Nigerian visionary Santino (Santi) has opened up about the "science" of his artistry and his pivotal role in the "Alte" movement. Speaking from Lagos, the artist reflected on a decade in the industry, describing his current songwriting as a more mature evolution that remains rooted in his signature style. Santino credits the intersection of personal chaos and deliberate solitude as the primary catalysts for his creative output, noting that his music is a calculated balance of technical precision. He views his craft through a mathematical lens, specifically citing how he maneuvers vocal delivery to "tame" high-energy beats and engineer a specific "bounce."
Addressing his status as a progenitor of Nigeria’s alternative scene, Santino remains wary of the "Alte" label, emphasizing a desire to stay organic rather than succumbing to the pressures of leadership. He expressed a pointed concern regarding the lack of formal documentation in Nigerian culture, which he believes hinders the preservation of history for movements like his own. This commitment to authenticity extends to his collaborative process, which he describes as unplanned and fueled by shared passion rather than industry networking.
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The conversation also revisited the legacy of his project Subaru Boys. While the body of work initially met with mixed reviews, Santino noted its eventual rise to critical acclaim, suggesting that the ears of Nigerian listeners have since evolved to meet the project's forward-thinking sound. Despite his success, he remains grounded by the reality of his upbringing, highlighting his ability to create "something out of nothing" in both music and film—a skill set he is currently applying to an upcoming horror film and his new project, KOTB. Looking toward the future, Santino’s ambitions are tempered by the logistical hurdles of global artistry, specifically the challenges of international touring as a Nigerian passport holder. Nevertheless, he remains driven by a mission to care for his family and the potential to create art that bridges disparate worlds. Reflecting on the last ten years, his takeaway is one of urgent intentionality: with time being fleeting, he insists on the necessity of pursuing what one loves with whatever resources are at hand.
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