Player’s Pass with Supah Mario: Finding a New Note with ‘DEMO TAPE’
The hitmaking producer trades 808s for saxophones, leading a jazz ensemble that transforms his rhythmic instincts into something timeless, soulful, and entirely new.
Supah Mario has undergone a metamorphosis that few producers dare to attempt. Known for crafting hard-hitting beats that dominate both playlists and club floors, he flipped the script entirely with DEMO TAPE, a jazz album that hums with intimacy and sophistication. This kind of risk-taking is a bold redefinition of what it means to be a modern producer, and Mario — born Jonathan DeMario Priester — invites listeners to witness the evolution.
In this exclusive Players Pass interview with Okayplayer, Supah Mario and his band set up shop at Gary Electric Studios, where we witnessed one of the most electrifying live performances of recent memory. Craig Hill’s sax soared over Corey Bernhard’s intricate keys and Jon L. Smith’s pulsing bass, with each musician adding their own voice to Mario’s vision and transforming the studio into a space of creativity and spontaneity. Every note and improvisation felt effortlessly well-crafted, a real-time testament to Mario’s seamless transition from hip-hop architect to jazz innovator.
“Probably sometime around 10 or 11, I realized this is something I want to do forever,” Mario recalls, reflecting on the moment he first felt a lifetime calling for music. As a child, he was captivated by the sounds of gospel, experimenting with rhythms, and imagining how different elements could come together. That early spark never faded; it guided him through countless collaborations and long nights in the studio.
For Mario, producing is more than just about making tracks— it’s about exploring possibilities, shaping soundscapes, and turning curiosity into a lifelong pursuit of musical innovation. His inspiration also doesn’t stray far from the origins of Okayplayer, drawing from icons like D’Angelo and The Roots, as well as the talents of his own bandmate Mr. Bernhard. These influences shape the path behind DEMO TAPE— a blend of improvisation, soulful textures, and intricate rhythms that honor tradition while pushing its boundaries. For Supah Mario, jazz is an extension of the same curiosity and commitment to sonic storytelling that first drew him to music. Even without words, his project is where musicians become a dialogue, becoming a conversation across generations of sound that ties the present to a rich musical lineage.
