Santogold

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Santogold


Img_capt = Santogold performing in Guadalajara, Mexico
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Santi White
Born = birth date and age|1976|9|25 [http://thecrusade.net/2005/09/438/] Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Origin = Philadelphia
Genre = Indie rock, pop, dub, new wave, punk rock, psychedelic rock, art rock, electronic, synthpop
Associated_acts = Stiffed
Occupation = Singer, songwriter, record producer
Years_active = 2003–present
Label = Marrakesh (2007)
Atlantic U.K., Downtown
URL =

Santi White (born September 25, 1976), better known by her stage name Santogold, is an American songwriter, producer, and singer. Her eponymous debut album "Santogold" was released in 2008.

Biography

Santi White attended Germantown Friends School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and then went to college at Wesleyan University, where she double-majored in Music and African-American studies. The artist got her pseudonym in the 1980s from a friend's nickname for her. [cite journal |last=Caldwell |first=Lindsey |date=2007-01-30 |title=24 Carat |journal=The Fader |url=http://www.thefader.com/articles/2007/01/30/fort-knocks |accessdate= 2008-03-07 ] 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 the singer Res. cite web | url=http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/17316664/artist_to_watch_santogold | title=Artist to Watch: Santogold | work=Rolling Stone | publisher=Wenner Publishing | author=Brian Hiatt | date=2007-11-14 | accessdate=2008-05-13 ]

Santogold was singer of the Philadelphia-based punk rock band Stiffed, [myspace|stiffed|Stiffed] whose 2003 album, "Sex Sells", and 2005 album, "Burned Again", were produced by Bad Brains bassist Darryl Jenifer. While in this group, she was offered a solo contract by Martin Heath of Lizard King Records.cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:f9ftxzw5ldde~T1 |title=Biography |accessdate=2008-03-07 |last= Lymangrover |first=Jason |work=Allmusic |publisher=All Media Guide ] Her initial singles "Creator" and "L.E.S. Artistes" received attention from Internet media in 2007. [cite news |first=Julianne |last=Sheperd |title=Hip-Hop’s Newest Faces: Indie, Fierce and Female |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/27/arts/music/27shep.html |work=The New York Times |publisher=The New York Times Company |date=2008-01-27 |accessdate=2008-03-07 ]

"Santogold"

Brooklyn future pop sensation, Santogold has emerged as the 2008 musical season's new light. [ [http://blogs.music.aol.ca/candie/2008/09/25/santogold-live-and-in-half-effect/ Santigold - Live and in Half-Effect, Candie.ca ] ] . 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, but was pushed back to April 2008.cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?vid=202975 |title=Santogold Unleashes Her Genre-Bending Style |accessdate=2008-03-07 |work=MTV |publisher=Viacom |date=2008-01-11 ] cite web |url=http://spin.com/articles/whos-next-08-santogold |title= Who's Next '08: Santogold |accessdate=2008-03-07 |last=Reilly |first=Phoebe |date=2008-02-01 |work=Spin ] The album (including its B-sides and remixes) features appearances or production work from Chuck Treece, Cliffored "Moonie" Pusey of Steel Pulse, Diplo, Freq Nasty, Naeem Juwan of Spank Rock, Radioclit, Sinden, Switch, Trouble Andrew, and XXXchange. cite web | url=http://drownedinsound.com/articles/3092172 | title=Santo Claws: talking S1W, M.I.A. and Mark Ronson with Santogold | publisher=Drowned in Sound | author=Samuel Strang | date=2008-04-23 | accessdate=2008-04-23 ] 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. [ cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7163404.stm#10 | title=Sound of 2008: The Top 10 | work=BBC News | publisher=BBC | date=2008-01-04 | accessdate=2008-04-23 ] "Creator", along with "Lights Out", [ cite web | url=http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSN2542138220080426 | title=A twist of lime, indie music for beer launches | work=Reuters.com | publisher=Thomson Reuters | author=Kamau High | date=2008-04-25 | accessdate=2008-04-28 ] has appeared in commercials for Bud Light Lime in the United States, [ cite web | url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/extendedplay/2008/04/santogold-when.html | title=When bad beer happens to good artists | work=The Los Angeles Times | publisher=David Hiller, Tribune Company | author=Todd Martens | date=2008-04-15 | accessdate=2008-04-28 ] cite news |first=Ian |last=Youngs |title=Talking Shop: Santogold |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7192607.stm |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=2008-01-29 |accessdate=2008-03-07 ] 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" as well as in commercials for the Ford Flex. Her song "Say Aha" was featured in a Zune-Arts video.

Santi has toured with M.I.A., Björk, and Architecture in Helsinki. [ cite web | url=http://drownedinsound.com/articles/3092172 | title=Santo Claws: talking S1W, M.I.A. and Mark Ronson with Santogold | publisher=Drowned in Sound | author=Samuel Strang | date=2008-04-23 | accessdate=2008-04-23 ] In June 2008, Coldplay announced that Santogold would be their opening act for most of the stops on the North American leg of their Viva la Vida Tour. [ cite web | url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003817876 | title=Coldplay headed to No. 1 on Billboard 200, Hot 100 | author=Keith Caulfield and Silvio Pietroluongo | work=Billboard.com | publisher=Nielsen Company | date=2008-06-18 | accessdate=2008-06-19 ] Santogold embarked on her first headlining tour in September and October 2008. [ cite web | url=http://www.pollstar.com/news/viewnews.pl?NewsID=11146 | title=Santogold launches headlining run | work=Pollstar | publisher=The Associated Press | date=2008-09-03 | accessdate=2008-09-03 ] The Goldrush Tour featured dates across North America. [ cite web | url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/145145-santogold-announces-north-american-tour | title=Santogold announces North American tour | author=Paul Thompson | work=Pitchfork Media | date=2008-09-03 | accessdate=2008-09-03 ] Additionally, Santogold provided support for Kanye West on two Ireland dates in November. [ cite web | url=http://www.hotpress.com/news/4805630.html | title=Santogold added as Kanye West support | work=Hot Press | publisher=Niall Stokes | date=2008-09-19 | accessdate=2008-09-19 ] Also in 2008, Santogold's song "Creator" was featured in the video game "NBA 2K9" and the popular television show "Grey's Anatomy".

Collaborations

Santi White co-wrote the title track for GZA's 1999 album "Beneath the Surface", which featured Res. [ cite web | url=http://www.discogs.com/release/569220 | title=Beneath The Surface | work=Discogs | publisher=Zink Media, Inc. | accessdate=2008-05-23 ] Santi went on to co-write and produce a majority of Res' album "How I Do" in 2001. White later appeared on the song "Stay in Line" on GZA's 2002 album, "Legend of the Liquid Sword". [ cite web | url=http://www.discogs.com/release/352991 | title=Legend of the Liquid Sword| work=Discogs | publisher=Zink Media, Inc. | accessdate=2008-07-05 ]

White also appeared on Mark Ronson's 2007 album "Version", performing on a cover of The Jam's "Pretty Green", in her first performance credited as Santogold. Santi co-wrote Lily Allen's "Littlest Things" with Ronson. She also co-wrote songs for Ashlee Simpson with Kenna, including the lead single "Outta My Head (Ay Ya Ya)". [ cite web | url=http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/critics/blog/2008/04/ashlee_simpson_is_back_as_plas.html | title=Ashlee Simpson is back, as plastic as ever | work=The Baltimore Sun | author=Rashod Ollison | date=2008-04-22 | accessdate=2008-04-23 ]

Santogold recorded a song with N.E.R.D's Pharrell Williams and The Strokes' Julian Casablancas for Converse. [ cite web | url=http://www.nme.com/news/the-strokes/36666 | title=The Strokes team up with Santogold | work=NME | publisher=IPC Media | date=2008-05-16 | accessdate=2008-05-18 ] Santi told Gigwise.com that they recorded the song separately and did "their own separate thing", "so it ends up being just this weird long song with sort of everybody with lots of their own personalities separate." [ cite web | url=http://www.gigwise.com/news/43175/exclusive-santogold-records-song-with-the-strokes-and-pharrell-williams | title=Exclusive: Santogold Records Song With The Strokes And Pharrell Williams | work=Gigwise.com | author=Jason Gregory | date=2008-05-15 | accessdate=2008-05-18 ] The song, "My Drive Thru", was available for free on Converse's website.

In the future, Santogold will be working with Beastie Boys, David Byrne, and Jay-Z. [ cite web | url=http://web.nme.com/news/santogold/38353 | title=Santogold working with Jay-Z, Beastie Boys, Roots Manuva | work=NME | publisher=IPC Media | date=2008-07-22 | accessdate=2008-10-04 ] She will appear on a song with M.I.A., Nick Zinner, and Spank Rock for N.A.S.A.'s debut album, "The Spirit of Apollo". [ cite web | url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003871805 | title=N.A.S.A. blasts off with Kanye, M.I.A., Waits | author=Jonathan Cohen | work=Billboard | publisher=Nielsen Company | date=2008-10-08 | accessdate=2008-10-09 ]

Artistry

White's style has been compared often to that of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and M.I.A..cite web | url = http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/download/45179-santogold-youll-find-a-way-switch-graeme-remix-stream | title = New Music: Santogold: "You'll Find a Way (Switch & Graeme Remix)" | accessdate = 2008-03-07 | last = Hogan | first = Marc | date = 2007-08-29 | work = Pitchfork Media ] cite web | url = http://www.villagevoice.com/music/0817,santogold-a-star-grows-in-brooklyn,419610,22.html | title = Santogold: A Star Grows In Brooklyn | work = The Village Voice | first = Katie | last = Hintz | date = 2008-04-22 | accessdate = 2008-04-23 ] Santogold said of the M.I.A comparison: "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." Some of Santogold's material has been compared to that of the Pixies, whom Santogold herself has cited as an influence. 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." White also stated her liking for New Wave and critics named Siouxsie to describe "My Superman". [cite web | url = http://www.telerama.fr/critiques/critique.php?id=29358 | title = Santogold: Santogold - Groove | | first = Laurent | last = Rigoulet | work = Telerama | number = 3046 | date = 2008-05-31 | language = French ] The singer also cites Blondie, Grace Jones, Devo, Fela Kuti, James Brown, Aretha Franklin and reggae music as influences. [cite web | url = http://www.birminghammail.net/what-is-on-in-birmingham/rock-and-pop/2008/05/23/santi-achieves-gold-standard-97319-20965915/ | title = Santi achieves gold standard | work = Birmingham Mail | publisher = Trinity Mirror | date = 2008-05-23 | accessdate = 2008-05-26 ] [cite episode | title = Ep. 8 | series = FNMTV | serieslink = FNMTV | network = MTV | season = 1 | seriesno = 8 | url = http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?id=1592426&vid=264893 ]

In a May 2008 interview, White stated that critics and online music vendors [cite web | url = http://www.tesco.com/entertainment/product.aspx?R=857890& | title = Santogold: Santogold | publisher = Tesco | accessdate = 2008-09-12 ] were labeling her music as hip hop, rap and R&B because she is black, saying that that was racist. [cite web | url = http://www.nme.com/news/santogold/36709 | title = Santogold dubs 'hip-hop' comparisons racist | work = NME | publisher = IPC Media | date = 2008-05-19 | accessdate = 2008-05-21 ] "Everyone is just so shocked that I don't like R&B. Are you shocked that Good Charlotte isn't into R&B? [cite web | title = Santogold talks race, age and being 'a bitch' | url = http://www.thelipster.com/articles/3347399 | first = Rebecca | last = Nicholson | work = The Lipster | date = 2008-05-23 | accessdate = 2008-09-12 ] Why does R&B keep coming into my interviews? It's pissing me off. I didn't grow up as a big fan of R&B and, like, what is the big shocker? It's stupid." [cite web | url = http://www.thelipster.com/articles/3323653 | title = Santogold and the genre problem | work = The Lipster | first = Rebecca | last = Nicholson | date = 2008-05-19 | accessdate = 2008-05-21 ]

Discography

Albums

* 2008: "Santogold"

ingles

* 2007: "Creator"
* 2008: "L.E.S. Artistes"
* 2008: "My Drive Thru"
* 2008: "Lights Out"
* 2008: "Say Aha"
* 2008: "Shove it"

Awards

References

Further reading

*cite news | url = http://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2008/09/23/sass_master_santogold_takes_it_to_the_limit_1222138261/ | work = The Boston Globe | date = 2008-09-23 | first = James | last = Reed | title = Sass master Santogold takes it to the limit

External links

*MySpace|santogold|Santogold
* [http://www.santogoldmusic.orangesarecool.com Santogold Music]