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Pharaoh Santana, welcome to VENTS; can you tell us a little more about your single, Playboy?
– What’s up y’all , appreciate you having me. I like to think of Playboy as an embodiment so to speak, the whole song really just represents me and the people I’m around daily. The life we live is built on getting after it, staying loyal, and carrying yourself with a certain presence. Every person I mention in the song (Cressy, Loso, Pisty, Ty Ty) are all real people, every event I talk about is real, everything is real.
Is there a story behind the single?
– The whole thing came about super organically. I pulled up the studio solo to just catch my own wave, and I kind of just got lost in the beat for a while, did my thing. I recorded on it and and did the rough mix in about an hour and on the way home I’m bumping in my car thinking “yeah I might’ve done something here”. I got home and played it for one of my friends and one by one more of them were popping their heads in like “yo what song is this?!”. By the end of the night I knew it was the one for sure.
Does Playboy bring a touch of LA to international airwaves?
– For sure. I think the whole energy and presence the song brings/ makes you feel can only be captured out here on the West Coast. Our vibe is just different.
What came first, the catchy lyrics or the melodies?
– The lyrics came first. The beat was on and immediately I was just like “they gon’ be sick to they stomach when I come get my revenge”. Literally first thing I thought of. From there the song basically wrote itself.
You tend to collaborate with the people you know; if you could break that rule with any artist or producer, who would it be?
– Ooo toughest question I’ve gotten in a while. I have a dream list for my first big big album, a set of features I like to tell myself I won’t drop it without. But if I had to pick one now it’s probably a tie between Anderson .Paak & Smino. I just love the way they both approach lyricism, vocal structure, etc.
You haven’t failed to amass plenty of hype with your sound; why do you think so many people can easily connect to your music?
– I think people just can feel that it’s real. This isn’t some instagram hype machine, I have zero interest in being a social media commodity. This is about the music. I’ve been living and breathing this for a long time. Tons of trial and error. Nothing I say/write about isn’t authentic, I’m not some character.
What is the best compliment you’ve received so far?
– When I opened for 9th Wonder a few years ago he gave me a nod on my lyricism backstage. I’ve done a lot since then and grown a ton but that moment always stuck with me. He didn’t have to go out his way to tell me that, but he did. Gave me a lot of belief.
You were more productive than ever during the 2020 lockdown; how did you stay motivated?
– Truthfully, I think 2020 was just the culmination of years of work and building. I’ve always been close to my goals but either lacked the proper skill, team, or resources to get over the hill so to speak. Last year it all clicked, I found my sound, caught a rhythm, and grew up a ton. It just wasn’t time yet. Now it is.
What can we expect from your upcoming EP?
– Bars! Hahaha. But honestly, expect a lot of honesty, a lot of growth, and a continuation of last years momentum. I found a voice last year and feel a real sense of confidence. Playboy gave me the ears I was looking for and now I can go back to telling my story… Everything clicks at the right time. Oh and shoutout my brother Cress! He got a feature on there. I surprisingly don’t work with a ton of features so I’m excited for everyone to hear that. Peace & love
Listen Here
Watch the official video on YouTube
Follow Pharaoh Santana on Instagram
