Daniel

Daniel is a masculine given name and a surname of Hebrew origin. It means, "God is my judge", and derives from two early biblical figures, primary among them Daniel from the Book of Daniel. It is a common given name for males, and is also used as a surname. It is also the basis for various derived given names and surnames.

Background

The name evolved into over 100 different spellings in countries around the world. Nicknames (Dan, Danny) are common in both English and Hebrew, although in some instances "Dan" may be a complete given name rather than a nickname. The name "Daniil" (Даниил) is common in Russia. Feminine versions (Danielle, Daniela, Daniella, Dani, Danitza) are prevalent as well. The Dutch names "Daan" and "Daniël" are also variations of Daniel. A related surname developed as a patronymic, Daniels. Other surnames derived from "Daniel" include McDaniel and Danielson.

In the United States, the U.S. Social Security Administration reports that Daniel has peaked as the fifth most popular name for newborns in 1985, 1990, 2007, and 2008. The U.S. Census Bureau reported that in the 2000 census, "Daniels" was the 182nd most common surname in the U.S., while "McDaniel" was ranked at 323, and "Daniel" (without a final "s") was ranked at 380.

Clor

Clor was a short-lived five-piece band from Brixton, England, formed by Barry Dobbin and Luke Smith in 2003 and which signed to the Parlophone record label after only six gigs. The band released a self-titled first album, in 2005 to critical acclaim. The album was placed first in a list of the "Greatest Albums You've Never Heard" by the NME in 2010.

The genesis of Clor began with a club night entitled Bad Bunny, run by Dobbin and Smith, who wanted to incorporate their own music into their DJ sets. They began recording in Smith's apartment and soon invited associates from the club night into their fold, expanding to a five-piece. Dobbin came upon the name Clor as it "...sounded raw, primitive, and futuristic at the same time". The demo Welcome Music Lovers was recorded in 2004, initially with the idea of being sent out to other clubs to book shows. However, word of mouth saw the offer of a record deal with label Parlophone after just six gigs. The Welcome Music Lovers EP saw release later in 2004, with singles Love + Pain and Outlines preceding debut album Clor in 2005. In May 2006, the band announced that it had split. Their manager stated that the future paths of Dobbin and Smith were unclear, though would likely involve musical pursuits.Smith has since produced Shitdisco's album, Kingdom of Fear (released April 2007), Foals album Total Life Forever (released May 2010), as well as both albums by singer-songwriter frYars. Dobbin went on to form and front a new band called Barringtone.

J Balvin

José Álvaro Osorio Balvin (born May 7, 1985), known artistically as J Balvin, is a Colombian reggaeton singer. Balvin was born in Medellín, the largest city of Antioquia and Colombia's second largest populated city, where he became interested in hip hop, dancehall, champeta and bachata at a young age. He is known for his songs "Yo te lo dije", "Tranquila", "Ay vamos", "6 AM" and "Ginza"

Success

J. Balvin began seeking his career at the young age of 17. When Balvin was 17, he moved to Oklahoma to learn English. After some difficulties, he quickly moved on to New York City to further his studies in English and in music. Over the next 10 years, J. Balvin worked very hard between the US and Colombia to develop his style and career. He quickly began to move around the urban scene in Medellin, Colombia, performing at many night clubs. In 2012, J. Balvin released his mixtape, which featured many of his early hits in Colombia, including "En Lo Oscuro" and "Como un Animal." Soon after, J. Balvin released his next single "Yo Te Lo Dije". In 2013, the track had created a considerable buzz in the USA, and put J. Balvin on many DJ and industry radars. His performance at the 2013 Premios Juventud was just the beginning to what was about to come.