful sense of collaboration among women, a generosity that didn’t exist before. That generosity expands women’s participation in the industry, and that’s such a wonderful thing.
20. If you could sing only one song for the rest of your life — your own or someone else’s — which would it be?
“La Mujer Que Soy.” It defines this moment and the greatest discovery of my life: the power of self-love.