PREMIERE: Jarina De Marco & mediopicky Ask Listeners to ‘Pélame La Papa’
Art by Stephany Torres for Remezcla.
There’s little evidence that “Pélame La Papa,” the riotous new collaboration between Jarina De Marco and mediopicky, premiering exclusively on Remezcla today (Feb. 20), is about anything other than peeling potatoes. Yet, the dirty-ass dembow and overall sexy presentation has us questioning if there’s something more suggestive about it.
With its slightly distorted, subwoofer-rattling beat that allows the artists to launch into a merengue-inspired freneticism, “Pélame La Papa” is an irresistible dancefloor banger that’s equal parts absurd, fun, and slightly horny. Add to the mix a video that ups the madness factor by depicting a potato processing plant going haywire, and you have the makings of one of the most exhilarating songs of the year so far.
According to De Marco, the inspiration for the song was rather simple and organic. She, her husband Alexander Krispin, and mediopicky were peeling potatoes for dinner when she told Picky, “Mira, pélame la papa,” and something clicked. Soon enough, the three of them retired to the studio to concoct a dembow, and 15 minutes after their initial inspiration, they had the song finished.
About their collaboration, De Marco says that every time mediopicky visits Los Angeles, CA, it’s “a full-on creative explosion,” so the making of “Pélame La Papa” is not out of the ordinary. “We tap into everything happening musically in the [Dominican Republic], the U.S., and beyond, blending it all into something fresh. The vibes are always crazy, and we usually walk away with something special. It’s always a blast,” she says.
Directed by Mark Potoka and Matt Starr Spicer — best known together as MAMA — the video features workers at a factory being possessed by the rhythm and both De Marco and Picky getting into potato costumes. Jarina says that she talked about what she had in mind to Starr Spicer when she met him after performing the song for the first time at the Isle Of Light festival in the Dominican Republic last March. “I wanted Mediopicky and me to be potato kingpins, where the ‘product’ we’re moving is potatoes. Basically, potato druglords, because that kind of absurd, surreal humor is my favorite, especially when it matches the energy of the song.” The directing duo were on board from the get-go, running with the initial idea and taking it even further.
“We’ve been fans of Jarina’s work and music videos for years,” the directors say. “So we were already excited at the prospect of working with her and then got even more excited when she mentioned potato druglords. The song is that perfect blend of catchy and absurd that, as directors, lets us build a world around it and continue to push the idea.”
The guys in MAMA wanted to make a video like the ones they grew up loving, “those iconic, narrative-driven videos with surreal set designs, looks and bold wardrobe choices that transport you someplace new, with new rules.” Meticulously planning each shot, wanting to “really create a natural build that echoes the high-energy pace of the song,” the video ended up requiring two tons of potatoes and the two custom-made potato costumes that the artists wear in the video.
So, is “Pélame La Papa” really about potatoes, or is there a double meaning to the song? When considering the answer, De Marco cracks up before giving us the definitive answer. “I swear on tiny baby Jesus — it really is about potatoes! But hey, people love to read between the lines, and if their minds end up in the gutter… Well, I’m totally fine with that. SUCIOS!”
Check out the premiere of “Pélame La Papa” below.