Colombian singer J Balvin has recalled how he first discovered Spanish artist Rosalía before she achieved global stardom, describing her voice as angelic.
Speaking in an interview with music publication Rolling Stone, Balvin explained that his music producer, Sky Rompiendo, first played Rosalía's songs for him while she was gaining initial recognition in Spain.
Balvin said his reaction to hearing her music was immediate. He found her vocal delivery unique and difficult to compare to other performers, feeling that the singer possessed a rare quality and describing her as being like an angel.
The strong first impression convinced Balvin to invite her to join one of his major studio projects before she became an international star.
Inclusion on the Vibras Album
The initial collaboration between the two artists took place during the preparation of Vibras, the studio album released by Balvin in 2018. The record became a key project in expanding Latin urban music to international audiences.
Balvin invited Rosalía to join the album, providing the Catalan singer with an opportunity to connect with a wider international audience focused on reggaeton and urban pop styles.
Rosalía contributed more than a featured track to the release. She also recorded an interlude for the album, making her presence an integral piece of the musical world Balvin was constructing.
J Balvin, born José Álvaro Osorio Balvin in Medellín, Colombia, has established himself as one of the best-selling Latin music artists, while Rosalía Vila Tobella, born in Catalonia, gained early recognition by blending traditional flamenco with contemporary urban genres.
The First Collaboration on Brillo
A central part of their early work together was the song Brillo, which featured on Vibras and marked the first time both artists recorded together.
The track showed that combining Balvin's urban style with Rosalía's vocal identity produced a natural pairing. The song blended electronic elements, sensual tones, and urban rhythms, giving the singer room to highlight her distinct sound.
Brillo served as the opening chapter of an artistic partnership between the Colombian performer and the Spanish vocalist that would continue to develop.
Global Success With Con Altura
The partnership between Balvin and Rosalía extended beyond the Vibras album. The pair later reunited alongside Spanish musician and producer El Guincho to record the single Con Altura.
The track developed into a major international Latin music success, carrying Balvin's early instinct about Rosalía's talent onto a far larger global stage.
By the time Con Altura was released, Rosalía had grown from an emerging artist attracting notice outside Spain into an international figure capable of moving comfortably across genres and diverse audiences.
The release proved that pairing reggaeton with Rosalía's artistic identity had broad commercial appeal. Producer El Guincho, born Pablo Díaz-Reigosa in Spain, had previously worked with Rosalía on her acclaimed album El Mal Querer, helping forge her signature fusion of styles.
Impact on the Latin Music Industry
Balvin's comments offer a retrospective view of how their collaboration began. Before Rosalía emerged as one of Spain's most prominent international acts, Balvin had identified an artistic personality built to stand out in a global music market.
Their work on Vibras reflected a period of change in Latin urban music, when artists increasingly used cross-border collaborations to break into new markets and reach listeners worldwide.
