Santogold covers the newest issue of MissBehave Magazine. The popular singer released her debut album earlier this year to critical and fan fame, but a lot of people don’t know she also worked behind the scenes as an A&R for Epic/Sony.
On being an A&R
My experiences have helped me make good decisions. Now I know what needs to happen and what doesn’t. I became friends with my boss and he eventually made me an A&R. I signed Res to a demo deal. I tried to sign Mos Def. Everyone I’d try to sign, the label would be like, ‘Um, this is weird.’ This was during Puffy’s heyday. I was like, ‘How about this?’ And they’d be like, ‘Weirdo.’
ON BEING COMPARED TO M.I.A.
MB: You say you sound like nothing else but you’re often compared to M.I.A. How frustrating is that?
Very. I just did an interview yesterday and we got into it because the reporter was like, ‘What is this, and what is this, and how old are you?’ And I was like, ‘Wow. Seriously?! Will you please just let me be? Will you just let the music be?’ The problem, and the source of my frustration, is that when people are unfamiliar with something, they always need to make it familiar in some way by categorizing it.
Santogold is currently on her ‘Goldrush’ tour sponsored by Myspace. Visit her myspace for dates.
What’s an A & R?
—- WTF is up w/ the blonde hair?
I’m listening to “Lights Out” now. Why that song isn’t a hit yet, I don’t know. Best alternative song I’ve heard in a while.
Nice cover! She looks cute!
@3 I know right. I stay playing that song.
People always fine the need to say something bad about someone. I like her & I enjoy her. I find MIA and her to be quite different. Keep doing your thing.
*****Nice cover
she looks great. I love it.
@ number 1
A&R stands for Artist and Repertoire
They’re job is to go out and talent scout for the major/minor label.
They brings acts to be signed by labels, and help to develope them as artists.
They also may have a say in what songs make the final album.
lol @ #6 she is jocking M.I.A.’s STYLE her MUSIC everything only thing different is the name
dang! tried to sign mos def? during puffy’s hey day? how old is she?
I LOVE MIA ANS SANTI…I DON’T SEE THE BIG DEAL ABOUT THEIR MUSIC BEING COMPARED
BOTH MUSIC ARE FRESH, REBELLIOUS, AND A DEFINITE LEFT TURN TO THE COMMERICAL CRAP….I APPLAUD BOTH OF THEM FOR THEIR UNIQUE CONTRIBUTION TO THE LAME MEAT MARKET FORMULA OUT TODAY
ANGEL LOVE THE NEW HAIR!!! NICEEEEEE…:-)
I like both artist, if you looked at MIA”s myspace Santogold was like her top friend and recently has been moved down, so I don’t know what that’s about. But their style of dress is similar as well, And I like Santi but I LOVE MIA’s music, she orgininated it in MY book. So alot of people are going to say they’re wierd but like she said what ppl don’t understand they shun it away…
How old is she?
Satogold is 31.
the cover looks nice
She’s a somewhat strange chic. That means the coochie is probably The Bomb!
How does she not expect to be compared/categorized, when she wrote for the artists that are different/anti-mainsteam, appeals to the market of customers that despise commercial music and celebrate “weird” artists and most importantly, toured with/worked with producers like Diplo and the whole sub culture that birthed MIA?
[takes off in my spaceship]
Lmao, and not to mention, you’re on the same cover that MIA graced years before, wearing the same eye shade of eye shadow.
2+2=4
I love both of them. Santogold and MIA are different musically, but I think Santi completely jacked MIA fashion wise.
Ha….
http://hazel8500.files.wo...press.com/2007/08/mia.jpg
Am i the only one that think she looks like keri hilson on the cover of that mag???
i love santogold…she’s the TRUTH!!..so talented and unique…M.I.A. is dope too..that’s a cool comparison
she looks like a bootleg Keri Hilson.
She does not look like Kerry Hilson, what they got the same haircut? thats it
That’s my baby! I need to get this! I hope she makes another album soon!
How old is she? Her style has her looking at least 40. She needs to change that immediately
How old is she? Her style has her looking at least 40. She needs to change that immediately
FIRST TIME I’M EVER SEEING HER LOOK THIS GOO! GREAT JOB SANTAGOLD!
well dang, kudos for her being 31 and had done so much! i don’t listen to any of these indy ppl or keri hilson so i can’t chime on on who’s biting who but i can say none of them are doing Beyonce, lol
Wow, the last person who was A&R for a company to crossover (and make it big) was Lil Jon. You would think it would be more tho since they have all the industry tips lol. Anywho, why the hell would you get mad at the truth? The fact is, Santogold’s sound ISN’T new and M.I.A. came out BEFORE her (ergo the common comparison). They are in the same sub-genre of alternative so they may not sound EXACTLY alike but they do sound similar (at times). I think if she isn’t gonna give props where its due, she can take her ego and exit stage left. Altho what do I know (since I didn’t see the full interview) lol?
Wateva, don’t see wat all the hype is, she’s aaight.
I love her music!!!!
Am I the Only one who..let me see..DOES NOT CARE, AT ALL!!
she’s awesome!
One of my favorite artist right now! Starstruck and Superman oh yeah Anne my favs
Diplo is the next big thing peeps should check out maddecent.com /blog…he produced paper planes and a bulk of Santi stuff…..love all this non commercial indie music .. such a breathe of fresh air
luv the c.l. webitors for being clued up
Why would you compare them? M.I.A. doesn’t sing!
MIA and Santogold have similar voices …but the only MIA sounding track on Santogold’s album is “Creator” nothing else on that album sounds like MIA..not to mention MIA doesn’t sing..and Santogold rarely ever raps…so yeah people need to fall back
@39 finally someone with sense. they are completely different artists. one sings, the other raps. one is more eclectic/bordering on a hip-hop dancehall vibe (MIA), the other more alternative (Santi). they dress differently (MIA wouldn’t be caught dead in most of what Santi wears, no offense to santi). MIAs music is much more upbeat while santi is laidback, sometimes moody. santi would never make songs like “paper Planes” or “Boys” and MIA would never make “Anne” or “Lights Out”. ppl just want to say they are the same b/c of “Creator”, their ties to Diplo, and their quirkiness. plus i think it makes ppl feel like music afficiandos if they can point out that santi “jacked” MIA’s style. at the end of the day, any true MIA fan would know that her and santi are very different artists
btw when i was talking about style, i referring to everyday style. santi always looks like a bum to me lol but again love her
I love Santogold!!! I always play her cd on my way to work. My favorites are Creator, You’ll find a way remix and Anne.
omg…maybe mia jackd santi’s style, ppl are just sayin santi stole, cuz she became faster a lil after mia…u never know ppl!
Think a big difference between Santogold and M.I.A (whom I BOTH love) is that M.I.A.’s music seems a lot more poltically driven, especially as she grew up in war torn Sri Lanka before moving to London.
I love that Santagold
Fact of the matter is… she sounds like M.I.A. (which isn’t a bad thing)
She needs to accept it and move on.. Its not like they said she sounds like Ray J.
I mean you wouldnt hear ppl complain about sounding like Michael Jackson. (Not saying that M.I.A. is anywhere close to MJ, but in that realm of cool. M.I.A. is queen!)
#39 and #40…Right on, right on!
Its hard when you are trying to be yourself and than others quickly try to figure you out or define you based on something or someone else. That sucks big time.
I’ve listened to both artists and let me just say…I can tell the difference between mangoes and papaya. Same type of food group, wildly different tastes!
Santogold is something I never heard before, and M.I.A. aficionados must not blur the lines between two strong women making their distinct mark in pop culture.
I’m glad to see a lot of good comments about santogold. Her music had to grow on me but now I love her.
As far as the MIA comparison People who compare her to MIA have no ears or did not listen to her music. OK mayble Creator could have been sung by MIA, but hey they share some of the same producers…the comparison stops there. The rest of the album is Sooo different.