J Balvin stopped by The Tonight Show to debut of his brand new single, “Amigos,” out today. Dressed in all-white ski gear, the Colombian singer showcased the R&B-laced track in the midst of falling snow and high drifts, which evoke the forthcoming music video for the song.
Balvin also sat down with host Jimmy Fallon to discuss the song, filming the track’s video in Alaska, and coming back to music after becoming a dad. He explained the music video was inspired by The Revenant before offering a sneak peek at the cold weather clip where he channels his best Leonardo DiCaprio.
Balvin’s last LP, Jose, dropped in 2021. Earlier this year, the singer told Nylon that his follow-up was an energy-filled album featuring new sounds like EDM and pilita, a Dominican take on electronic music. “The album is very advanced, but it’s easy to digest,” he told the outlet. “The flows, the deliveries — all of this is super updated.”
He also revealed he has a collaborative album with Ed Sheeran, with whom he’s released two songs in the past, that he plans to drop in 2024. “It came about in an organic, natural way. We met; we had coffee; we’d run into each other at the same gym, at the hotel,” he said of working with Sheeran. “That’s going to be another album that will offer a lot to talk about, because it’s like merging two worlds.”
Since releasing Jose, Balvin contributed a new track, “Toretto,” to Fast X, and enlisted Usher and DJ Khaled for single “Dientes.”
“We didn’t plan the song,” Balvin told Rolling Stone of the collaboration. “I was sitting next to Usher at Fashion Week, telling him how his career and the song ‘Yeah!’ were a huge inspiration for me. I’m humbled that Usher jumped on [‘Dientes]’] and with Khaled’s help, we created a song that makes people smile and feel good. We’re trying to make people dance!”
Most recently, Balvin responded to a supposed diss from Bad Bunny on the rapper’s latest LP, Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana. On “THUNDER Y LIGHTNING,” a hard-hitting track with Eladio Carrion, the Puerto Rican star seems to take aim at the Colombian artist J Balvin. He raps, “Ustedes me han visto con los mismo mientras ustedes son amigo de todo el mundo como Balvin.” (“You guys have seen me with the same people while you all are friends with the whole world like Balvin.”)
Balvin recorded an Instagram Live video where he addressed the song and expressed a little confusion about the lyrics while reaffirming his admiration for Bad Bunny. “I think he’s an excellent artist. The person I know is a great person. We supported each other mutually, we made history, we also created a new story within music,” Balvin said. “I don’t understand what was going through his head but well, the guy I know is a good person.”