Santpoort’s lo-fi beats are the medicine my frozen brain needs to get through the winter. Warmer than a beam of sunlight coming through the window, their exotic harmonies rise and subside like an exotic wave, evoking Santpoort’s colorful illustrations that accompany every release. In honor of his new single Shadowplay, I had a little chat with the musician to talk about creation, Australia and Shlohmo.

You have described Santpoort as a "homesick project". Where are you living currently?

I've been living in Sydney for nearly 4 years now, and couldn't get back home because of some visa processes. Santpoort is the name of the village I grew up, a dutch dune village along the coastline. I think the flora and fauna speak in my music, currently it feels very vivid and lush because of the Australian environment.

You recently released a cover of Shlohmo’s song Wen UUU via FoF. Why did you pick this track?

I picked wen uuu because the record label asked me to do a cover for their back catalog and that song by Shlohmo is one of my all-time favorite songs. I re-recorded the vocal chops but that was quite challenging as I'm not quite Aaliyah haha. Besides I don't do remixes or sample from other records (I do however sample myself so it does sound sampled). A cover is more of a natural progression for me.

On top of doing music, you make amazing illustrations. What’s the relation between your music and your visuals?

They're aligned, santpoort is an audiovisual project. The music I make is super visual and I want people to look at the art and hear the music as well. I've never had a proper education in drawing but mostly because out of high school I had to make a choice and chose to do a music degree.

I’m curious to know a few of your visual influences...

I think I get a lot of influences from Japanese woodblock printing, there's a whole school of painters and illustrators that have been incredibly under the radar in western society. In Europe I'd say Alphonse Mucha, Claude Monet and Jean Tinguely are big inspirations.

This year, you’ve released collaborations with Rhoda and P.R. How did these collabs come about? What are the differences for you between working with someone and working alone? Do you have a preference?

P.R. is another Sydney-sider, I met him when I met Bas (the founder of Chillhop Records) when he came to visit a few years back. Rhoda is a friend from Montreal that makes amazing music. I really like working with other people because it puts different flavors in the dish.

Name an artist and/or a track you’ve discovered recently that truly inspires you? What inspires you about them?

I've been listening to Szymon a lot, a Polish-Australian songwriter. He has passed away a few years back sadly, but for some reason, that adds to the lore of the music. Especially the song Roma is a dreamy journey that balances itself between something inherently sad and uplifting. I think it's one of the common threads between my work and his.

What’s coming up for Santpoort?

I'm releasing a double-sided single the 4th of December with LA Label Friends of Friends with a music video that I illustrated and animated. Hopefully you'll like it!

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