January 12, 2012

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The struggle to make a successful sophomore album has left many a hit-seeking star out in the cold. The difference with Santi White, aka Santigold, is evident in the title of her forthcoming record, Master of My Make-Believe. In it, she takes control of her music as well as her vision. SSION’s Cody Critcheloe sat down with her to discuss recording a second slam dunk.

Who did you work with on the record?

It was a very lonely process. I worked with Greg Kurstin on three songs, Switch on several songs, and Dave Sitek [of TV on the Radio] on one song. I worked with Nick Zinner [of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs] a bunch on writing and he played too.

How do you go about songwriting?

I write to the music. The lyrics came slowly on this record.

Why do you think that was?

It was about learning to trust myself. I also had expectations. Never have those! Everyone I worked with before was in a different headspace. I had to get past that. That’s why I started writing with Nick, and it started being cool and fun.

So was that the turning point?

That was when it was like, I just want to work with who I want. We recorded in Jamaica for a little while and finally some lyrics started to come to me. I think that time really colored the record.

Do you meticulously oversee every aspect?

Yeah, I’m really hands-on with everything. It’s the difference between an artist and a plain pop star, right?

Don’t you compete within that realm on some level?

Do you really want to know how I compete on that level? I think I am looked at by people as a peer but in reality I’m like a stepchild. I’m trying to be like that on my own terms and everyone respects it, but it doesn’t make the money. You’ve always got to come harder than everybody, but with less.

But that’s what makes it cool. It’s easy to hire a stylist with a ton of clothes, and say “Let’s use all of it!”

I once interviewed Debbie Harry and she said, “Every artist is influenced by something.” The trick is to filter it through yourself so it has your personal stamp. The difference is when someone takes something and it has nothing to do with them at all, but they copy it. Why are people so short-sighted right now?

Probably because it’s easy and it’s encouraged.

No one wants to be real anymore. Wikipedia is always wrong. No one fact checks and it’s not even a priority. Reality TV is more popular than ever, and it’s the fakest thing ever.

Where is there place for truth in all of that? My record is called Master of My Make-Believe because I want it to be about creating your own reality. I have a song called “The Keepers”: “we’re the keepers, while we sleep in America our house is burning down.” It’s about how if we accept this then that’s what it is. We’ve got to fix it.

Is that, in your opinion, the overall feeling of the record?

I connect with music that makes me feel alive, or a sense of possibility. Music is powerful. If I go out and I’m watching a show and it’s really good, all I want to do is go home and work on music.

It’s a backhanded motivation when something is really good. I want my music to be that for people. I want it to be an initiator of something compelling, to set something in motion.

Eagerly awaiting her album, it's been a long wait.

Her gig in Brooklyn next week sold out in negative seconds.

Liked Santi ever since Stiffed:

sextonseven said:

Her gig in Brooklyn next week sold out in negative seconds.

Liked Santi ever since Stiffed:

this is new to me. i didnt know she had another band bfore the solo thing. i love her cd. it was one of my favs from that year.

Never heard of Stiffed, thanks for that info Sexton.

Stiffed released two albums, Sex Sells and Burned Again, the latter being produced by Bad Brains' Darryl Jenifer. Like "What You Gon' Do?" the songs are more postpunk/new wave in sound than Santi's solo album. I recommend them both if you like her.

sextonseven said:

Stiffed released two albums, Sex Sells and Burned Again, the latter being produced by Bad Brains' Darryl Jenifer. Like "What You Gon' Do?" the songs are more postpunk/new wave in sound than Santi's solo album. I recommend them both if you like her.

Nice.

A second Brooklyn show next week was added this morning so this time I got a ticket.

sextonseven said:

Stiffed released two albums, Sex Sells and Burned Again, the latter being produced by Bad Brains' Darryl Jenifer. Like "What You Gon' Do?" the songs are more postpunk/new wave in sound than Santi's solo album. I recommend them both if you like her.

Thanks. Her beginnings in the music industry are rarely touched upon in interviews.

I love this girl!

Finally, she's putting out new stuff!

Track from new project.

Identity said:

sextonseven said:

Stiffed released two albums, Sex Sells and Burned Again, the latter being produced by Bad Brains' Darryl Jenifer. Like "What You Gon' Do?" the songs are more postpunk/new wave in sound than Santi's solo album. I recommend them both if you like her.

Thanks. Her beginnings in the music industry are rarely touched upon in interviews.

I looked at my Stiffed CDs again and saw that Darryl Jenifer produced both albums, not just the second one. And below is the correct Burned Again album cover. The above pic is of the promo sampler.

Album cover for Master of My Make-Believe.

The photo would look great on a 12" album, but all that art direction will be wasted when shrunk down to mp3 player size.

Identity said:

Album cover for Master of My Make-Believe.

Nice.

I was wondering... that portrait... is that Kehinde Wiley's doing?

And sure enough, it is. Really like his work.

http://flavorwire.com/264...inde-wiley