Esteman is having a serious moment. For loyal fans of the Colombian indie pop sensation, that moment has unfolded over several years of thoughtful and dynamic work, but it’s his latest batch of releases that have solidified Esteman’s transition from jaunty musical theater geek into the role of certified pop star.
Esteman just revealed the video for “On Top,” his third single this year, in which he dives deeper into a narrative of musical experimentation and personal clarity. Previous singles “Noche Sensorial” and “Fuimos Amor” dabbled in reggaeton and synth pop respectively, while “On Top” finds the singer’s melodious vocals taking the reins of a seductive and brash R&B track entirely new to the Esteman universe.
“I feel like ‘On Top’ is one of the most sensual songs I’ve written during my career,” he shares with Remezcla via email. “It represents the possibility of having a masculine and feminine side in all of us and invites the listener to combine those aspects of our personality into a role reversal game, beyond the sensual or sexual, that can extend to how we approach life.”
Using modern dance to convey the fluidity of sexuality and gender roles, the Salomón Simhom-directed clip for “On Top” pairs Esteman up with dancers Valentina Fory and Dionel Pire in a choreographed piece that explores intimacy through movement. Esteman describes the balance between bodies as “a ying and yang, sometimes one is more masculine and sometimes more [feminine], but each one with their own identity and freedom to be and love.”
“On Top” is the third installment in a series of releases that find Esteman opening up about his sexuality, something that he expressed over social media was never hidden, but that he had not yet explored in his music. The clips for “Noche Sensorial” and “Fuimos Amor” follow the birth and death of a romance with a man played by actor Emilio Cuaik, while with “On Top,” Esteman has opted for lyrical explicitness and visual conceptualism. “The song’s own sound represents that sum of opposites,” he adds, “being as it captures you but has levity and a more potent and aggressive side as well.”
Esteman’s thirst for freedom is as clear as ever, shedding the bonds of prejudice, typecasting, and expectations with every new release.
Watch the video for “On Top” below: