Curtis Santiago
Toronto, Ontario, Canada | SELF
Music
Press
"Charisma and funk seep throughout Curtis Santiago's first solo effort Portrait of an Artist. A refreshingly original voice in music which crosses over many genres, Santiago's honesty and sensitivity are front and centre in this taste of Canadian flavor."
Matthew Bennett - CKUA Staff
"...he spits conscious rhymes in a style reminiscent of golden-era greats like A Tribe Called Quest." - Georgia Straight
This Saturday, June 11, you can catch former lead singer of the Hi-Phoniqs, Curtis Santiago, when he returns to Montreal alongside his new partner in crime, DJ Vinyl Ritchie. Now living in Vancouver, the two are well know for rocking stages in the West, with Curtis able to bless mics both as a vocalist and an MC. - Montreal Mirror
...After moving to Toronto in September 2008, the rocker hit open mic nights, built his Myspace and...was introduced to Bronx Internet sensation Mickey Factz, with whom he has not only recorded and networked but also performed at this years South by Southwest music festival. Secondly, he has gone on to play more showcases in New York City and travel to places like Antigua and Santa Monica. And, this spring, Curtis released a mixtape..."Have Mercy!!! is the mixtape,...it's us taking our favorite tracks from last year and flipping them. This is the indie rock version of the traditional hip-hop mixtape. I don't know anyone else who has done that." - Cream World
Discography
LP-"Have Mercy Mixtape" - 2008
LP- TKO - 2007
LP - Portrait of An Artist - 2004
LP - Belted by Gamma Rays (with the Hi-Phoniqs) - 2003
EP - The Hi-Phoniqs - 2002
Photos
Bio
First song I ever performed live was "Darling Nikki" for my Catholic school grade 3 talent show. Needless to say getting pulled off stage started the fire! I left school often in junior high to tour with my high school aged band mates around our province.
After high school landed a small west coast tour singing good ole bump & grind R&B opening for Usher, Mase & Allure. Soon after that, formed soul funk outfit the Hi-phoniqs. We toured relentlessly through out Canada played hundreds of shows but there came a time when a bigger pond was needed. So out to Vancouver I went to record my first Factor funded solo project with Jazz Soul hip hop producer, Daniel Elmes (Kyprios, Moka Only, Lady Presice).
That record garnered me the coveted CBC Galaxy Rising Star award. It was the jump off to my transformation. I had always loved indie rock and grew up with the Purple One in my ear, so it was time to break out and rock out. I enlisted the help of Rock producer Brian Howes (Hedley, Avril Lavigne) to give some dirt to my guitars, as well worked with the Uber talented producer Roger Swan (K-Os, Method Man, Bare Naked Ladies). Thus TKO was born, my latest Factor funded solo record and it has made more of my dreams come true. I recently shot the second music video with Director and close friend Todd Dyum(Arcade Fire, Bjork, R.E.M.) and Scheduled my first appearance in New York later this month garnering interest from U.S. labels.
Just 8 months ago Andre 3000 told me "Be the youest" you you can be and the world cant help but see"
2008 all eyes on me.
Links
