MAX VADUKUL

What Hispanic figures have you grown up admiring?
Well, definitely Jennifer Lopez. I completely admire her story of growing up in the Bronx and the success that she’s had and the empire she’s created. She’s a very intelligent woman. I got a chance to work with her on the Pepsi commercial. She’s unbelievably beautiful and talented. Of course. Selena. Growing up in Texas, hearing about her all time. I’ve actually performed at rodeos. I know she did that a lot. And she’s close to me because of where I’m from. I’ve also admired Shakira. We just did a song called “Beautiful Liar” and I just think that her dancing and her singing is a very unique style. But more important, she’s the nicest most humble woman I’ve ever worked with. I think the great thing about our duet is that we’re at a great point in our careers, we’re both in our prime and we worked together and it was nothing but positive and effortless. It just seemed like we were long lost sisters. We looked alike and did certain things alike in that video. It’s so weird because we grew up on different sides of the world.

Is there a Spanish album in the future?
I would love to. I wanted to see how people would respond to me singiing in Spanish and I’m so grateful that people have opened up their hearts to what I’ve done and I would love to. I just feel like I have to learn Spanish because I can sing it I just can’t speak it (laughs).

Can you believe your voice is heard every night on a [ITALIC {telenovela?}]
It’s something I never imagined. It’s shocking (laughs). Every time I hear it I have to turn my head and ask, “is that really me?” I mean, it doesn’t sound like me because I’m singing in a different language and I say to myself, “this is crazy.” (laughs).