About a year ago, J Balvin, whose full name is José Álvaro Osorio Balvín, told PS why he took a year to prioritize his wellness and focus on his family. The Colombian reggaetónero — who has become one of the biggest stars in musica urbano and the second most streamed Latin artist on Spotify — needed some time to recharge after the release of his 2021 album "JOSE." And it looks like taking time to slow down and be present with his partner of six years, model Valentina Ferrer , and their 3-year-old son, Río, has paid off.
His latest album, "Rayo," reveals a newly energized Balvin. In this album, we see Balvin fall back in love with reggaetón, and reconnect with his younger self — the boy from Medellín who spearheaded the urbano sound in Colombia. In terms of taking time to shift gears, Balvin says, "I definitely think I needed it.
" The artist has always been open about prioritizing his wellness and mental health and believes it's exactly what he needed to feel ready to get back in the studio. "I needed to rest and focus on my family and my son," he says. While Balvin might have paused in terms of working on a new album, he never stopped working altogether.
"I was touring and doing festivals around the world. Not my own tour but I was touring in festivals, and it was great. It was beautiful," he adds.
"But now that we are officially back with an album, it's a totally different vibe because I did this album without any pressure. I just went to the studio and h.