After Latin rock band Ekhymosis disbanded in 1998, Colombian Juanes decided to go on his own, starting his solo career. To make his first record, singer/guitarist Juanes moved to the U.S., meeting producer Gustavo Santaolalla in Los Angeles, soon after, he recorded Fijate Bien, a combination of vallenato, salsa, funk, and rock & roll, released by Surco, a Universal associate label. To promote that album, a video for its main title was made in Toronto, Canada, directed by Simon Brand. The album generated a huge buzz in Latin America, and spent ten weeks at the top of the Colombian charts. Fijate Bien garnered Juanes seven Latin Grammy nominations, and, after an acoustic performance at the October, 2001 ceremony, the unassuming singer took home Best New Artist. Now a star throughout Latin America, the US, and the world, Juanes set about working on his sophomore effort. Un Dia Normal dropped in May 2002. Produced by rock en espanol pro Gustavo Santaolalla, it combined balladry with native Colombian rhythms and more straightforward pop/rock material, and roundly repeated the success of Jaunes' first effort. With the US climate for Latin music softened by the rise of Enrique Iglesias, Un Dia made quite a dent domestically, and was even more popular internationally - it peaked at #9 in Holland. In the wake of the album's success, Juanes was nominated for five Latin Grammys; at the ceremony in September 2003, he took home all five, including Album of the Year and Song of the Year for "Es Por Ti". ~ Drago Bonacich, All Music Guide