St Lucia

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The 2012 Line-up

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Even in the urban wilds of Brooklyn, there may be no one else like Jean-

Philip Grobler, aka St. Lucia. Originally from Johannesberg, St. Lucia grew up

performing with the Drakensberg Boys Choir School. When the choir wasn't

traveling - they toured Japan, Australia, Europe and more - they stayed in an

enclave tucked in the South African mountains, learning everything from Bach to

minimalist opera.

A young musician could hardly find better training. But musically, St Lucia's

heart lay elsewhere, and South Africa was full of other rhythms. "My mom says I

used to sing along to Michael Jackson," he says - an ordinary anecdote, until he

adds, "when I was an infant." As a young teenager, he started to feel that he'd

had his fill of classical, and it felt like an epiphany when he discovered the direct

emotionality of pop. Eventually, he left the creative "small pond" of South Africa

for England, where he spent three years studying music in Liverpool.

St. Lucia's journey ended - as so many journeys do - in New York City, where he

started working on the tracks that would ultimately turn into his self titled debut

release on Neon Gold. The atmospheric quality of St. Lucia's electronic pop

is powerful, with the musician's global travels and history of secret hideaways

effortlessly passed onto the audience through his dreamy, shimmering synths.

Neon Gold will release St Lucia's debut album later this year. Formerly a singles-

only label that launched releases Passion Pit, Ellie Goulding, The Naked &

Famous and helped launch the careers of countless others.

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