SAINT PEPSI – FIONA COYNE [VIDEO]

It's Saint Pepsi, bitch. Remember that? From his Gin City EP that got released earlier this year? Now doesn't that seem like an actual age ago? Right? It may as well be an actual age ago – even since then, Ryan DeRobertis (by now, everybody should know: this is SP irl) has given his sound a right good seeing-to, uh, mainly in that he's added his own vocals to it.

As a component of the digital sample-heavy movement that was (and still is) vaporwave, usually Mr DeRobertis could be heard lifting vocals from a whole host of past-and-present material, from Justin Bieber to Aretha Franklin, but yes: this time around they're entirely his own. And he's got a brilliantly off-centre muse for his singing, the eponymous 'Fiona Coyne' – this is a character from the I've-never-seen-it Canadian (teen) drama series/universe Degrassi; Drake also cut his acting teeth here so, y'know, it must have some sort of following – be it genuine or retroactive.

Anyway, as you may have guessed, yes that's her picture above, and as Saint Pepsi himself sings with gorgeous Long-Island-lilt, "She's got emerald eyes" – or at least she sorta does. His voice adds an extra dimension to his music, a depth of personality, something for fans to not just appreciate but to find attractive, fall in love with. He's already put himself out there, creatively, but now THERE he is, voice immortalised. A real pop star.

Yes there's a video for the song. It features a guy encountering a lot of couples kissing or "MAKING OUT" or whatever, who himself is followed by an insistent disco (penis) ball. Watch.

As for the music itself, Saint Pepsi hasn't lost the funk – the good funk – no sir. Clean, simple drums keep head-nodding time, as groovesome bass darts fluidly below glittery staccato guitar stabs, whilst more ornamentations comes in the form of sparkling-pool glockenspiel magic, and bursts of triumphant brass; St Pep's voice moves over all of this, confident and laced with addictive hooks, especially in the undeniably catchy chorus: "Oh darling, won't you believe me? I'll love you till the record stops."

Though it's a stark change to his earlier sounds, it's a step in the right direction: this is pop perfection. This could live on the radio all summer for all I care – I mean, that's the place it deserves to be. Stuff this well-produced that is made by, and features the vocals of, the producer, a one-person vault of charisma and creativity, should be paid much attention to, especially considering his variations in sound, made by my reckoning at least 3 times a year, which combined promise unpredictable & wonderful things for the future of Saint Pepsi.

• This comes from the Fiona Coyne/Fall Harder 7" out 12th August via Carpark Records – pre-order it here. I might buy a record player just for this release – you know, like how a load of people bought a Wii U just for Mario Kart 8.
• It's not the first time we've heard St Pep's voice: check out this rap (second rap in the track) he lends to SPF420 co-founder Chaz Allen aka Metallic Ghosts' track 'Destroy'. It's actually really good. More rapping pls!

---

---

Like SAINT PEPSI on Facebook
Listen to SAINT PEPSI on Soundcloud
Hear more SAINT PEPSI on bandcamp
Follow SAINT PEPSI on Twitter
Check SAINT PEPSI on Tumblr

---

---

BIEBER – SAINT PEPSI

First, Saint Pepsi – the Long Island producer with his roots in the familial vibe of vaporwave – took care of Carly Rae Jepsen's 'Call Me Maybe' in a steamy, slow edit of the track; now, especially for Valentine's Day – or V-Day like some dotty old war veteran – he's remixed a Justin Bieber track; yep that's right – BIEBER. Taking vocals from the troubled Canadian child star's 'Boyfriend', Saint Pepsi (real name Ryan DeRobertis) has created a wonderful slow jam simply called 'Bieber'.

There's something wonderful about the track, something unique despite its apparent simplicity; but in the vein of the new punk that he is (and many affiliated with vaporwave in general, or more specifically with the collective New Generation), samples come from everywhere and anywhere, are used in any which way, and the intent of the song is contentious or as innocent as you want it to be. So there. Now listen up to 'Bieber' if you haven't already and share it with all of your friends because I'm sure they'll like it. Despite the utter meh-ness of the original, this takes Bieber's best feature (his voice) with none of the putrid production that goes with it and turns it into something fun AND good.

Beginning with a sparklingly cheesy intro, we're led into a world of slow-jam heaven with choral voices singing as you saunter along the way. Bieber's voice appears altered, low-register, at first, crooning over percussion and warm muffled synths that gradually thicken as the song goes on, rolling R&B snares skittering over thumping kicks. Even Bieber's rap is in there, the end of which includes his own catchphrase "swaggie" – and which Saint Pepsi throws at you again later. What the hell swaggie? Jesus H. Some aching synth solo beeps towards the end of the track – notes bending with an almost sarcastic lilt – adding candy-coloured electro fun.

So whether you think this is a joke or whether it's serious or if it angers you and you want to shove your own head through your laptop and jump out your window – that's up to you. The facts here are these: firstly, the song is a vast improvement on its original; secondly, it's clear that Saint Pepsi is going to continue to sample whatever takes his fancy – whether it's an emo band, Mariah Carey, Justin Bieber, or anything else in the public domain. Not only is it simply about doing what you want, sticking to no genre and feeling free to capture any mood or summon any feeling, but also the truth is, copyright laws aside, everything in the public eye ceases to belong to its owner the moment it is released to the masses. So just enjoy it or don't – it's your life.

PSSST… Saint Pepsi plays his debut West Coast (USA) show in San Francisco on 15th February, can you make it?

---

---

Like SAINT PEPSI on Facebook
Listen to SAINT PEPSI on Soundcloud
Hear more SAINT PEPSI on bandcamp
Follow SAINT PEPSI on Twitter
Check SAINT PEPSI on Tumblr

---

---

SAINT PEPSI MR. WONDERFUL [FREE DOWNLOAD]

Mr Pep. Peppy. Or Saint Pepsi if you wanna be proper about it. Yep, the Long Island producer is here again with a nice new song that's as nice as anything I can imagine, as nice as something that I can't describe with words. This man has come a long way with his music, blowing up completely last year thanks to that now infamous (at least in my mind) premiere of his song 'Unhappy' on The Fader. What's great about Saint Pepsi, though – real name Ryan DeRobertis – is his everchanging style when it comes to creating a song. From UK garage to what could be described as emo-trap, he's unpredictable in a good way: i.e. he makes whatever the hell he wants to make.

As such, we have new song 'Mr. Wonderful' to contend with. Cue everybody talking about the song to call it "wonderful" (well, to be fair, it IS wonderful). The "Mr." honorific gives it this cute feel, as far as a title goes anyway. The song itself is "cute" yes but it's more of a mildly intense, dreamy sensation. Indeed, Saint Pepsi himself has tagged it as "Mario Kart Dream Trap" and I'd say that these four words pretty much sum it up.

Why not try listening to it yourself with your ears?

Beginning with a slow dreamy portal river, with echoes of subconscious mists blowing about, we drop into some lovely synth chords presided over by some seriously syncopated snare rolls and rhythms. Then the main bulk of the song falls into your brain like it should: wonderfully. Synth vox melody (K.K. Slider anyone?) bounces cutesily over the now rather bassy wash of sound, and soon we're introduced to the song's sample and the inspiration for the song's name, cuts from the chorus of Aretha Franklin's 'Wonderful'. Turns what was a metaphysical trip into nostalgic memories of Rainbow Road into a down-to-earth celebration of soul music – a gloriously rich throwback to Saint Pepsi's musical origins and clearly still a part of his musical appetite: funk, soul, R&B.

Ending abruptly, this is something that I actually want to listen to for years. Well maybe not for years because that would be ridiculous. At least for another few minutes. But anyway, this song: lovely. Don't you think? A great mix of trap-flavoured beats, videogame nostalgia and the embryonic memories of soul-loving vaporwave. A true mix of musical styles, it's just another small step for Saint Pepsi, and a step in the right direction. Do what you want!

PS. This is now available as a FREE DOWNLOAD (click!)

---

---

Like SAINT PEPSI on Facebook
Listen to SAINT PEPSI on Soundcloud
Hear more SAINT PEPSI on bandcamp
Follow SAINT PEPSI on Twitter
Check SAINT PEPSI on Tumblr

---

---