Colombian superstar J. Balvin has joined NEIKED, Mae Muller, and Polo G for an irresistible update of “Better Days”—the smash single that shot to #23 on the Billboard Hot 100 earlier this month, with nearly 300 million streams worldwide. Hailed as one of the “best songs of 2021” by the Los Angeles Times, “Better Days” is the brainchild of artist duo NEIKED and centers on an intoxicating vocal performance from Mae, the fast-rising British singer/songwriter recently named a Billboard Chartbreaker. Listen to by NEIKED x Mae Muller x J Balvin (feat. Polo G) HERE.
On the dynamic new version of “Better Days,” J Balvin drops in after the first chorus and delivers a swaggering verse in Spanish. Flaunting his super-smooth flow and undeniable charisma, Reggaeton’s Global Ambassador adds a powerful new energy to the dance-ready track. With its carefree collision of bouncy beats and shimmering grooves, “Better Days” features production from NEIKED (the Swedish artist duo whose hit single “Sexual” has surpassed 600 million streams globally and cracked the Top 10 in 11 countries).
“J Balvin is a true renaissance artist, and our records are always about finding that fresh nuance,” says NEIKED.” His style melts perfectly together with the uniqueness of Mae and Polo and we were thrilled to have him join the song. This is just one of the many pieces fans can expect from the coming NEIKED puzzle.”
Says Mae Muller, “I’m a huge J Balvin fan and he killed this! I went to Primavera Sound in 2019 and saw him live so it’s just a stunning full circle moment for me to have him be a part of “Better Days.'”
Released in September, the original version of “Better Days” debuted at #57 on the Billboard Hot 100, amassed over 65 million streams in just five days, earned Top 10 charting across Spotify and Apple Music, emerged as a Top 5 trending sound on both TikTok and Snap, and recently held steady as the #1 most added song on Pop radio for two consecutive weeks. Meanwhile, its fantastically retro video has garnered over 12 million views to date.
“Better Days” is the first of NEIKED’s highly anticipated releases that follow the duo’s long seen success. Already well recognized hit-makers who have collaborated with Nile Rodgers, EARTHGANG, Muni Long, 24kGoldn, X Ambassadors, and writers Freddy Wexler (Justin Bieber, Kanye West), Jason Evigan (Dua Lipa, Madonna), Justin Tranter (Ariana Grande, Julia Michaels) and Albin Nedler (Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato) 2022 will see the multi-instrumentalists perform on their biggest stages to date.
About J Balvin
“Reggaeton’s Global Ambassador”—5-time LATIN GRAMMY winner J Balvin is now one of the Top 10 streaming artists globally on Spotify, regardless of language, and has developed a legion of fans worldwide. Hailed by Billboard as “the biggest breakout act Latin music has seen in many years” and Pitchfork as “the face of modern Reggaeton,” Balvin is leading a second generation of Musica Urbana stars that have propelled Latin music to an unprecedented global embrace. His latest album, JOSE, arrived on the heels of an eventful summer, following the release of chart-dominating singles “Que Mas Pues?” featuring Argentinian singer Maria Becerra, “Que Locura,” and “In Da Getto” featuring Skrillex. With his song “Un Nota” with Sech recently topping the Latin airplay charts, J Balvin officially landed his 33rd #1 at Latin Airplay, more than anyone else in history, cementing him as Latin music’s biggest success story of the decade. With his music and impact on the culture, Balvin has secured himself as not only a leader of Reggaeton but as a torchbearer of the new state of Latin music by continuously expanding the limits of the genre and paving the way for “la nueva escuela.”
About Mae Muller
The “Better Days” update arrives as Mae gears up for her highly anticipated debut U.S. shows, a three-date run with stops in New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles this March (see below for the full list of dates and venues, and purchase tickets HERE. Featuring special guests, Mae’s first-ever U.S. performances will be followed by a rescheduled U.K. tour in April. Known for her intimate yet high-energy live set, Mae has previously sold out a U.K. headlining tour and performed for massive crowds at festivals like Reading & Leeds, Latitude, and Sundown Festival.
Recently named a YouTube Trending Artist on the Rise, Mae made her U.S. primetime television debut by performing “Better Days” on The Voice in November, then took the stage at “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest” the following month. With her radiant vocals and magnetic presence, she made major waves in 2020 with her much-acclaimed Capitol Records debut EP, no one else, not even you: an eight-track project built on her fearlessly honest yet free-spirited approach to songwriting. Created with producers/co-writers like Rick Nowels (Madonna, Lana Del Rey), Jimmy Napes (Sam Smith, Alicia Keys), Skyler Stonestreet (Ariana Grande, Dua Lipa), and Kenny Beats (FKA twigs, Ed Sheeran), the EP brings Mae’s raw vulnerability to an immaculately composed but unpredictable brand of pop music.
Mae Muller U.S. tour dates 2022
March 16 – New York City – Mercury Lounge
March 17 – Chicago – Schubas Tavern
March 23 – Los Angeles – Moroccan Lounge
