Mexico's New Latin Pop Prince Tony Mils on Crying with His Family, Marc Anthony's Hug and a Song That Became a Wedding Vow

Mexican artist Tony Mils is no longer just a promising name in Latin pop. After opening for Marc Anthony at the prestigious Starlite Festival in Spain, he's now stepping into the spotlight as one of the genre's most emotionally raw and sonically daring new voices.

"That night changed everything," Tony says during an interview via Zoom, referring to the moment he looked to the right of the stage mid-performance and saw Marc Anthony watching him. "He was there, clapping, smiling, vibing with the music. I couldn't believe it. A legend was right there, supporting me."

For Tony, the experience was more than a performance. It was validation. "He stayed for the whole show. That kind of support from someone like Marc... it just fills you with a different kind of energy. I gave not just 100 percent. I gave 200 percent, because I wanted him to feel proud."

But Tony's journey has never been about fame, he actually changed his last name, playing with the letters of his last name, to avoid instant recognition. He is part of the Slim family, one of the most wealthy in Latin America and the world.

From the beginning, he made one thing clear: "The day my music stops positively impacting those who listen to me, I will completely retire."

And impact is exactly what Escribí Esto Para Ti, his latest album, delivers. The record is a deeply personal, vulnerable collection of songs that has moved fans, and even his own family, to tears.

"One of my cousins used 'Dinosaurios' as the song for her wedding waltz," he says, his voice still surprised. "To watch someone you love dance to your music at such a big moment in their life, it's unreal."

He adds that messages continue to pour in on social media. "I've seen couples dancing to my songs in their own weddings. People I don't know, giving my music space in the most important days of their lives. That means more to me than numbers or charts."

That kind of emotional weight didn't come easy. "Honestly, I was scared," Tony admits. "This album was me stripping down everything. My feelings, my thoughts, and how I express myself. It's not easy showing that side of you to the world."

The idea behind Escribí Esto Para Ti came from a place of empathy. "I wanted to create something that felt like a guide," he explains. "For people in love, out of love, heartbroken, confused. Sometimes we don't talk about that stuff because we're embarrassed or don't know how. So I wrote it for them."

The album, he says, was made for someone who might be alone in their room, not sure how to feel. "It's like I'm saying, hey, I've been there too. And here's a song for that exact moment."

And that's exactly how his family heard it: together.

"We did a private listening," Tony shares. "Just me, my parents, my sibblings, my girlfriend. Everyone cried. I cried. It was beautiful."

His family had heard bits and pieces, but never the final versions. "I kept it as a surprise. I wanted that moment to be special. And it really was."

Tony's rise is built on real connection. Before Escribí Esto Para Ti, he had already released streaming favorites like Prohibido Enamorarse, A la Defensiva, Aventarnos, and Buenos Aires, racking up over five million streams across platforms.

His artistry stands out not only for the emotional tone but for its musical versatility. Influenced by John Mayer, Ed Sheeran, Justin Bieber, Morat, and Manuel Turizo, Tony blends guitar-led melodies with Latin pop rhythms in a way that feels both nostalgic and current.

Behind the scenes, Tony has collaborated with heavy-hitters like Sebastián Yatra, Juan Magán, Casta, Edgar Barrera, and Pipe Bueno. "I've been lucky to work with people who inspire me," he says. "And that keeps pushing me to be better."

Now, as the year closes, he's getting ready to reach even more hearts. He'll join Lasso's Mexico tour as a special guest and headline his own shows at some of the country's most iconic venues, including the Lunario at the Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey.

For Tony, each step feels big, but not overwhelming. "I'm still taking it in," he says. "Playing Starlite was a childhood dream. Being there, on that stage, sharing it with artists like Raphael, Marc Anthony... that's a dream come true."

Even now, he admits it's hard to pause and celebrate. "You finish a big show and the next thing in your head is, what's next? It's hard to stop and say, hey, that just happened."

But he's trying. And even as he begins working on new material, Escribí Esto Para Ti continues to live in his shows and in the lives of his fans.

"I chose the 13 songs that meant the most to me," he says. "We had 30, maybe more. But this wasn't about what's more commercial. I picked the ones that were honest. The ones where my heart didn't lie."

He says the rest will stay in the vault. Maybe forever. "I thought about doing a deluxe version, but I think this chapter is closed. The next one is already in my head."

Tony Mils doesn't follow trends. He listens to his own voice and to the emotions that guide him. And with every note, hug, and wedding dance, he keeps proving one thing: that honesty in music will always find a home.