Arca Unleashes Jittery 'KiCK i' Single, "Mequetrefe"
Two minutes of chaotic staccato rhythms and warped vocals.
Arca‘s eagerly-anticipated fourth album, KiCK i has already teased fans with two singles — “Nonbinary” and “Time” — and its third single has arrived mere days before the new album drops. “Mequetrefe” is a chaotic jumble of reggaeton-inspired beats, demonstrating Arca’s ongoing musical progression.
The Venezuelan-born musician never allows her sound to be pinned to a single descriptor, though she did hint that KiCK i would touch on elements of pop music, experimental music and reggaeton in a statement announcing the album. “Mequetrefe” blends all of those genres, infusing staccato reggaeton percussion with Spanish vocals and soft synths, creating a stark juxtaposition between the pounding drums and delicate accents. The single’s title is derived from a Spanish-language colloquialism used as a derogatory term for a man, which Arca is poised to reclaim.
“‘Mequetrefe’ invokes the tenderness behind expressing who you are without shame and the confidence and bravery it requires,” Arca explained in a statement. “Because expression of gender-nonconforming self-states in a public space can often result in static within your environment.”
Listen to “Mequetrefe” below and expect KiCK i to launch on June 26.
