Santah

Santah was born with their feet planted in the
ground and their heads in the clouds. Composed
of guitarist/vocalist Stanton McConnell, drummer
Steven Plock, bassist Otto Stuparitz, and Tommy
Trafton on keyboards, the quintet met at the
University of Illinois and with their debut full-length
record, "White Noise Bed," they have assembled
a kaleidoscopic opus whose reach extends far
beyond the Midwest. Recorded at the late Jay
Bennett's Pieholden Studios, where the band
found its niche among the studio's forbearers of
psychedelic Americana, "White Noise Bed" has a
yin and yang aesthetic: sometimes sunny and
sometimes stormy, but always running on audible
elation. The band takes its cues from the power
pop greats of the 70's such as The Raspberries
and The Cars, and dresses them in a twangy haze,
full of clever, lyrical nooks and crannies ala Wilco
and Whiskeytown. After finishing the record last
May, Stan's sister Vivian joined the band, adding
her passionate vocals and thoughtful guitar. They
have since been touring the country and building
their cult following; performing multiple sets at
CMJ, SXSW and the Pygmalion Music Festival,
and sharing the stage with the likes of Surfer
Blood, Cults, Margot and the Nuclear So and So's,
Pomegranates and Young the Giant. Santah isn't
just something the listener hears, it's something
they feel. Be it a tropical aura of relaxation, the
bittersweet mystery of growing up, or the lulling
memory of a past love, Santah creates an original
sonic journey for all.