Rusty Santos
Encyclopedia
Rusty Santos is a Record producer
and Singer-songwriter
based in New York City
. He is known for producing, recording, mixing and/or mastering records like Animal Collective
’s Sung Tongs
and the reissue of Danse Manatee
, Panda Bear
’s Young Prayer
and Person Pitch
, Born Ruffians
’ Red, Yellow & Blue
, White Magic
’s Day, Twilight, Night EP, Dent May
's The Good Feeling Music of Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele and many more. On January 11, 2010, his newest production, Owen Pallett
's Heartland, was released.
As a musician he usually mixes his voice and guitar playing with samples. So far Santos has released four solo records and plays in the bands Together and The Present.
, California
. As a teenager, he met drummer Jesse Lee and both played together from the mid to the late 90's in punk
and hardcore
bands. After High School Santos moved to the Bay area and started travelling a lot, being heavily involved with West Coast underground culture and punk scene. When travelling to Berlin
, he was introduced to German electronic music like Cluster
and Minimal techno
which changed his approach to music radically. After that he decided to move to New York City and started making solo tracks.
After making friends with still widely unknown Dave Portner and Noah Lennox from Animal Collective
, they asked him to help them with record production. By this means he received attention when Animal Collective
's breakthrough Sung Tongs
with Santos as producer received a great deal of critical acclaim in 2004. After that he went on tour with Animal Collective
in 2004 and mixed their live sound. The band's success was followed by Santos producing and remixing many others, mostly New York related bands like Ariel Pink
, Terrestrial Tones
, Panda Bear
, Jane, Holy Shit, Gang Gang Dance
and TV on the Radio
. He also appeared on the Grizzly Bear
album Horn of Plenty (The Remixes)
, remixing their song Campfire. In the meantime, he also met Thuy Pham and Miho Aoki and started collaborating on running their New York based record label, UUnited Acoustic Recordings. After self-releasing two solo albums, he also gave his official debut as musician in 2004 with The Heavens, produced by himself and Dave Portner and released on UUAR. Afterwards he started playing new material on live shows with old fellow Jesse Lee which was recorded in March 2006 with Lee and Paul Choe. The result was his second official solo record Eternity Spans, which was released in November 2006. After touring Japan, Lee and Santos played live in New York with friends during summer.
In summer of 2007, he started another recording project with his friend Mina, which eventually let to Mina, Santos and Lee founding the band The Present in April 2008. They released their debut World I See in following June on Lo Recordings
and the Japanese label Easel Records. According to Santos, the album was entirely written and recorded in Stream-of-consciousness-style. The Present toured the UK and Europe in the end of 2008 and summer of 2009. In June they released the follow-up The Way We Are.
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
based in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He is known for producing, recording, mixing and/or mastering records like Animal Collective
Animal Collective
Animal Collective is an experimental psychedelic band originally from Baltimore, Maryland, currently based in New York City. Animal Collective consists of Avey Tare , Panda Bear , Deakin , and Geologist...
’s Sung Tongs
Sung Tongs
Sung Tongs is the fifth album by Baltimore-based band Animal Collective, released on May 3, 2004 by Fat Cat Records.Despite the name 'Animal Collective' attached to this album, only two of the band's four members play on it: Avey Tare and Panda Bear . As a result, Sung Tongs is a more...
and the reissue of Danse Manatee
Danse Manatee
Danse Manatee is the second album by Baltimore based band Animal Collective, released in July 2001 on Catsup Plate under the name Avey Tare, Panda Bear and Geologist. Only 1000 copies were made for the Catsup Plate release, but it has since been re-released as a double CD along with Spirit They're...
, Panda Bear
Panda Bear (musician)
Noah Benjamin Lennox also known as Panda Bear, is an experimental musician and a founding member of Animal Collective.-Early life:...
’s Young Prayer
Young Prayer
Young Prayer is the second solo album released by Animal Collective member Noah Lennox The album was a critical success, even being labeled "Best New Music" by Pitchfork. Notably, none of the songs on the album has a title because Lennox wanted the album to be "one nugget of sound...
and Person Pitch
Person Pitch
Person Pitch is the third solo album released by Animal Collective member Noah Lennox , released on March 20, 2007. The album was released to high critical acclaim....
, Born Ruffians
Born Ruffians
Born Ruffians, formerly known as Mornington Drive, are a Canadian indie rock band formed in 2004, originally from Midland, Ontario, located near Georgian Bay. They are currently signed to Warp Records. The members are Luke Lalonde , Mitch Derosier and Steven Hamelin...
’ Red, Yellow & Blue
Red, Yellow & Blue
Red, Yellow & Blue is the debut album by the indie-rock band Born Ruffians. It was released on March 4, 2008 in the United States and Canada and May 26 in the UK/Europe. "Hummingbird" was the first single off the album, followed by "Foxes Mate for Life." The band teamed up with Rusty Santos,...
, White Magic
White Magic
White Magic may refer to:* White magic, healing or "good," as opposed to Black magic; see also magic * White Magic , an American rock band* White Magic , album by Swedish musician ceo...
’s Day, Twilight, Night EP, Dent May
Dent May
-Biography:May attended Jackson Prep, then later NYU Film School and Ole Miss, where he studied English and Southern studies, and found his home in the music of Serge Gainsbourg and Lee Hazlewood...
's The Good Feeling Music of Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele and many more. On January 11, 2010, his newest production, Owen Pallett
Owen Pallett
Michael James Owen Pallett is a Canadian composer, violinist, keyboardist, and vocalist from Toronto, Ontario. He won the 2006 Polaris Music Prize for the album He Poos Clouds....
's Heartland, was released.
As a musician he usually mixes his voice and guitar playing with samples. So far Santos has released four solo records and plays in the bands Together and The Present.
Career
Rusty Santos grew up in FresnoFresno
Fresno is the fifth largest city in California.Fresno may also refer to:-Places:Colombia* Fresno, TolimaSpain* Fresno, a ghost village in Nidáliga, Valle de Sedano, Burgos* Aldea del Fresno, Madrid* Fresno de la Vega, Ribera del Esla, León...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. As a teenager, he met drummer Jesse Lee and both played together from the mid to the late 90's in punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
and hardcore
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
bands. After High School Santos moved to the Bay area and started travelling a lot, being heavily involved with West Coast underground culture and punk scene. When travelling to Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, he was introduced to German electronic music like Cluster
Cluster (band)
Cluster is a German experimental musical group who influenced the development of contemporary popular electronic and ambient music. They have recorded albums in a wide variety of styles ranging from experimental music to progressive rock, all of which had an avant-garde edge. Cluster has been...
and Minimal techno
Minimal techno
Minimal techno is a minimalist sub-genre of techno. It is characterized by a stripped-down aesthetic that exploits the use of repetition, and understated development. This style of dance music production generally adheres to the motto less is more; a principle that has been previously utilized, to...
which changed his approach to music radically. After that he decided to move to New York City and started making solo tracks.
After making friends with still widely unknown Dave Portner and Noah Lennox from Animal Collective
Animal Collective
Animal Collective is an experimental psychedelic band originally from Baltimore, Maryland, currently based in New York City. Animal Collective consists of Avey Tare , Panda Bear , Deakin , and Geologist...
, they asked him to help them with record production. By this means he received attention when Animal Collective
Animal Collective
Animal Collective is an experimental psychedelic band originally from Baltimore, Maryland, currently based in New York City. Animal Collective consists of Avey Tare , Panda Bear , Deakin , and Geologist...
's breakthrough Sung Tongs
Sung Tongs
Sung Tongs is the fifth album by Baltimore-based band Animal Collective, released on May 3, 2004 by Fat Cat Records.Despite the name 'Animal Collective' attached to this album, only two of the band's four members play on it: Avey Tare and Panda Bear . As a result, Sung Tongs is a more...
with Santos as producer received a great deal of critical acclaim in 2004. After that he went on tour with Animal Collective
Animal Collective
Animal Collective is an experimental psychedelic band originally from Baltimore, Maryland, currently based in New York City. Animal Collective consists of Avey Tare , Panda Bear , Deakin , and Geologist...
in 2004 and mixed their live sound. The band's success was followed by Santos producing and remixing many others, mostly New York related bands like Ariel Pink
Ariel Pink
Ariel Pink is a Los Angeles-based recording artist who is sometimes associated with the freak folk scene.-Biography:...
, Terrestrial Tones
Terrestrial Tones
Terrestrial Tones are Dave Portner of Animal Collective and Eric Copeland of Black Dice. The two were roommates who got together to record when both of their main bands went on temporary hiatus in November 2004.-Albums:* Dead Drunk...
, Panda Bear
Panda Bear (musician)
Noah Benjamin Lennox also known as Panda Bear, is an experimental musician and a founding member of Animal Collective.-Early life:...
, Jane, Holy Shit, Gang Gang Dance
Gang Gang Dance
Gang Gang Dance is an American experimental music band based in Manhattan, New York City. The band is known for its distinctive sound which features synthesized electronics and percussion, plus the varied vocal styles of singer Lizzi Bougatsos...
and TV on the Radio
TV on the Radio
TV on the Radio is an American art rock band formed in 2001 in Brooklyn, New York, whose music spans numerous diverse genres, from post-punk to electro and free jazz to soul music....
. He also appeared on the Grizzly Bear
Grizzly Bear (band)
Grizzly Bear is a Brooklyn-based indie rock band, composed of Edward Droste , Daniel Rossen , Chris Taylor and Christopher Bear . The band employs traditional and electronic instruments...
album Horn of Plenty (The Remixes)
Horn of Plenty (The Remixes)
Horn of Plenty is a remix album from Brooklyn based indie rock group Grizzly Bear.-Track listing:# "Campfire" – 4:04# "Merge" – 3:38# "A Good Place" – 4:51...
, remixing their song Campfire. In the meantime, he also met Thuy Pham and Miho Aoki and started collaborating on running their New York based record label, UUnited Acoustic Recordings. After self-releasing two solo albums, he also gave his official debut as musician in 2004 with The Heavens, produced by himself and Dave Portner and released on UUAR. Afterwards he started playing new material on live shows with old fellow Jesse Lee which was recorded in March 2006 with Lee and Paul Choe. The result was his second official solo record Eternity Spans, which was released in November 2006. After touring Japan, Lee and Santos played live in New York with friends during summer.
In summer of 2007, he started another recording project with his friend Mina, which eventually let to Mina, Santos and Lee founding the band The Present in April 2008. They released their debut World I See in following June on Lo Recordings
Lo Recordings
Lo Recordings is a label founded in 1995 by Jon Tye. They are noted for their strong visual style thanks to Non-Format, with whom they work very closely and won a D&AD award for several of their releases sleeves.-Musical style:...
and the Japanese label Easel Records. According to Santos, the album was entirely written and recorded in Stream-of-consciousness-style. The Present toured the UK and Europe in the end of 2008 and summer of 2009. In June they released the follow-up The Way We Are.
Solo
- Bad Is Good (2002, self-released)
- Outside versus In (2003, self-released)
- The Heavens (2004, UUAR)
- A Up High/Beloved Below 7-inch (2005, UUAR)
- Eternity Spans (2006, UUAR)
The Present
- World I See (2008, Lo RecordingsLo RecordingsLo Recordings is a label founded in 1995 by Jon Tye. They are noted for their strong visual style thanks to Non-Format, with whom they work very closely and won a D&AD award for several of their releases sleeves.-Musical style:...
, Easel Records) - The Way We Are (2009, Lo RecordingsLo RecordingsLo Recordings is a label founded in 1995 by Jon Tye. They are noted for their strong visual style thanks to Non-Format, with whom they work very closely and won a D&AD award for several of their releases sleeves.-Musical style:...
)