Having worked with an impressive list of artists, including Spank Rock, Res, GZA and Lily Allen, Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter and MC Santi White (aka Santogold) finally steps out on her own with her magnetic self-titled debut. Blending clever lyrics, infectious melodies and a genre-hopping kaleidoscope of driving indie-rock, dark synth-pop, chunky electro freak-beats, sun-soaked ragga and sassy-flavored hip-hop, the dynamic set brilliantly evokes the boundless shape-shifting of New York’s influential post-disco/post-punk “No Wave” movement.

Creator

White enlists a cast of top-notch collaborators (Switch, Diplo, Disco D. and J. Hill) to deftly color her gritty, retro-modern vision that references everything from vintage Siouxsie and the Banshees (“My Superman”), M.I.A. (“Creator”), Yeah Yeah Yeahs (“I’m A Lady”), the Kills (“Starstruck”) and Gwen Stefani while firmly pronouncing her own signature pedigree. Santi emerges as a dexterous songwriter and vocalist, masterfully adept at assuming various styles and personas (shy, cocky, fragile, nostalgic and euphoric) with a self-assured authenticity that’s commanding and genuine. (Craig Roseberry)