Santigold

[Michael*]

Santigold

Santi White (born 1976) is an American songwriter, producer, and singer. She is best known by her stage name, Santigold. Her eponymous debut album 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. 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. In 2003, her father, a lawyer involved in a Philadelphia municipal government corruption case, died.

Santigold was lead singer of the Philadelphia-based punk rock band 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. Her initial singles "Creator" and "L.E.S. Artistes" received attention from Internet media in 2007. White also appeared on Mark Ronson's 2007 album Version, performing on a cover of The Jam's "Pretty Green".

Santigold

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. 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. 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. "Creator", along with "Lights Out", has appeared in commercials for Bud Light Lime in the United States, 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 also toured with M.I.A., Björk, and Architecture in Helsinki. In addition to her own material, White has written songs for Lily Allen and Ashlee Simpson.

Santigold has recorded a song with N.E.R.D's Pharrell Williams and The Strokes' Julian Casablancas for Converse. 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." The song, "My Drive Thru", was available for free on Converse's website.

Artistry

White's style has been compared often to that of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and M.I.A.. Santigold 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 Santigold's material has been compared to that of the Pixies, whom Santigold herself has cited as an influence. Santigold 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". The singer also cites Blondie, Grace Jones, Devo, Fela Kuti, James Brown, Aretha Franklin and reggae music as influences. White caused controversy when pointing out that people were labeling her music as hip hop and R&B because she is black, saying that that was racist. "Everyone is just so shocked that I don't like R&B. Are you shocked that Good Charlotte isn't into R&B? 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."

Official Myspace

[Michael*]

From the latest Converse ad with Julian Casablancas and Pharrell -

[Michael*]

A few more random pics -

[buhlack7]

oh man!!! i really wish my phone didn't die that thursday so i could have taken pictures!!! she was just so awesome at that show!!!!

[buhlack7]

Low Vs Diamond.... one of my favorite LA bands is touring with Santi this september!!! OMG!!! i can't wait till they come to LA!!!

[MattLoveModels]

Reppin Philly! :blueeyedbaby: I really liked her album. Lights Out was always my fave off it. I still like MIA better though.

[buhlack7]

i dont know who i like better...

but first time i heard her.... i was like... tegan and sara?

[Michael*]

i dont know who i like better...

but first time i heard her.... i was like... tegan and sara?

I always tell people she sounds like Tegan & Sara meets Gwen Stefani. And then they go - what's Tegan & Sara? <_<

[buhlack7]

hahahahaah! i used to like tegan and sara a lot... BEFORE mtv murdered them!