_SANTI_ GETS THE FIESTA STARTED

BY JAMIE BOOTH

“PerreON,” the debut single from hunky gender-bending artist SANTI_ is a Latino dance anthem that combines house music with reggaeton elements and pays homage to perreo, a way of dancing to reggaeton that simulates having sex. “For Latinos, perreo is a sick ass urban music party,” _SANTI_ explains. “PerreOn is meant to embody that feeling of anticipation we feel all over our bodies when we know we are going out to tear it up at the clubs.”

_SANTI_ recorded ‘PerreON’ in Los Angeles after he learned his shoot with designer Sho Konishi was in the pages of Japan’s Vogue

Magazine. “It was a very happy surprise, and I was feeling like a bad bitch, spitting out verses about how I didn’t need a crown to be a queen. I was high on life and from that joy sprang PerreON!”

_SANTI_ was born and raised in Venezuela by a strong single mother. His father passed away when he was ten. As a child, he recalls writing music and dancing and singing in front of the mirror, dreaming to one day be on stage. “Growing up gay in a machismo country like Venezuela was hard,” he recalls, “but so was life under the dictatorship of Nicolas Maduro.”

At 18, _SANTI_ escaped the tyranny of Venezuela, immigrating to the USA with only 300 dollars in his pocket. “It was not easy, but my early struggles made me a hard-working hustler.”

His early life is very much reflected in his music today. Many of the original songs on _SANTI_’s soon-to-be-released full-length album touch on his culture and experiences as an immigrant, as well as being a flamboyant kid and misfit.

He is inspired by LGBTQ+ artists like Kim Petras. In fact, _ SANTI_ has recorded his own version of her album, Slut Pop, with his original raps added. “I love everything about Kim Petras and her music,” _SANTI_ explains. “’Treat me like a Slut’ is such a dirty song and speaks so much to who I am. I just thought that the only way it could sound even dirtier was in Spanish!”

His fans on social media agree. So much so that _SANTI_ was encouraged to make five more Spanglish Slut Pop covers. “It’s been fun to put my own personality and take on the tracks,” he says.

Being an independent artist is hard but _SANTI_ has immersed himself into the whole creative process. In addition to writing all his original music, he shoots and edits his album covers and produces, directs, choreographs and styles his music videos.

For the “PerreON” music video, _SANTI_ wanted to pair the city of Miami with some of the leading urban fashion design houses of today. He wears looks from Patrick Church, Lucas Stowe, Sho Konishi, and FBMT. “Fashion has always been important to me,” _ SANTI_ says. “I love to sew and alter my clothing to express my individualism and to make statements. It’s a way for me to show the world that I can wear dresses, skirts and heels and still be masculine. I can paint my nails and still be sexy as hell.”

His main goal is to be a positive representative for the LGBTQ+ Latino community and to be a voice for all young gays, misfits and weirdos fighting to live life as their true authentic selves.

_SANTI_’s new single, “PerreON,” will be available on Apple Music, Spotify and all digital platforms on March 10.

Follow on Instagram @ _SANTI_