Fresh off of the Lollapalooza stage, Colombian singer J Balvin is hitting the road to bring his iconic reggaeton sound to Orlando’s Amway Center on September 12 with his Arcoiris Tour.
A first-time performer at Chicago’s Lollapalooza, J Balvin made the music festival’s history as the first Latino headliner in Lollapalooza’s long 28 years. Sporting neon-green hair and his quintessentially eclectic wardrobe, Balvin lit up the coveted stage with a vivacious energy that has made him one of Latin music’s most iconic acts of 2019.
After his Lollapalooza set, Balvin tweeted in Spanish, “After 28 years of @lollapalooza for the first time a Latin artist is the headliner of the night.” He then dedicated his performance to “those who know that in life everything is cause and effect, and that we deserve to be here.”
Breaking records while serenading global audiences was most likely nothing more than a dream to a young Balvin, who grew up in Medellín, Colombia. However, raised on heavy rock bands such as Metallica and Nirvanna, combined with his passion for Latin and reggae music, Balvin began to create a unique, grunge-meets-pop aesthetic in both his fashion sense and musical taste that would soon transform the talented singer into an unforgettable reggaeton star.
In 2016, Balvin found his breakthrough with his single, “6 AM,” which reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart, then returned the following year with the hit, “Mi Gente,” which topped the Global Top 50 on Spotify, later garnering one billion views on YouTube.
Though a master of reggaeton, Balvin has kept diversity of genre at the heart of his artistry. With the singer’s daring color palette and personal style, experimentation with a conglomeration of various sounds only seems fitting for Balvin, who has dived into electronica, house music, trap, and R&B.
Not only does Balvin enjoy mixing together different musical trends, he also has a passion for combining languages. He has recorded with several English-speaking artists, while continuing to sing almost exclusively in Spanish, hoping to encourage worldwide audiences to fall in love with his native language.
Balvin has added his signature Latin brilliance to a variety of collaborations, including “Machika” which featured Jeon and Anitta, and his groundbreaking hit with Cardi B and Bad Bunny, “I Like It,” which landed Balvin a US Billboard Hot 100 number-one single.
The Colombian singer’s most notable partnership has been his work alongside Bad Bunny, as the two artists are single-handedly returning reggaeton to a state of popularity in America. The duo first connected in 2017 with their track, “Si Tu Novio Te Deja Sola,” and Balvin and Bunny are once again showcasing their unbeatable combination with the release of their surprise album, “Oasis.” This eight-track collab is sure to be one of the favorite Latin records of the year.
Balvin’s current tour, appropriately named Arcoiris, meaning “rainbow,” will certainly be as bold and chromatic as the artist himself. With a historical Lollapalooza performance, Balvin has given fans a glimpse of what his Arcoiris Tour will showcase, including colorful backdrops, stunning visual production, and vibrant, danceable hits. For reggaeton lovers or simply lovers of life, Balvin’s eccentric and energetic Arcoiris Tour will definitely be a night to remember.
