I decided to start this adventure out of the need to make music that is completely our own taste and style & that resonates with men who are attracted to other men. My videos, photography & artwork are inspired by the gay bear community, our hopes and dreams.
They are an open invitation to the celebration of our bodies and lives.
Benjamin Koll
Mexican adopted Spanish DJ and electronic music producer Benjamin Koll, a multifaceted artist, has charted a dynamic career in the realm of art and music. Throughout his journey, he has explored a wide range of artistic expressions, with literature, painting and music holding a special place in his heart. As a young prodigy, he ventured into the DJ and music production fields, earning accolades for his exceptional skills in crafting hits and remixes for an illustrious roster of pop artists.
In 2015, Benjamin Koll embraced his true artistic identity, marking a pivotal shift in his creative pursuits. This shift granted him the freedom to create music in accordance with his personal taste and style, while allowing his audience to connect with his art on a deeper level.
An enticing fusion of soul, house and funk influences and a keen ear for melody define Benjamin's sound, infusing his music with an upbeat and optimistic vibe that resonates with listeners worldwide. After a string of singles starting in 2016, including “I'll Be Good”, “2menkiss” (a song against hate and bullying towards the LGBTQ community), and a cover of the classic “On The Beach”, Benjamin released his first artist album, “Songs For A Better Future”, in August 2017, followed by more music videos and singles, including “Tell Me Why (Remixes)” and “Beautiful Nothing (Remixes)”, as well as his first live performances. Then came “All Systems Go” (2020), which once again showcased his vibrant and creative spirit, including 14 new songs that span over an hour of music with deep, insightful lyrics interwoven with a gorgeous sonic landscape with heavy influences from R&B and house music, showing a natural evolution from his previous work and leaving an indelible impression on his devoted fan base. The immersive companion books to these albums provide fans with an intimate glimpse into the expanded universe of each musical endeavor.
Benjamin's music videos have garnered over 20 million views, a testament to the captivating appeal of his performances. His live shows and DJ sets exude charisma, transforming venues into pulsating arenas of energy and joy, and leaving audiences mesmerized by the experience.
In 2021, he releases “Once In A Lifetime”, an album of all new remixes & songs featuring Jose Spinnin Cortes, Luis Erre & Paris Aguilar, and presents “Do It Again”, an uplifting classic house anthem that sets the mood for the listening experience of the album. This was followed by the single “Just What You Do To Me” and the compilation “Club Mixes Part One”.
In 2022, Benjamin Koll unveiled "Osito", an album that echoes with the nostalgia of disco, funk and house sounds. The album's lyrics delve into themes of love, pleasure, and the complexities of relationships, fostering a deeply personal and emotional connection with listeners.
In 2023, Benjamin Koll wrote a new chapter with "8 Days In A Bear's Life," a groundbreaking album that resulted from an extraordinary 8-day creative marathon. The album's seamless fusion of retro and nu disco house elements delivered a thrilling musical journey that captivated music lovers across genres and borders, the first single “Make Your Own Luck” gets remixed by Luis Erre.
2024 brings the release of the Jose Spinnin Cortes remix single of "Big Better Love", an exciting collaboration with Malleus on the rework of "Shine (The Game Is On)", and Benjamin's US Midwest performance debut on a one-hour show at Milwaukee's Pridefest on June 8th.
Here is a selection of 50 questions that many of you have submitted to Benjamin over the years. We've put them together so you can get to know him a little better. Click here
Benjamin Koll does a lot of what you see and hear in his work, but there's also a team of talented artists and creatives who help him make it all happen, meet them here.
He’s a renown Dj, producer and remixer, and also Benjamin’s husband. Click for more.
He was the first one to take pics of Benjamin Koll and helped creating the look. Click for more.
Founder of Qbo Bearwear, most of Ben’s T-Shirts and Speedos are designed by him. Click for more.
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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.
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.
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, gaining a growing feedback from 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 continues to work hand in hand with the team, providing feedback and ideas as well as preparing upcoming remixes.
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.
He 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 illustrated books. He did a rework of the cover pic of Changes for Songs For A Better Future - Listening Companion, an awesome comic strip titled “Too Old?” for the song “Turn Back The Clock” on the All Systems Go - Listening Companion, the introduction to the Leisure Remix Lounge on the Once In A Lifetime - Listening Companion and a comic strip for “Osito” included on Osito - Listening Companion.
He 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, among others.
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”, listen to it here —>
A native of Phoenix, Arizona, Jeremy Morse was captivated by music and dance at the age of 5. As an adult, he studied choreography and performed with the Phoenix College Dance Company for several years, learning various dance styles and techniques. In the 2000s, he began to put his skills to use, working as both a choreographer and backup dancer for several female impersonators.
Throughout the decade, he performed in productions at clubs, festivals and casinos, and used his talents to help others compete in drag pageants across the United States. As he entered his forties, he took a break from performing and began dancing for fun and exercise. Serendipitously, in his late forties, he got a taste of viral fame when one of his homemade dance videos was liked and shared by Justin Timberlake, resulting in over 30 million combined Facebook and YouTube views and global television exposure.
The timing could not have been better, as he was in the midst of filming the “I’ll Be Good” music video for Benjamin Koll, which was released immediately after.
Since then, he has appeared in several of Benjamin Koll's videos, such as the sexy “Tell Me Why”, (check out the remix here), as well as writing the script for “Beautiful Nothing” and designed the choreography (click for the remix). He is also featured on "Love Vibes".
Now in his fifties, 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 (Buenos Aires - Argentina) met in 2005 and started taking pictures together in 2007, evolving from a concise and technical approach to their current and fascinating study of the male nude and baroque imagery. They both take care of lighting, sets and even costumes, and usually structure their work in collections inspired by color, myths and mythological creatures, as well as various pop references.
They collaborated with Benjamin Koll on his 2menkiss project, taking care of the cover art and video scenes with the Chilean couple Claudio & Nibaldo.
Gary C. Guzman has been performing and composing music for most of his life. He started playing piano at the age of 6 and picked up bass guitar and drums by the time he was 10.
Gary was still in high school when his band went 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 television 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, the Association of Independent Commercial Producers Awards, and the Mobius Awards (which are like the Grammys and American Music Awards of advertising).
Most recently, he played guitar on "Love Is All That Matters (Unplugged Version)", the closing song of "All Systems Go".
Farit Abdala, born in Mexico and of Syrian descent, is an active part of the team, contributing ideas, helping with most of the events, starring in some of Benjamin Koll's music videos and appearing in some of the photo shoots.
His first appearance was as a dancer and model for Qbo Bearwear in "On The Beach (Jose Spinnin Cortes Subwoofer Radio Mix)", and later he appeared in "I Don't Wanna Fight", "Beautiful Nothing", "Living On My Own (Jose Spinnin Cortes Remix)", "Made In Heaven (Jose Spinnin Cortes Remix)" and "Osito" (album version and remix music videos).
You can see some photos of him with Benjamin on the "All Systems Go - Listening Companion" where he helps to illustrate the song "I Can See Through You" and in the "I Don't Wanna Fight" coda on the "Songs For A Better Future - Listening Companion" addendum in the book. He also has a cameo on the "Once In A Lifetime - Listening Companion" book, all available on Amazon.
Pablo Vazquez is a renowned Mexican designer, he's been working for different brands and companies for more than ten years now, and since 2007 he's been focusing mainly on gay events in the UK, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, USA, Canada, Mexico, Thailand, China and many more. He's also done artwork for Bearracuda and Swishcraft, Jose Spinnin Cortes, and since 2017 he's been the main designer for Benjamin Koll's album artwork. He doesn't consider himself a graphic designer, but a mixture of communicologist, marketer and graphic communicator, both by profession and by education.
In his own words: "I have a special fascination with dark, sexy and mysterious designs. I love this medium and it flows naturally in me. Not only visually, but also 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 joy to me. I feel like I'm in my element.”
Pablo passed away recently, may he rest in peace, he was the best.
Mr. Qu is the designer behind Qbo Bearwear. A multi-talented graphic artist, his work always maintains the designer's primary premise: to convey a clear message that seeks to make a difference; a visual impact, always with an artistic flair.
Mr. Qu designs with passion and a lot of heart. His iconic "Bear" T-shirt is featured on the cover of Once Of A Lifetime, he also designed special artwork for the album's Listening Companion, and he's the designer of the limited-edition stickers that come with the CD edition. His swimwear was featured in the "On The Beach" remix video and in "Beautiful Nothing", and he's constantly brainstorming with Benjamin Koll and Jose Spinnin Cortes for events and more to come.
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