Santogold

Santi White, who goes by Santogold, is red, white and blue through and through, having come of age in Philadelphia before relocating to Brooklyn — but much of her work bristles with foreign-sounding intrigue. "Shove It," from her self-titled 2008 debut, is built upon reggae and dub influences, while "Creator"...

By Michael Roberts

September 25, 2008

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Santi White, who goes by Santogold, is red, white and blue through and through, having come of age in Philadelphia before relocating to Brooklyn — but much of her work bristles with foreign-sounding intrigue. "Shove It," from her self-titled 2008 debut, is built upon reggae and dub influences, while "Creator" pits her patois against swooping, whooping electronics manipulated by mixologist Freq Nasty. At the same time, however, she's capable of crafting straightforward fare along the lines of "Lights Out," which could practically pass for a new-wave ditty, and "I'm a Lady," an exercise in '80s-friendly pop rock with a diva-like twist. This combination has perplexed some observers, who occasionally refer to White as a hip-hop artist — a label that makes no sense whatsoever. That's because the Woman Who Would Be Santogold, who joins Mates of State, Low Vs. Diamond and Trouble Andrew on this bill, defies categorization. Her most exotic attribute is talent.

Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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