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Santigold is a genre-defying musician, style renegade, and visionary artist across multiple platforms celebrated for her fearless ability to fuse unexpected elements into bold new work. An artist whose perseverance relies on invention, her singular aesthetic has made her a major muse watched by the inspired world.
In the four years since Santigold's incendiary I Don't Want: The Gold Fire Sessions mixtape which was acclaimed for its adventurous experimentation with Afro-Caribbean rhythms, she provided backing vocals for several songs on Tyler, the Creator's, Igor, as well as collaborating on his Grinch-Inspired Christmas song, "Lights On". She has also released tracks with DJ Mehdi and Busy P, and the groundbreaking and foundational reggae pioneer, U-Roy, on a cover of the classic "Man Next Door" from what became his final album.
Santigold's albums are entire worlds meticulously built, brick by brick, by a master architect who incisively speaks to the present while shaping the future. Her fourth album Spirituals captures the feeling of surviving in the modern world while elevating yourself to new places. "This record is about the multidimensionality of being--transformation, transcendence, and evolution," she says. "In struggle, we see parts of ourselves that we don't necessarily see in other times. For those of us who were willing to take a look, there was a lot of opportunity in the past couple of years to really evolve, and this record was about me showing up to do that."
Spirituals is Santigold's first full-length album since 2016's 99¢, and was mostly recorded during the 2020 lockdown. "All of a sudden there I was with three small children out of school--just-turned-two-year-old twins and a six-year-old--I was cooking, cleaning, doing laundry and changing diapers from morning to night, with three little kids coming in and out of my bed throughout each night like musical chairs. I was losing touch with the artist me, stuck in a part of myself that was too small. I felt the other parts of me were shrinking, disappearing."
Santigold struggled but succeeded in defining a space in which she could center herself and collaborate virtually with producers and contributors: Rostam, Boys Noize, Dre Skull, P2J, Nick Zinner, SBTRKT, JakeOne, Illangelo, Doc McKinney, Psymun, Ricky Blaze, Lido, Ray Brady, and Ryan Olson. "Recording this album was a way back to myself after being stuck in survival mode. It wasn't until I made the space to create that I realized I wasn't only creating music but a lifeline," she says. California was on fire, we were hiding from a plague, the social justice protests were unfolding. "I'd never written lyrics faster in my life. After having total writer's block, they started pouring out." "I decided to create the future, to look towards where we are going, to create beauty and pull towards that beauty. I need that for myself, but it's also there for whoever else needs it."
"I loved the idea of calling it Spirituals because it touched on the idea of Negro spirituals, which were songs that served the purpose of getting Black people through the un-get-throughable," she continues. "In the absence of physical freedom, spirituals have traditionally been music whose sound and physical performance allow its participants to feel transcendental freedom in the moment. That's what this record did for me."
Renowned for her iconography, Santigold has collaborated with visual artists including Kehinde Wiley, Wangechi Mutu, Kara Walker, and Sanford Biggers. She has also done various brand collaborations for shoe, accessory, and cosmetics lines, as well as had comedic roles on The Office, and Adult Swim's NTSF:SD:SUV.
Since her last full-length release, Santigold has also engaged new ways to express and release her ideas, allowing her greater range to be even truer to her creative intentions on her own terms. She created Spirituals as a multisensory experience that includes not only the music and video vignettes, but new ways of sharing her visual art, a forthcoming natural skincare line, and a tea; the products bearing the same brand name, Spirituals. She will also be releasing a new podcast in which she interviews other artists and visionaries around some of the same themes explored in her music. Santigold has other literary, film and product lines in the works as well."I want to continue branching out into all forms of art," she says. "And I'm really excited to let my music take me to new places."
While taking yourself to new places is core to her outlook at this point in her impressive career, she has always been an artist who has charted new paths in the world of pop music and beyond, breaking down barriers of genre along the way, further cementing her as an essential artist when surveying the last two decades of popular culture at large.
Encore
Encore
If you like Santigold's mix of musical genres she really delivered. Not a very showy stage show, but great energy and engagement with the crowd even though she was under the weather. Everyone had a wonderful time together at the concert, both band and fans.
Drove up from NC and had low expectations. Always liked Santigold, but I was BLOWN AWAY by her voice despite her being sick according to her. Beers were quick but expensive, but we already expected expensive. I wish venues somewhere would solve tall ppl coming in late and going up front, but that’s I guess a million dollar idea… a couple came in a few songs in and plopped RIGHT in front of us. They both were taller than our whole group and everyone near us. I would’ve loved if they were just loving the music and mega fans, but they were just talking about their day and googling things versus enjoying the show, while keeping us from enjoying the show. Other than that it ROCKED
Showtime was 8pm but Santigold came on around 9:30pm and was worth the wait. I "discovered"her on Spotify some years ago and have grown to know and love many of her songs. I jumped at the chance to see her locally. Thinking I'd be the oldest person in the audience (55), I was surprised to see how eclectic her audience was. Folks in my age range appeared to be the majority or close to it. Anyway...I think there were only a few songs I didn't know. The band and dancers/backup singers were on point as were her vocals and stage presence.
Great show! I wish it had started a bit earlier. Santi was having problems with the sound in her ear. I love the Fillmore venue in Silver Spring! Bring more cool concerts like this.
Great show. Great performance. Great back-up dancers/singers. 10/10
Santigold put on a great show as usual. It was energetic and included amazing art. Only complaint would be the length - I wanted more. 😁 Go see her live!
Amazing show. Everything was perfect. Thank you Santi
After being disappointed by her Tiny Desk, I was blown away by the live performance. Playing a satisfying mix of hits and deeper cuts, great engagement with the crowd.
Santigold is everything. Her genuine appreciation of her audience makes it feel like we are at a casual party and she is the friend trying to include everyone in her joy. Santigold brings an incredibly positive energy to her live performance. Her beautiful, expansive sound defies classification. Santigold is an absolute must see artist.
Great new venue, Santigold was perfect. The opener, Dead Bedroom, is one to watch.
Santigold is just so cool beyond words! Her unique sound and style is unlike any other. Her performance was so fun and crowd involved despite her feeling under the weather…you couldn’t tell. I love her dancers…they are so entertaining! Santigold is very concerned and cares about her fans. Thank you for the incredible performance at The Bellweather ❤️
She is the best. So are her shows. My two boys were up on the stage and had a blast. Keep bucking the system and keep being an artist forever. I feel you. It ain’t easy.
Santigold is one of the most talented and entertaining artists I’ve seen live. Please have her back in LA SOON!
The energy from the vocals on I’m A Lady were beautiful to the back up dancers vogue moves to the body jolting guitar/drums on Desperate Youth were amazing. A fan was picked from the crowd to sing Say Aha on stage and everyone was rooting for him. This was mine and my fiancé’s second time seeing Santigold live 😻 what a teenage dream come true!
Been a fan of Santigold since first album, finally got the opportunity to see her live in LA. The experience was magical is all I have to say. Santi radiates beautiful energy with her vocals. I’m soooo happy I went to the show. I LOVE YOU SANTIGOLD <333
She was amazing. The concert was great but I did get Covid. That sucks.
Santigold is the best performer, and the most incredible artist I have ever seen live. Her vibe is huge and she redefines artistry. This was my second time seeing her and I will see her anytime she is in LA or close by. She is an absolute queen and her dancers are amazing too. So dope. The Bellwether was a great venue with easy parking.
Raise your frequency w Santi Absolute blissful and powerful energy from this Artist Melodies that slowly lift you and change you’re whole point of view and vibe A soul lifting exercise With Jamaican flare and ska beats and pop reverie she’s a mix of Fela ; The girl from the 212 - Azalea Banks; and A younger spirit of Grace Jones w out the sexual energy of course lol for her fierce ability and fearless stage presence and also how she berates any crew or technical difficulty lol
I couldn't stop jumping up and down. Everyone in the crowd was singing along. Her backup dancers, her band, her outfits - everything was absolutely incredible. I can't wait to see her again.
Santigold delivered above and beyond my expectations. Loved every minute of it🚀
