deep cut “De Carolina,” locking in on the small, day-to-day moments that make Carolina, a city on the outskirts of Puerto Rico’s capital San Juan, feel like home to him.
“La gente sabe que somos de la calle,” the song opens with a homecoming chat, Alejandro latter issuing the reminder: “Somos de Carolina y venimos virao.” In the video, directed by Martin Seipel, a woman paints her nails bright red while a young boy runs out of the house to join his friends on a bike ride through the streets. They cruise by older men playing dominos in their front yards while others go head to head on the basketball court. When they meet up with their friends, a hangout on the corner ends in everyone scattering in different directions. It’s just another day on the block.
Alejandro stops in for a quick shape-up in a friend’s driveway before all of the day’s events culminate in a grand celebration as swarms of people show up for an impromptu hometown concert. The event seemed to carry the energy of a lively block party more so than the huge festival and concert audiences he’s usually performing for.