Inside Latin Stars’ Surprise Album

Romeo Santos arrives wearing a face mask and a hoodie. He’s not sick, just determined to avoid being recognized as he enters our New York studios, and immediately heads to his dressing room with his small entourage. Minutes later, Prince Royce walks through the door, just as quickly and discreetly, with a cap under the hood of his sweater covering half his face.

The two have been seen together in the past, but only as friends on social media. Today, the last Wednesday of October, they’re here to announce something completely different: Romeo Santos and Prince Royce, the “king” and “prince” of bachata, respectively, are finally collaborating, not on a single song, but on an entire album.

Their collaboration has been the best-kept secret in Latin music in years. Appropriately titled Better Late Than Never, the 13-song album will arrive Nov. 28 on Sony Music Latin, where only a small group of people knew of its existence.

Close friends and family were also unaware. (Coincidentally, Royce’s brother, who works as a photographer in New York, only learned of the project when he joined the team that shot the cover for this Billboard Español story and saw both artists’ names on the call sheet.) Many of the musicians who played on the album think it’s by one or the other, since both artists deliberately summoned their sidemen separately and were never seen together in the studio.

The result is pure synergy: “There’s no one taking center stage here,” Santos says. “There isn’t a song where he sings more than me or me more than him.”

I listened to the album the day before, when Santos — as he’s done in the past with Billboard — picked me up in a Cadillac Escalade V and played it for me from beginning to end, responding to my questions and reactions with the joy of someone who knows he has something special in his hands. He’s never been one to share files of his work through email before their release, and he certainly wasn’t going to risk it this time.

Better Late Than Never has the essence of Santos and Royce throughout but also offers something fresh for both artists. There are classic bachatas, more modern takes and mostly romantic lyrics, and the fusion of their recognizable voices is captivating from the first track, which shares the album’s title.

Songs such as “Dardos” and “Jezebel” stand out, the latter displaying strong R&B influences, as well as “Ay San Miguel,” a Dominican palo, and “Menor,” a surprising first collaboration for Santos with an emerging talent, Dalvin La Melodía — who also hadn’t yet been informed about Royce’s participation.

Santos and Royce wrote four of the songs together, starting with “Mi Plan,” penned during a friends trip to St. Barts in 2023, and “Better Late Than Never,” “Jezabel” and “Loquita Por Mí.” The rest were mostly written by Santos, always with Royce’s participation and honest input. But the seed of this production has been germinating since at least 2017, when they recorded the first of three failed attempts that will likely never see the light of day.

“I don’t want to sound cliché or overly religious, but God’s timing is perfect,” Santos says, explaining why now was the right time. “When we started recording the first song seven years ago, there was a little resistance from both of us. I felt convinced at the time… the vibe was there, but then we started evaluating it and [realized], ‘Mmm, this is not the song.’”

“There was a moment where I said, ‘Man, are we ever going to find that fusion, that muse, where we both feel comfortable and can say, ‘This is great?’ ” Royce adds. “And it wasn’t that I doubted it, but it required going in and really delving into it — and suddenly there was a switch.”

The launch strategy was equally secretly planned. On Oct. 31, Halloween, Santos, unrecognizable in an Ace Ventura costume, announced on his Instagram account “new album November 28” — with a link in his bio to preorder it — along with a video of him partying in New York with an album in his hands. Days later, on Nov. 10, a massive listening party for his fans scheduled for Nov. 26 at Madison Square Garden was announced on Univision shows such as Despierta América and El Gordo y La Flaca and radio station WXNY-FM (La X 96.3) New York, where listeners could call in to win tickets. According to Santos’ publicist, at the time of the announcement, 7,000 people were online looking for tickets, all assuming that “it’s a [solo] Romeo album.”

Of course, there were no singles or previews. A music video featuring two songs — “Estocolmo” and “Dardos” — will be released simultaneously with the album. To communicate with the director, they used the code names “Batman” and “Robin.”

The collaboration between the two powerhouses is highly anticipated by bachata fans, and the fact that the project wasn’t rushed gives it new urgency and importance. Superstars of the genre from different generations, they are also very different in style — Santos with his sweet, high-pitched voice and use of traditional guitars; Royce with his light lyric tenor and a more pop/urban sound. And both have redefined the genre. Santos, 44, revived bachata when it was considered traditional regional music, giving it a sensual twist with touches of contemporary New York that captivated a new generation. Royce, 36, came later with bachata versions of Motown classics.

Santos rose to fame in the mid-1990s as leader of the group Aventura before launching a brilliant solo career in 2011 with Fórmula, Vol. 1, the longest-running bachata album by a solo artist on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart (17 weeks at No. 1); more recently, he was No. 2 on the Top Latin Artists of the 21st Century list (behind only Bad Bunny). Royce debuted in 2010 with a self-titled set that reached No. 1 on Top Latin Albums, which he has topped five times.

Both born in the Bronx to Dominican parents (except for Santos’ mother, who is Puerto Rican), they met at a family party. “Aventura was huge at the time,” Royce recalls. “I was in my room playing PlayStation. I heard the revolú [commotion], so many people outside. I went out and took a picture [with him],” adding that he was starstruck by the singer’s presence. Now, “This is a full-circle moment. What Romeo and Aventura have done has inspired me.”

“Romeo Santos and Prince Royce are two wonderful artists, two exceptional professionals — and even better human beings — who have dedicated their careers to bringing bachata to the world,” Afo Verde, chairman/CEO of Sony Music Latin Iberia, told me days after the interview. “Each of the songs on this brilliant album reflects the talent, creativity, passion and dedication of both of them. We can’t wait for all the fans to experience this magical album they’ve created together.”

Sitting down to talk for the first time about their most closely guarded secret in an exclusive interview with Billboard Español, Santos and Royce delve into the project, their friendship and the future of the genre that made them famous.

To begin, who approached whom? Who said, “Let’s do it”?

Romeo Santos: I’d like to take credit, but the truth is, the first person to mention the idea of recording not one, not two, but a whole album, was this gentleman right here. (Gestures to Royce.) And that was literally seven years ago, right?

Prince Royce: A long time ago, yes. I felt a lot of pressure from the public, really. If we make a song, what will it be? It can have pop elements, it can have very traditional elements, it can be a fusion. And I was thinking about how to fuse these two worlds, which, although it’s bachata, are two different styles of bachata. I always thought, “Man, how iconic would it be if we made an album, if we could give everyone these different kinds of flavors and colors?”

Santos: Yes, because that’s a valid point. When he says “the pressure,” it’s like a song will have an audience who will say, “I like this one,” but there will be another type of fan who will say, “Yes, but it’s too slow.” There are those who say, “Yes, but it’s too fast.” “Yes, but it doesn’t have that bitterness or it’s too depressing.” We have a production that fills all the gaps.

You recorded three previous tracks — one in 2017 for Golden, another in 2022 for Fórmula, Vol. 3 and a third later — and none of them were released. After three attempts, what motivated you to keep trying and not give up?

Santos: I think we started evaluating the three songs we had already recorded. “Where was the problem? How could the chorus of these three songs be improved? Was it the verse, the arrangement?” And at least I had the goal of making the songs feel organic, not like we took a song, sent a verse to Royce or vice versa, just to say we collaborated. I think it had to happen this way: three failed attempts to lead to this production. I don’t think I could have worked with Royce in a more ideal way. The best songs we were able to create are on this album.

Royce: I think for me it was, “We shouldn’t rush things.” Nowadays a lot of people lack patience, and I’ve always been very patient. I’m not a quitter, and he’s definitely not a quitter.

Santos: And you know what I respect? He was honest with me about those three songs. I mean, if he had been a hypocrite and told me, “They’re great,” this project wouldn’t have happened. But he was like, “I don’t know, loco, they’re OK, but do you think so?” So I kind of analyzed them. And honestly, every time I presented him with a song, I felt it was better than the last one.

How is it possible that none of this leaked in all these years? 

Santos: Well, I’ll just say that in the world of privacy, I’m an expert. I feel very comfortable, even if it’s a little stressful, working on projects with the element of surprise. I’m used to it; I don’t like to prepare people.

Royce: In my case, I just don’t want to jinx it either. I know how he works, I’ve known him for many years. For me it was such an important project that I wanted the element of surprise, I wanted to surprise the audience, I wanted to focus on the project without anyone interfering and simply work. 

Santos: Another factor was that we genuinely posted photos and videos together because we were hanging out. I think that when people saw those pictures and didn’t hear any music, they kind of overlooked it. And I didn’t know at the time that this was also what would work as a strategy for us. We managed to keep it a secret for several reasons. Also because technology has changed so radically these days that you can record a production, an album, whatever at home. We didn’t go to public studios; everything was recorded during vacations — we were in a villa with our friends and family, in my home studio in New York. We visited his house many times. That part was easy, honestly. 

Tell me about “Batman” and “Robin.”

 Santos: Ah, that was the code.

Royce: I called it the “Bora Project” with my small team. 

Santos: We created this “Batman” and “Robin” thing, but for different aspects; for filming music videos, talking to the director: “Remember, Royce is Robin, I’m Batman.” Until it became second nature. Now I say to him: “What’s up, Robin?” 

The fact that the record label hasn’t even heard the album speaks volumes about the creative freedom the label has given you to work together.

Santos: Look, I’m very grateful to Afo [Verde], to the whole Sony team really, but Afo is one of those people who respects the creative side of artists. And I remember sending Afo a message about two months ago, more or less, saying, “Brother, I have a project that I think is going to excite you. You’re going to love it, and I want to share this project with you. I want you to listen to it, to be one of the first.” Afo tells me, “I knew you were planning something,” because my last post was, if I’m not mistaken, on Jan. 8 of this year, and I’ve been ghosting on social media. 

How easy or difficult was it working together as two big artists with such distinctive styles?

Royce: From the moment we made that first song [that actually worked], everything flowed for me. It was like there was a whole year where I felt like we were creating something incredible. I was so happy. And I really admire how he pushed me in the studio. 

Santos: Thank you. I’m kind of a maniac.

Royce: I hadn’t felt like that in a long time. The fact that I thought I was doing well and [he’d tell me], “No, you can do better, bro,” and just keep at it…

Santos: And vice versa, because I’m so used to directing myself that sometimes you overlook certain things you stop doing as a performer. … The interesting thing about this project is that it has his essence, my essence, but musical proposals that neither of us has offered to the fans before. 

Who was more involved in the production? 

Santos: I would say I was… [But] I reiterate: He was very key because he trusted me, but also kind of challenged me. When I showed him a song, he was very honest, as he’s always been. So I went in already with that challenge. 

What new elements will the audience hear? 

Royce: There are new elements like “Dardos,” which has a lot of fusion. There are Afrobeat vibes, tropical vibes, different types of guitars, violins. [The song] “Better Late Than Never” starts off very pop, a cappella. And I think there are many elements, within bachata as well, in the way the guitar is played; there’s a bit of a rock flow. 

What did you think when you heard the album for the first time in its entirety?  

Santos: We hugged with happiness.

Royce: I was jumping around, I was tipsy. … I was super excited. For me, it has been an honor to record this album. It has been a very beautiful experience in the studio as well. 

Santos: You know what I used to tell him? “This pendejo sings beautifully!” Because I was listening to him from a different perspective. I love producing, and when you create a melody thinking of someone else, in my case, I enjoy it more than I enjoy singing it myself. And sometimes he sang a melody even better than what I envisioned. 

Were you already a fan of Prince Royce’s music?

Santos: There’s a mutual respect. I’ve always told him about the songs I love from his repertoire. For me, “Incondicional” is one of those songs that, if you ask me what Romeo hasn’t done in bachata, both with Aventura and as a solo artist, when I heard that song I said, “F–k, mariachi with bachata!” That was great. 

Royce, is there a song by Romeo you wish you had written? 

Royce: There are many. I’ve always been a fan of “La Novelita” by Aventura. “Infieles.” “Eres Mía”… I think he’s a walking encyclopedia of bachata; he knows every bachata song and has a lot of musical knowledge. And he’s a genius with lyrics, truly. 

As friends and colleagues, do you ever call each other for advice?

Santos: Of course. We’ve talked a lot long before this project. It’s a truly genuine friendship. 

Prince, what’s the best advice you remember Romeo giving you?

Royce: There are many that I probably can’t say on camera. No, just kidding. (Laughs.) In terms of advice — not just musical; it could be business, it could be personal — we’ve had many conversations and he’s always been, I really mean it, very real with me… And I’ve always respected that. 

Santos: I can tell you that one piece of advice he gave me once was, “Don’t take things so seriously.” I have that problem. Sometimes we forget to have fun. Especially when you have a plan, the rollout, marketing, a million things, and I feel like he has that quality. He loves what he does, just like I do, but maybe I’m too… What’s the word? 

Royce: Particular, detail-oriented…

Santos: Yeah, sometimes that kind of takes away the fun.

Let’s talk about the state of bachata. How do you see the genre right now?

Santos: How far the genre has come is impressive, especially when you see artists who aren’t bachata singers navigating this genre of heartbreak. When I listen to Rosalía, Manuel Turizo, Maluma, Shakira, Rauw Alejandro, Karol G, that’s an excellent sign that good work has been done since the beginning. 

However, a superstar on the level of Romeo Santos and Prince Royce hasn’t emerged. Why do you think this has happened? 

Santos: I think there are a lot of Prince Royces and Romeos in an attic, in a basement, creating the new sound. The thing is, this business isn’t easy. And when I say it’s not easy, it’s not easy for us either. There’s a very essential key that few apply, and that’s perseverance. If you analyze my career, people remember Aventura from “Obsesión,” but we’d been hard at work six years prior to that.

Royce: I think a lot of people always see the success but they never see the failures, what didn’t happen, the doors you knocked on. And I think that nowadays it’s very important to be different… and to bring something that Romeo Santos didn’t bring and that Prince Royce didn’t bring, because they’re already here.

Going back to your wonderful project, an album is usually followed by a tour. Do you plan to go on the road together? What do you envision for that show?

Santos: Obviously, yes, we are considering a tour, God willing, and a worldwide one so people can enjoy both of our repertoires. And when it happens, God willing, we don’t want it to feel like a show where he goes onstage, sings his setlist, then I sing mine. No. We want it to be an experience where, whether you’re a fan of Royce and me or just a fan of him or just of me, it’s a musical journey through both of our repertoires.

What would you say to Prince Royce fans who aren’t Romeo Santos fans, and to Romeo Santos fans who aren’t Prince Royce fans? 

Royce: Well, personally, I think they’re going to become fans of all of us. 

Santos: You want to know what I’d tell his fans? That they’re going to have to put up with Romeo! (Laughs.) No, but seriously, this is a treat, a gift for both sets of fans, because I think — and I don’t want to sound repetitive — that it’s a production where each song is dedicated to different styles, to his essence, to mine. But there’s something else you’ll notice about it: There’s no one taking center stage here. There isn’t a song where he sings more than me or me more than him. Maybe your favorite part of this particular song is Royce’s chorus, and maybe your favorite part is the pre-hook I did, but I hope you like it, that it evokes some kind of emotion in you in a positive way, because we made it with all the love we could put into a project.