José Álvaro Osorio Balvin, of Colombian origin, has experimented with many musical genres, from reggaeton to R&amp;B and pop sounds. Now he collaborates on the Guess Originals x J Balvin Amor Collection capsule and works on the Air Jordan line for Nike.

Images Ricardo Gomes &amp; JAson Ebeyer 3D Art JAson Ebeyer &nbsp; Creative Direction Ricardo Gomes Styling Rita Melssen

" Ginza " and " Mi Gente " are the hits of the consecration. His repertoire is the modern spiritual manifesto of reggaeton. With his sonorities capable of blending rhythm and melody, Jos&eacute; &Aacute;lvaro Osorio Balvin - aka&nbsp;J Balvin&nbsp;- has been able to go beyond the charts of the sector and the territorial borders of Latin music, transforming himself into a star of the world one. LE OFFICIEL: You were born in Medell&iacute;n, Colombia, and from a very young age you started to appreciate rap, reggae, dancehall and bachata. You were in a rock band. Did your interest in such a wide musical range help define your sound today? J Balvin: Definitely yes. I always thought that if I stayed within the confines of a specific genre I would set limits as an artist. The love I feel for music in a universal sense allows me to constantly draw inspiration from different genres and cultures and integrate them into my production. LO: Year after year your mostly reggaeton style has evolved considerably, embracing R&amp;B and pop sounds. Do your recent productions represent the most faithful portrait of yourself? JB: All the music produced so far is a real reflection of my life, moment by moment. LO: You mentioned Jay-Z and Pharrell as your sources of inspiration. What makes them so important? JB: I am attached to artists who have never set limits because art has to do with freedom of expression and goes beyond music. Jay-Z and Pharrell have been able to win respect and success and, like me, they are always looking for new challenges. The world that I have built around me has in fact given me the incredible opportunity to confront myself with the different facets of entertainment, ranging from fashion, technology and even health ...

LO: Your latest album, &ldquo;Jos&eacute;&rdquo;, bears your name and looks like your most personal project ever. JB: This album is extremely intimate, it sets its sights on me as a person, and not just on the entertainer the world knows as J Balvin. I put my all into creating this record, drawing on experiences, memories and turning points in my life, difficult or positive moments that changed me. I drew inspiration from my education in Colombia and Latin American culture, as well as a combination of different influences over the years. LO: You have reached # 1 on Billboard's Latin Airplay chart 35 times. What made "In Da Getto" feat Skrillex and "Forever My Love" feat Ed Sheeran such incredibly successful collaborations? JB: The sensitivity and empathy that binds us. We share a deep respect for music, talent, genres we belong to and we nourished ourselves with them to create something unique. Working with Ed Sheeran, who is a master of pop, and combining his style with divergent genres such as reggaeton and rap, has led to a revolutionary, unexpected and thrilling result for the fans, but equally rewarding for us authors. LO: Collaborations with Bad Bunny, Rosal&iacute;a and Sean Paul have also won acclaim from fans. JB: I love working with artists I admire because I always try to learn and grow. Through each collaboration I create something unexpected and broaden my horizons LO: If reggaeton is experiencing its golden age it is also thanks to your music. Does revitalizing such a culturally significant genre for your home community make you proud? JB : Reggaeton is a colorful and fun form of musical expression that perfectly embodies the spirit of Latin culture. I am honored to have played a part in the renaissance of this genre. I wouldn't be where I am today without the Latin community's love for reggaeton which - I'm proud to say - is fast becoming a global phenomenon.

LO: You are very fashion conscious. What can you tell us about your collaborations with Guess and Nike? JB: The Guess Originals x J Balvin Amor Collection&nbsp;capsule &nbsp; marries my lexicon with the stylistic codes of the US brand while maintaining a minimum common denominator: spreading the universal message of &ldquo;amor y paz&rdquo;. I am also working on my own line of Air Jordan for Nike which will see the light by the end of the year. I cannot reveal more. LO: After you have publicly shared your private battle against the stigma of depression, you are personally engaged in an awareness campaign in defense of mental health. What news is there on this front? JB: I am thrilled to be able to anticipate the launch of a community-based mental wellness application that I co-founded, called OYE, which will be available in the fall. It will provide accessible daily wellness practices and guided meditations in both Spanish and English. I have struggled with anxiety and depression myself and only through my own experience have I been able to realize how many people face similar problems in silence. The will to help others is the driving force of my commitment today. LO: We'll see you again on stage soon. Where will you perform in the next few months? JB : I already took part in the Neon Party of Canc&uacute;n in June and I will be at Neon of Ibiza from 9 to 12 July together with important Latin music artists on an international scale. In December I will perform in Punta Cana. Each stage of the festival will be completely different from the other as we want to create a unique experience in each country. LO: What makes you happy? JB: Even if the pandemic is far from over, being able to perform live safely and reconnect in real time with the audience brings me so much joy.

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 JASON EBEYER, THE 3D MASTER
 The king of 3D Jason Ebeyer is an internationally renowned artist and creative thanks to his universe populated by glossy humanoid figures, charged with eroticism and romanticism with a surreal-digital touch. Based in Melbourne, he is closely linked to the web universe in which he has worked with Madonna, Troye Sivan and Doja Cat as well as having carried out special projects, among others, with Tom of Finland. "I create my works using a combination of different software," he explains. &ldquo;I've always been a creative person. Since I was a child, I always drew and made something. Growing up with technology, my creative expression led me to experiment with software and digital techniques. I studied graphics and photography at university which allowed me to combine different software and methods to create unique works, from there I started teaching myself how to work within 3D programs and then combine it with my knowledge of traditional photography and composition. My work is strongly inspired by cinema and music. Ja Fashion also plays an important role in my work, but above all I would say music. There is something about the way music can capture, excite and transport you to another place that fascinates me. And it is a sensation that I try to capture and project through personal art &raquo;. What does the Metaverse represent for Ebeyer's art? &ldquo;It means imagination and infinite opportunities. Over the past decade we have lived on the cusp of various Metaverses with the growing presence of social media and our digital self. The technologies and digital spaces that are launched and built now are the next evolution of that era and offer unlimited space for expression and creativity, as well as community and connection. "
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The One and Only J Balvin

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