Folktale San Pedro's Alternative Bolero Jam

Cherished Miami band Folktale San Pedro has just released their newest tune “Dígame Cuando”, along with a cheeky and eventful music video. Folktale San Pedro was established in early 2020 and is made up of Christian Padron (lead guitar), Nehemias Orellana (piano/synths/gym legend), Paco Villafane (lead vocals/rhythm guitar), Robert Vanscoy (bass), Nicolas Garcia (saxophone/percussion/backing vocals), and Javier Nin (drums). The band has swiftly won the hearts and adoration of many in the local Miami music and art scene, with their Alternative Americana sound, fit for driving along the Atlantic as the palm trees pass by, dancing around at your favorite local show, or even lying comatose in your room as the music flows over you…. Maybe that’s just me though.

The song starts with crooning vocals, a smooth strumming of guitar, and a meandering bass line, the rhythm of the song reminiscent of a classic slow, passionate bolero beat. The song sounds happy yet wistful, a reclamation of hopeful love, the chorus sprinkled with lyrics like, “you could be my giving tree,” “tell me new about your day today, I want to live with you someday,” and “no puedo seguir sin ti.”

One of the most audibly satisfying elements of the instrumentation is the sweet guitar riff that trails behind the refrain, as the singer vocalizes in sweet tandem. This liquid smooth composition occurs in different forms after each chorus, providing a twinkling and cascading riff each time.

The music video, featuring members of the band and Lua “Hills'' Perez, a local tattoo artist, tells a story that begins in a cute and quirky manner. The band sits down to watch a telenovela together while waiting for their pizza rolls to bake, and we meet the characters of the FSPCU (Folktale San Pedro Cinematic Universe): the vocalist playing a man who is pining after his friend who is in a relationship, and Lua as the friend. Paco, the vocalist, is dead set on being with this girl one day, asking her to hang out and smoke a j, but he really just wants to spend more time with her, no matter the cost. He ends up following her to her motel getaway where she is celebrating 5 years with her boyfriend. Paco knocks on the door in an attempt to give her a flyer about his band’s show that is coming up, but much to his chagrin, the boyfriend answers. However awkward, the girl ends up showing up to his show anyway, which enrages her boyfriend. In classic melodramatic fashion, the love interest ends up being shot by her boyfriend, falling into the arms of Paco as he literally takes “su corazón en (sus) manos”, as the tune says. Everyone watches in disbelief, as the show comes to an end, just in time for the band’s pizza rolls to be done!

The music video has all the campy elements necessary for an indie/alternative band’s music video: a tongue in cheek sense of humor, shots of the band performing, silly camaraderie showing the band dynamic, a romantic yet somewhat dramatic storyline, and nice sounds throughout. The song and music video complement each other, and the entire work really showcases what Folktale San Pedro is all about, in an endearing and enjoyable way. This Miami band is bound to gain even more traction as they continue to capture the hearts of many, near and far.

You can listen to “Dígame Cuando” wherever you stream your music!

Caroline Whyte