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As a composer Stephanie Sante is inspired by a diversity of musical styles. Her musical influences have been equally diverse from Kenny Burrell and Carlos Antonio Jobim to Sade and Brian Eno.
As a music major in college she studied piano performance. After college she developed a love for guitar which led to the Conservatory of Guitar and Voice, where she studied Classical and Flamenco Guitar under the stewardship of Concert Classical Guitarist Lamar Eskelson. During this time her focus further diversified to include World, Bossa and Ambient styles of music.
Her inital three releases focused on the Ambient genre. Into Light and Inner Beauty garnered critical acclaim in 2000-2001 from New Age Voice Magazine.
After her third release she crossed-over from Ambient to Chillout.
Her fourth release Coffee Culture introduced a mix of Chillout grooves stylistically covering Lounge, NuJazz, Acid Jazz, Bossa and World Beat. Coffee Culture was awarded "Best Concept Album" by Muses Muse in 2005.
Shine (ep) her latest release blends the styles of NuJazz, Bossa, Downtempo, Lounge and World into a perfect place for chilling out .
She composes music using a combination of acoustic and software instruments. As a multi-instrumentalist she performs most of the music with the exception of samples and looping techniques for creating beat tracks.
Her music is enthusiastically embraced by media, DJ's and listeners around the globe and is featured on streaming, satellite, syndicated, FM and Pod Casts.
License this music for commercial use through Pump Audio
Released in March, 2007 Shine (ep) is now available at CD Baby, ITUNES and eMusic.
Tracks from Shine are now in rotation at stations and streams such as: Echoes, LoungingSound, Subsonic Temple, Groovera, Smooth Lounge, Wonder Chill, Jazzy's Lounge, Rhythm & Jazz, Radio Helios and Song Vault FM.
PRESS:
Shine (ep):
STEPHANIE SANTE
Shine
Sante Music (2007)
Guitarist Stephanie Sante continues her evolution away from her spacemusic/ambient roots toward something quite different with her new EP, Shine, as she heads deeper into the jazz fusion/electronica territory she first journeyed to on Coffee Culture (2005). What’s new here is a more pronounced chill-out attitude from Sante, something she appears to excel at, as this recording amply demonstrates. Steph’s guitar chops continue to impress me as does her ability to layer synth textures and programmed beats, both of which are also improved from Coffee Culture. On her CDBaby page, Sante cites jazz guitarist Kenny Burrell as an influence and her playing features some of the same subdued breeziness and good nature that Burrell is known for.
The title track gets the party started in outstanding style, with snappy cymbals, wood stick percussion, and thumping bass pounding a sexy beat while kalimba-like sampled notes play a nice sequence and Sante anchors it all with a combination of rhythm guitar and subtly stinging lead work. Those sampled kalimba notes and some twinkling bell tones steer this cut into chill-out bliss, although there is some tasty guitar jazz on hand as well. Anne McGlochlin contributes some pleasant (sparse) spoken word vocals to the track and they fit in nicely. “Missing Paris” slinks in as a slow-paced quasi-blues tune with trap kit rhythms, subdued electronic textures, and more Burrell-esque lead lines. “She Serves Love” opens with overt fusion guitar softly sighing, singing and crying against a backdrop of shuffling beats, accompanied by some mellow rhythm guitar chords. Sante tosses in some slinky vibrato now and then for good measure. “Reflections” features solid midtempo chill-out contemporary beats and some tasty synth washes over which the sparkling notes and clipped jazzy chords dance and sway. I particularly liked a cool refrain that occurs now and then on which Sante bends those notes just right with a touch of vibrato and echo. Ushered in by the sound of cymbals and muted “ping-ponging” synths as well as strings, “Lush” oozes sly sensuality in much the same way Richard Bone has done on albums like Coxa and Alternate Realities. The beats are more in the electronica/chill-out camp, but Sante’s lead guitar brings a jazzy vibe to the proceedings. The album closer, “Pagan Sunrise” starts off in a decidedly ambient vein with flowing washes and textures, gradually introducing world fusion rhythms (again reminiscent of Bone on his CDs such as Disorient). As the beat intensifies, Sante slowly folds in sustained leads enhanced with a tremolo effect and the track settles into a nice steady groove.
I’ve been on the Stephanie Sante bandwagon from the start (2000’s Into Light) and, as talented as she was making spacemusic and ambient music, I have to admit this new direction she’s headed in meets with my enthusiastic approval. Coffee Culture was a solid album, but Shine exceeds the expectations created by the former, and with considerable ease. Sante sounds more confident and self-assured as she extends her soloing and improvising on guitar, while also dialing up the quality of her samples, chill-out beats and melodic textures. Whether one labels this jazz fusion, chill-out, or just plain kick-ass tuneage, Shine is yet one more recording that illustrates the adage “Quality, not quantity.” At a tick under nine bucks at CDBaby, this qualifies as a steal of a buy. So, what’re ya waiting for? Highly recommended!
Bill Binkelman
New Age Reporter
Stephanie Sante graces us with some beautiful chilled grooves from her album "Shine". These are jazzy hypnotic late night grooves that you will not want to miss. Stephanie once again captures the very essence of "chill" with subtle melodies which seem to have been crafted on the tranquile shores of an exotic island. - DJ - Dub_Ninja : Subsonic Temple
Coffee Culture:
Gian Fiero Muse's Muse "Then I listened to it in its entirety while driving to the MTV Movie Awards in LA, and I was both sucked in and blown away - at the same time."
Bill Binkelman Wind and Wire "Stephanie Sante is back, folks, and making some of the best music I imagine I'll hear this year."
ALEJANDRO HINOJOSA - Amazing Sounds 2005 - Stephanie Sante shows in this CD a wide range of stylistic directions as well as a good dose of imagination. This is a magnificient work, where the artist proves that there are no stylistic barriers for creativity. She contributes her musical talent to achieve a fresh, emotive sonic journey. The style of the release flows along different avantgarde aspects of Ambient, New Instrumental Music, Atmospheric Pop, Jazz and World Music.
Inner Beauty:
Bill Binkelman Wind and Wire "Inner Beauty is her most accomplished masterpiece - mysterious, haunting, ethereal and, without a doubt to my ears, spacy and cosmic to the hilt."
Mick Garlick (Sequences Magazine) "Sante has made another beautiful contribution to Electronic Music deep within the realms of her soul, an experience for all to savour."
Immaculate Conceptions:
Jim Breinholts (Tracks Across the Universe) "Stephanie has built a monumental soundscape. The spirituality and reverence of her approach to her soundworlds give this disc massive appeal. This CD should score well with fans of space, ambient, new age and even classical music."
BEAR (New Age Sampler Radio Host) ".. Sante has once again crafted a panoramic aural landscape of pure enjoyment by employing her keen ear for layering electronic and acoustic instrumentation."
Into Light:
Jorge Munnshe (Amazing Sounds) "This album is a superb symphony full of melody and emotion, worked with the craftmanship of a genius."
Mick Garlick (Sequences) "Polished yet mysterious and impressionistic, a perfect album from start to end."
Kathryn Sargent (CD Revolutions) "..imagine traveling to the birthplace of stars while wrapped in the embrace love...imagine the warmth and wonder--Into Light."
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