Santigold
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Santogold (born Santi White) is an American songwriter, producer, and singer.
Biography
Santogold attended Germantown Friends School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and then went to college at Wesleyan University, where she studied Caribbean and West African drumming.[1] The artist got her pseudonym in the 1980s from a friend's nickname for her.[2] She worked for Epic Records as an A&R representative, but left the position to write and produce How I Do, the debut album from R&B singer Res.[1] In 2003, her father, a lawyer involved in a Philadelphia municipal government corruption case, died.[3]
Santogold was lead singer of the Philadelphia-based punk rock/ska band Stiffed, whose 2003 EP, Sex Sells, was produced by Bad Brains member Daryl Jenifer.[4] While in this group, she was offered a solo contract by Martin Heath of Marrakesh Records.[5] Her initial singles succeeded based on heavy attention from Internet media.[6] White also appeared on Mark Ronson's 2007 album Version, performing on a cover of The Jam's "Pretty Green".
Santogold
Working with fellow Stiffed member John Hill as co-producer, she recorded her debut album, Santogold, which was originally slated for release on Downtown Records in January 2008,[5] but was pushed back to April 2008.[7][8] The album features appearances or production work from Chuck Tree of Bad Brains, Cliffored "Moonie" Pusey of Steel Pulse, Diplo, Freq Nasty, M.I.A, Naeem Juwan of Spank Rock, Radioclit, Sinden, Switch, Trouble Andrew, and XXXchange.[9] The album's first singles, "Creator" and "L.E.S. Artistes", were both well received. Rolling Stone, Spin, and BBC all named Santogold an artist to watch in 2008.[1][8][10] "Creator" has appeared in commercials for Bud Light Lime in the United States,[1][11] and VO5 hair products in the United Kingdom. Similarly, "You'll Find A Way" was featured in the EA Sports video game, FIFA 08, with "L.E.S. Artistes" featured in some versions of its sister game NHL 08. Santi has also toured with M.I.A. and Björk and worked with Lily Allen[11] and Ashlee Simpson.[12]
Artistry
White's style has been compared often to that of M.I.A..[4][13] Santogold said of the M.I.A. comparisons: "We’ve worked with some of the same people and ... have similar influences. But the way we go around implementing those influences are very different, and I am in no way influenced by what the press are saying."[9] Additionally, some of Santogold's material has been compared to that of the Pixies,[13] which Santogold agrees with.[9] Santogold has also said that she is inspired by 1980s pop music. "I felt that a lot of pop music from the '80s had a depth to it, and I hope to bring back some more good pop songs."[9] Santogold has made a point of not performing R&B or rap like other "brown girls",[9] saying she is "not like Ciara."[7]
Discography
Albums
- 2008: Santogold
Singles
- 2007: "Creator" (b/w "L.E.S. Artistes")
- 2008: "L.E.S. Artistes"
References
- ^ a b c d Hiatt, Brian (2007-11-14). "Artist to Watch: Santogold". Rolling Stone. Wenner Publishing. Retrieved 2008-03-07.
- ^ Caldwell, Lindsey (2007-01-30). "24 Carat". The Fader. Retrieved 2008-03-07.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Sutcliffe, Rich (2007-11-15). "Solid". Collective. BBC. Retrieved 2008-03-07.
- ^ a b Hogan, Marc (2007-08-29). "New Music: Santogold: "You'll Find a Way (Switch & Graeme Remix)"". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2008-03-07.
- ^ a b Lymangrover, Jason. "Biography". allmusic. All Media Guide. Retrieved 2008-03-07.
- ^ Sheperd, Julianne (2008-01-27). "Hip-Hop's Newest Faces: Indie, Fierce and Female". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2008-03-07.
- ^ a b "Santogold Unleashes Her Genre-Bending Style". MTV. Viacom. 2008-01-11. Retrieved 2008-03-07.
- ^ a b Reilly, Phoebe (2008-02-01). "Who's Next '08: Santogold". Spin. Retrieved 2008-03-07.
- ^ a b c d e Samuel Strang (2008-04-23). "Santo Claws: talking S1W, M.I.A. and Mark Ronson with Santogold". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved 2008-04-23.
- ^ "Sound of 2008: The Top 10". BBC News. BBC. 2008-01-04. Retrieved 2008-04-23.
- ^ a b Youngs, Ian (2008-01-29). "Talking Shop: Santogold". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 2008-03-07.
- ^ Rashod Ollison (2008-04-22). "Ashlee Simpson is back, as plastic as ever". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2008-04-23.
- ^ a b Katie Hintz (2008-04-22). "Santogold: A Star Grows In Brooklyn". The Village Voice. Retrieved 2008-04-23.