SWIPE UP
After years of making music for hire and remixes for major pop acts, the producer behind Benjamin Koll decided to start creating and releasing only music that he really loved. He was toying around in the studio and in 2016 he released “Something About This Beat”, an instrumental version of what later became as “Must Be The Music”. That same year he released “I’ll Be Good”, featuring soulful guitars and here’s where we heard Benjamin's deep and strong vocals for the first time. “I’ll Be Good” has a contagious groove and a feel-good vibe to it and it defined his staple sound. Later that year came the release of “2MenKiss”, a song that was born as an anthem against hate and bullying towards the LGBTQ community.
“Changes”, and “On The Beach” followed, and then we saw the release of Benjamin’s first full artist album “Songs For a Better Future”, which was completely written, produced, and performed by himself (with the exception of a guest guitarist in “Changes”) containing 17 tracks, including all his previous singles and brand-new material.
2020 sets the release of his second studio album “All Systems Go”. This album Includes 14 songs that span over an hour of previously unreleased music with deep, insightful lyrics interlaced with a gorgeous sonic landscape with heavy influences on R&B and house music showing a natural evolution from his previous debut album. Benjamin's deep vocals help create a blend that sounds modern and sexy, and still manages to keep a retro feel that is a now part of his sound. The album features 12 songs written and produced by him plus “Love Is All That Matters” produced by Jose Spinnin Cortes and a trancey cover of Chris Rea's classic “Looking For The Summer”.
Benjamin Koll is the result of a dream; a persona born out of the necessity of making music that is completely in his own taste and style. His goal is to express music that resonates with men who are attracted to other men. His sound is heavy influenced by soul, house and funk and is happy and up lifting.
Benjamin's stage presence is powerful and sexy and the shows are designed to be a visual and musical sound experience. His albums are completed with their own paper back books, listening companions that complete a immersive experience like few this days, including all the lyrics, insights on each song and hundreds of exclusive pictures and artwork, and his music videos have reached millions of views reflecting his community sensibilities.
Click on the following links to download press releases, contact us for further info
JOSE SPINNIN CORTES
With 2 decades of turntable-experience, several tracks charted by top DJs and a jaw-dropping mixing technique, Jose Spinnin Cortes has proven to be one of the most influential and respected DJs of the Mexican dance music scene.
Having been acknowledged by Forbes Magazine Mexico as one of the most creative Mexican minds in the world in 2016, Jose maintains a busy production and touring schedule traveling all over Mexico and maintaining guest spots in USA, Canada, Spain, Korea, China, Colombia, Nicaragua and Brazil, exposing his fusion of Progressive, Tribal and Tech-House beats.
His sound has defined the most successful remixes of Benjamin Koll’s songs, and he’s also the executive producer for the overall project.
MARTIN CORTES PHOTOGRAPHY
Born in Guadalajara, Mexico in October 11th, 1980. He showed interest on drawing and graphic arts since an early age but when he reached his teen years he focused 100% in music.
In 2004 he attended UNIVER Guadalajara where he took a Communications Studies major, getting deeply involved in graphic design, audio and video production, as well as professional photography, learning the analog film process at first and since then specializing on digital photography.
Luis Erre
His undeniable talent is a product of his early involvement with music and his always innovative creativity. For years now, Luis Erre has focused on transforming commercial music with electro-tribal and dirtychic touches, using current fusions and trends, thus gaining a growing feedback with his audience, playing in many countries around the world and electrifying incredible stages where he continues to expose and impose his musical presence.
He has remixed some of Benjamin Koll’s songs and keeps working hand in hand with the team, providing feedback and ideas as well as preparing forthcoming remixes.
WOOFIOSO PHOTOGRAPHY
What started out as a hobby slowly became a new way of expression and a promising career. Carlos (Woofioso) has combined his admiration of big masculine men with photography, delivering a unique view on the male physique.
His interest in professional photography begun experimenting on his own, using self portrait as a mean to break his way into portrait photography. While he loves to use bright and intense color in some of his pictures, his remarkable use of black and white and chiaroscuro captures the eye and its becoming a trademark on his works.
MARCO BYM
Marco ByM defines himself as a Nerd / Geek for longer than he can remember. And it is defined by three passions: drawing, playing RPGs and Bears.
He worked as an illustrator in Brazilian RPG books "Era do Caos" and "Esferas", by "Editora Akritó" and launched the comics "Bear Fantasy" and "Contos de Berds" by the Brazilian studio "Indievisível Press", in addition to the first erotic art book about bears Brazilians, entitled "Barrigas & Pelos”.
You can enjoy his artwork on BK’s two illustrated books. He did a rework of the cover pic of Changes, that’s featured on “Songs For A Better Future - Listening Companion” and an awesome comic strip titled “Too Old?” for the song “Turn Back The Clock” on the “All Systems Go Listening Companion”. He’s currently working on translating his comics into animated shorts.
MIJANGOS
Andrés Mijangos is considered one of the most outstanding dj's of Mexico and forerunner of the Latin house, with his productions and his way of mixing he has managed to take his country's name high, setting his Latin roots as a standard.
His works as a producer and remixer have crossed the border and have been published in the most recognized and respected house labels in the world: Aquaboogie - Ministry Of Sound - Subliminal - Junior London Fresh Fruit-Room Records, are some of these.
As a DJ he has played in almost every corner of this planet from Usa, Spain, Colombia, Costa Rica, etc., in Mexico from Cancun to Tijuana, in the best and most respected clubs in the country.
He remixed “Tell Me Why” for Benjamin Koll, listen to it here —>
JEREMY MORSE
Native of Phoenix (Arizona), Jeremy Morse was captivated by music and dance as early as age 5. As an adult, he studied choreography and performed with the Phoenix College Dance Company for several years, learning several styles of dance and dance techniques. In the 2000s he began to apply his skills, working as both a choreographer and backup dancer for several female impersonators.
Throughout the decade he was performing in productions at clubs, festivals and casinos, and using his talents to help others compete in drag pageants all over the United States. As he entered his forties he took a break from performing, then dancing just for fun and exercise. By chance he got a peek at viral fame in his late forties when one of his homemade dance videos was liked and shared by Justin Timberlake, resulting in over 30 million combined views on Facebook and YouTube, plus exposure on several television shows worldwide.
The timing could not have been better, as he was in the midst of shooting the “I’ll Be Good” music video for Benjamin Koll, which was released immediately after.
He has appeared in several more of Benjamin Koll’s videos since then, also wrote the script for “Beautiful Nothing” and designed their choreographies, and collaborates closely giving ideas and insight.
Now aged 50, he combines his day job with dancing gigs in the United States, Canada and Mexico, and has proudly joined the growing chorus of voices advocating for age - and body - positivity in the world.
IVAN & GABO PHOTOGRAPHY
Ivan & Gabo (Buenos Aires - Argentina) met on 2005 and started taking pictures together on 2007, evolving form a concise and technical approach to their actual and fascinating study on the male nude and baroque imagery. They both take care of lights, scenery and even costumes, and usually structure their work in collections, inspired by color, myths and mythological creatures, as well as several pop references.
They collaborated with Benjamin Koll on his 2menkiss project, taking care of the cover pictures and the video scenes featuring the chilean couple Claudio & Nibaldo for the music videos.
GARY GUZMAN
Gary C. Guzman has been performing and composing music for almost his entire life. He started on piano at 6 years old and picked up the bass guitar and drums by the time he was 10.
Gary was still in high school when his band became semi-professional and his songs continued to get airplay nationwide. By the time he graduated from high school, he was a full-time professional musician with songs on the radio, albums in stores and many national performances under his belt.
Gary now enjoys a successful career composing and producing music for national TV shows, radio and television commercials, toys, and video games, which he has done since the mid-90's. His music has won prestigious advertising awards such as the London International Advertising Award, Association of Independent Commercial Producers Awards and Mobius Awards (which are like the Grammys and American Music Awards of Advertising).
He most recently played the guitars for “Love Is All That Matters (Unplugged Version)”, closing song of “All Systems Go”.
FARIT ABDALA
Born in Mexico and with Syrian ascendence, Farit Abdala is an active part of the team, giving ideas, helping out in most of the events, starring in several of Benjamin Koll’s music videos and appearing on some of the photo shoots.
His first appearance was as a dancer and Qbo Bearwear model on “On The Beach (Jose Spinnin Cortes Subwoofer Radio Mix)”, and later starred on “I Don’t Wanna Fight” and “Beautiful Nothing”.
You can check some of his pictures on the “All Systems Go Listening Companion”, where he helps illustrate the song “I Can See Through You” and the “I Don’t Wanna Fight” coda on the “Songs For A Better Future” addendum.
pablo vazquez
Pablo Vazquez is a reputed Mexican designer, he’s been working for several brands and companies for more than ten years now, and since 2007 focused mostly on gay events on the UK, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, US, Canada, Mexico, Thailand, China and many more. He’s also done artworks for Bearracuda and Swishcraft, Jose Spinnin Cortes, and since 2017 he’s been the chief designer for Benjamin Koll’s albums artwork. He doesn’t consider himself a graphic designer, but a mixture of communicologist, marketer and graphic communicator, by profession and as a result of his formal training.
In his own words: “I have a special fascination with dark, sexy, and mysterious designs. I love that medium and it flows naturally in me. Not just visually, but in music. And I think that's where my connection to projects like Benjamin Koll’s and Jose Spinnin's comes from, because they are a delight to me. I feel like I'm in my element.” Check out his new website.
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