One Man's Journey: Ricky Martin Revealed

By Rachael Coleman Thompson

Ricky Martin has experienced a whirlwind of changes in recent years. He became a father, came out about his sexuality, wrote a book and journeyed far into the depths of his own soul. The culmination of that spiritual catharsis has resulted in a deeply personal statement expressed the best way he knows how: through music.

Martin's ninth album, Música + Alma + Sexo, may be his first studio recording in six years, but that time wasn't idly spent. Shortly after winning two Latin Grammys for his MTV Unplugged in 2007, Martin became the father of twins, Mateo and Valentino, and, in late 2010, published his autobiography, Yo, an intimate portrait of his world and his personal journey of self-discovery.

Photo by Rachael Coleman Thompson/Tr3s

That journey was the foundation for Música + Alma + Sexo, a collection of songs that, according to Martin, represent "the three priorities of life."

"I've gone through a process that is so totally spiritual in these last— well, I'd dare say since I became a dad," Martin told Studio Tr3s in Spanish. "It was really, really intense, that searching, and many cycles opened and many cycles closed. And sex, it's part of everything, man. It's a part of life, it's also very spiritual, and it is nature. It's everything. And the music in this record talks about all of that."

The process of writing the album was a journey all its own. Writing both his book and his new songs required Martin to dig deep within himself to capture the essence that defines him as both man and musician.

"I emptied myself," Martin said. "There were periods of intense vulnerability. There were moments filled with doubt, filled with a lot of emotion, and also a lot of enjoyment. But this creative process really strengthened me. And working with Desmond Child — he's an amazing producer, someone that knows me very well. We're on the same frequency when it comes to living, spirituality, etc., so it was a very, very beautiful moment of my life. ... It's been very liberating, and this is only the beginning. I just can't wait to be on stage again."

But even when that process seemed difficult, Martin's young sons helped him keep perspective.

"Life gets complicated," Martin said. "While you're growing up and dealing with the truths of this wonderful life, one begins to forget the importance of simple things. ... Even laughing at yourself is very important, and you forget these things. My sons have taught me. They look at me and say, ‘Dad, relax. Everything is fine.' So that's the beauty of it. They teach me. They are like two small gurus with old souls that teach me a lot. They're the best thing that has ever happened."

The bilingual album features songs in both Spanish and English — including the Spanish-language duet "Lo Mejor De Mi Vida Eres Tú" with Spanish singer Natalia Jiménez and its English counterpart "The Best Thing About Me Is You" with British songstress Joss Stone — confirmation of Martin's desire to truly reach a global audience.

"You have to communicate," he said. "It's funny because when I tweet in Spanish, the Anglo-Saxons say ‘Hey, don't you speak English?' And when I tweet in English, the Latinos say, ‘Hey, brother, you're a Latino. What's the matter with you?!' And, well, the important thing is that they get the message. Fortunately, with my music I have noticed that language isn't a problem.... I like learning languages and I like trying to get the message across. But there are things that aren't translatable."

Just don't ask him to speak multiple languages at the same time.

While setting up for the interview, Tr3s host Carlos Santos told him he would be asking questions in both English and Spanish. "I've got to put some ‘Spanglishcito' in there," Santos said, to which Martin replied:

"That Spanglish is killing me!"

Studio Tr3s: Ricky Martin, featuring interviews with and performances by Martin, Jiménez and boricua reggaetón duo Wisin y Yandel, airs on Tr3s Saturday, Feb. 12.

Tags Carlos Santos, Hot Stuff, Natalia Jimenez, photo, Photos, Ricky Martin, Studio Tr3s: Ricky Martin, Wisin y Yandel