This week: 34-year-old Brooklyn singer-songwriter Santi White, aka Santigold, who will return this fall with her second studio album.
FAVORITE SONG:
“Still Ill” by the Smiths. I just listened to the song again to try to figure out my connection to the Smiths, and my eyes filled with tears — not sad tears. It was just emotion. I felt excited by the drums and sound of Johnny Marr’s guitar. I felt happy and sad simultaneously, like the best movies make you feel. The lyric, ‘Does the body rule the mind or does the mind rule the body… I don’t know,’ is perfect for my life right now. At every point in my life this song has always been the perfect fit, like it was made for me.”
FAVORITE ALBUM:
“The Smiths by the Smiths. I hate to be redundant, but, shit, I’m just being honest. There are many runners-up, but this one never ever gets old. It’s been in rotation for 20 years.”
FAVORITE NEW ARTIST:
“Well, how new is new? Brooklyn-based electronic composer Martial Canterel is new to me. I really like his song ‘You Today,’ the title track from his new album. It was a pleasant surprise. It reminded me of fun.”
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FAVORITE WAY TO PASS TIME ON THE ROAD:
“I love watching movies. It breaks up the monotony of the road and momentarily takes you somewhere else. It’s easy on the vocals and it’s a nice way to spend time alone, which becomes precious when you’re on the road with the band, managers, audience, fans, promoters, label people, press. I just sneak off with my computer and disappear.”
FAVORITE MOVIE:
“Sixteen Candles. It’s so hard to pick just one. But Sixteen Candles is the only movie I could watch over and over and over without getting sick of it. I’m kicking myself for putting it in front of Clockwork Orange. But I could watch Sixteen Candles many more times!”
FAVORITE TV SHOW:
“The Office. I get so excited whenever I have time to watch it. It makes me laugh so hard. I’m always behind, so I download the seasons and usually watch the episodes like an addict, until I literally can’t keep my eyes open anymore.”
FAVORITE MANTRA/QUOTE/PIECE OF ADVICE:
“My favorite mantra is one I can never say out loud (or write out loud in this case). I’ve been doing Transcendental Meditation every day on the road, and it’s one of the best things I’ve ever done.”
FAVORITE FOOD:
“My Mom’s collard greens. No one else in the world can make them like hers. I’m not just saying that because she’s my Mom. She’s got some Mississippi secret. I could seriously eat them every day.”
FAVORITE BOOK:
“The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami. He’s my favorite author and I’ve read nearly every one of his books. I get really bummed once I’ve finished one because there are fewer left to read! I think I may only have one left!”
FAVORITE PET:
“My Dog Beau!!! Beau is my crazy-ass Great Dane puppy. He’s one year old and 135 pounds, but thinks he’s a lapdog, which is a dangerous combination. I like his craziness. He’s got heart. He ain’t no bitch!”
FAVORITE PLACE TO ESCAPE:
“The Mountains outside of Montreux in Switzerland.One of the best tour days I can remember is when we went up into themountains on a day off in the summertime. It was so green! And therewas no one up there but us. All you could hear for miles was the soundof cowbells from the grazing cows. There was a tiny woodencabin/restaurant that served fondue and had a trampoline out front. Andwe all took turns doing flips on the trampoline between the mountains and the sky.”
WATCH: Santigold, “L.E.S. Artistes”
