Artist Statement
I've dedicated my entire life to the pursuit of art and music, exploring a diverse range of creative disciplines from graphic design to videography. However, it's music that has always held the most profound place in my heart and soul. Growing up with Filipino and Chinese roots, I was surrounded by a rich tapestry of musical influences that shaped my early years. From a young age, the love for singing and performing was deeply embedded in me, inspired by family gatherings filled with karaoke and cultural celebrations.
Self-taught across multiple instruments—including guitar, piano, banjo, ukulele, and even my father's old accordion—I cultivated a versatile musical foundation driven by a relentless curiosity and a hunger to express myself creatively. I experimented within the folk/singer-songwriter genre and even was the front-man of a short lived indie rock band while studying post-secondary in Vancouver, opening for the likes of The Lumineers and Carly Rae Jepsen (before Call Me Maybe fame), and also released vaporwave/IDM projects under random anonymous pseudonyms online. This journey culminated in the emergence of "New Saint," a persona born out of a transformative hiatus from music that left me grappling with personal challenges and searching for healing.
In Summer 2017, amid the monotony of a desk job and personal setbacks, I found solace and renewal in composing "Since You Left," a soul-stirring R&B ballad adorned with melancholic piano melodies. Its unexpected resonance on Soundcloud, reaching over 100k plays, served as a poignant reminder of the power of music to connect deeply with others and reaffirmed my childhood dreams of pursuing music professionally.
This pivotal moment ignited a relentless pursuit of musical exploration, where I delved into diverse genres such as hip-hop, trap, and electronic music, pushing the boundaries of my sound and honing my artistic identity. Collaborations with then budding local artists like Cartel Madras and Jae Sterling further enriched my musical journey, fostering a vibrant community of creativity and collaboration within Calgary's burgeoning music scene.
The release of my debut EP, "COLD HANDS," marked a significant milestone in my career, blending atmospheric textures with introspective lyrics that resonated profoundly with listeners. The standout track, "SIM CARD #7," caught the attention of a prominent Twitch streamer, catapulting me onto the stage of Calgary's iconic Commonwealth venue hosted by 10@10 Calgary for a memorable performance. It was here that I forged lasting connections with fellow artists, laying the foundation for the establishment of ZERO FUTURE CLUB—a collective dedicated to amplifying the voices and stories of Asian and African-Canadian diaspora artists and allowed me to contribute to the community by using my skills to help foster artist development, music production and engineering as well as branding and merchandising projects.
Amidst the global challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and rising social justice movements, ZERO FUTURE CLUB emerged as a force for change and solidarity. Our "ZERO RACISM CLUB" initiative, launched with a simple but powerful message on black t-shirts
"IF WE LET HATE, RACISM & TERROR WIN, THERE WON'T BE A FUTURE WORTH LIVING.", which garnered widespread support and visibility, leveraging our platform to advocate for equity and justice through music and community engagement, reaching the likes of Anthony Fantano of the NeedleDrop and many other influencers, whilst selling hundreds of shirts to raise money for BLM.
Following the release of my debut politically charged mixtape, "MODEL MINORITY," which delved into themes of identity and belonging as a Filipino immigrant in Canada, the lead single, "PARANOID", reached over a million plays on TikTok. The project piqued the attention of CBC Music and Global News, covering the mixtape and placing me as "30 Asian Artists to Watch" on CBC News (https://www.cbc.ca/music/30-asian-artists-to-discover-this-asian-heritage-month-1.6041151). I immediately began planning out and booking a cross Canada (and some West Coast US) tour to promote the album but it was then I faced personal adversity and lost several family members to COVID in the Philippines and Canada. I cancelled the tour (along with performances at Calgary's Badlands Music Festival, and Rifflandia Music Festival in Vancouver) and took the time to focus on family and took a break from performing altogether. Yet, through resilience and a renewed commitment to music, I found solace in creating viral singles like "BLADERUNNERR," reaching over a million plays and resonating deeply with audiences on TikTok, and expanded my reach globally. I took the opportunity to dive deeper into TikTok using comedic skits and sharing unreleased music I was working on and my platform grew to over 10k followers and over 30 million views across all my videos.
My subsequent EP, "ARTIFICIAL," represented a bold evolution in my artistic expression, embracing experimental sonic landscapes and pushing the boundaries of genre. To promote the project, I collaborated with Calgary's music organization ONE BIG JAM and did a live performance recording, inviting local artists to record 14 different camera perspectives into one big video experience that premiered on YouTube. I also had my first magazine cover and interview with Blue Hour Magazine and the single "BALISONG" received almost 500k plays on TikTok alone.
As I embark on the creation of my debut studio album, "SANTO," I am fueled by the collective experiences, collaborations, and community connections forged throughout my journey. It signifies not only a culmination of my artistic endeavors thus far but also a commitment to crafting music that inspires, challenges, and resonates with listeners worldwide. With a steadfast dedication to authenticity, social impact, and artistic innovation, "SANTO" promises to be a transformative chapter in my ongoing narrative as an artist, storyteller, and advocate for change.
newsaint.bandcamp.com
Instagram: @ivoasanto