SAINTÉ IS CREATING HIS OWN BLUEPRINTS

His much-anticipated, critically acclaimed debut mixtape, “Still Local”, encapsulates this rich tapestry of musical exploration, taking listeners on a serene journey through his brave and unique musical universe. Upon meeting Sainté for the first time, it’s immediately clear the music is very much a direct reflection of the man himself, where he greets you with the same warmth and charisma that laces his musical output.

As we commence our interview, the predictable British weather makes an attempt to ruin our outdoor shoot, rain beating down and grey skies looming over us. Sainté, however, is completely unphased — smiling, relaxed, positive are just a few of the ways you could describe the rapper’s charismatic demeanour, much like holding a mirror up to the music he creates. Not only was Sainté’s positivity in stark contrast to the weather, but his outfit also served as a visual metaphor, with the artist donning a bright yellow Stone Island knit from the early noughties.  

Ahead of his performance at The Vinyl Factory celebrating the launch of New Balance and Stone Island’s 574 Legacy, SneakersbeShops caught up with the rising Leicester rapper to delve deep into his creative universe, touching upon everything from creating his own blueprints to his lifelong love of fashion.

Your debut full-length mixtape, “Still Local”, represented a celebration of your home city Leicester, both through the metaphorical title itself and the cover shot by Simon Wheatley of you and your close circle. How important is it for you to still pay homage to your roots like this, despite your continuous growth and global recognition?

Think of it like this: a tree couldn’t credit anything else but its own roots for growth. For me, my hometown is so important, as it’s played such a huge part in me becoming who I am now as an artist — having that underdog mentality. Even as a small child and having that big vision and mindset, it will forever be important to me. My kids — my kids’ kids, even —they’re all going to know about Leicester.

Your sound is something that really cuts through in contemporary UK rap, the production and lyricism rooted in really pushing boundaries and experimenting sonically. “Still Local” is the perfect embodiment of that, offering a rich fusion of global sounds. What is it about this musical approach, of constantly looking to evolve and branch out sonically, that drives your creativity? 

It's life. Life is never the same. Every year is different. For me, I feel like there are definitely blueprints to follow in music — and, of course, no hate to anyone that does follow one — but there are no blueprints set out for me, I need to create my own. I never planned to do music, so me going into that, I’m going to set my own. For me, I feel like you’re always figuring yourself out, no one’s ever found or figured it out completely. I love experimenting and nobody can tell me what to do. I do music for the sake of loving music, I don’t do it for the sake of anything else, like being the most popular or the coolest, so the experimentation part is inevitable from me being true to myself.

Your sound has long represented a fusion of US rap sensibilities — particularly the warm haze of West Coast-inspired production — and your own distinctive UK sound. What is it about this fusion that resonates with you?

I feel like it’s just unique. For me, the balance of those two sounds, or whatever sounds some people might hear, are a direct reflection of my personality. I’d be lying if I said I listened to strictly UK music, or strictly just US, so what I listen to you tend to hear that coming out in my music. Again, having my identity and not losing myself is key. If you know Sainté and you hear a song, you’ll know it’s a Sainté song, so it’s working.  

“Still Local” also saw you bring together a slew of talent both from across the pond and homegrown, with collaborative tracks alongside Potter Payper, Lil Silva, Draft Day and Chow Lee. How does it feel to be able to shine a spotlight on up-and-coming artists, both locally and globally, with your work?

It’s definitely fun being able to bring a new audience to an artist I’m collaborating with. To be honest, whoever I have features with, most of the time I’ve always been a fan of that person. Like working with Potter Payper and him being one of the GOATs of the UK scene, I was even like “how? This is actually crazy”. But for me, it’s just amazing the fact that I can bring new ears to new artists. I feel like we’re all kind of A&Rs in life, you know? If you know how to say why you like or don’t like a song, there’s elements of A&R in there. For me, I definitely feel like I have that connection with my audience, as I feel like I naturally attract people that are like myself. That’s what I’m trying to do, rather than make people like me. If I do my own thing, people that are into the same things will naturally gravitate towards that.

Classic cars play a big part in your musical output, with references woven throughout lyrics and also at the forefront of visuals, from a selection of classic BMWs in videos to the cover of “Still Local” featuring a Mercedes E Class W124 estate. What is it about vintage cars that you connect with and how did this love first come about?

With cars — and I don’t want people to get this mixed up with being materialistic — but I’ve been into them before I could even drive. You can always look at a car and relate to one, you know, or see something and think “that car kind of has my personality, it purrs”. But connecting it to fashion and colourways, I just love seeing cars in different colours. It’s so important to me, I’m a huge car person, and now I can drive, it’s just added to the love for it.  

Fashion plays a huge part of your identity, often referenced in lyrics and obviously through your own unique, expressive styling. Has fashion always played a big role in your life? How does the wider landscape of fashion inspire your creative output? 

Again, just like cars, I’ve had a love of fashion even before I could afford the fashion I was into. Shout out to my mum though, who used to dress me when I was a kid. Even though I might not have liked all the outfits at the time, it definitely gave me the drive to then want to dress myself. I feel like it’s just expression, again. I get dressed depending on my mood, so like today, I’m wearing yellow, I’m happy, the sky might be grey but I’m smiling. It’s always been important, for example say when you were at school, there might have been another kid who had a spider man, batman or iron man t shirt, and you would see how that kid would move when they were dressing in a way that was themselves, you could see the serotonin with this type of dressing. I find myself navigating through the different phases of my life, but every phase, I’ve never actually left it fully behind, I’ve kind of kept it all in my arsenal.

Obviously, we’re here to celebrate the launch of Stone Island and New Balance’s 574 Legacy, a sneaker very much inspired by the illustrious archives of Stone Island. You yourself have a deep appreciation for Stone Island and its heritage – the cover of your latest project you’re wearing an Opaque Nylon Tela Down Jacket from 2006, for instance. What is it about the archival codes of Stone Island that really resonate with you?

It's the personality that the clothes carry. For me, I have a bunch of books based on the times before I was of an age where I could be flexing how people flex, but I just love seeing how people used to dress and looking back on fashion history. I also just think it’s a flex wearing something that’s older than me. I just have a natural and organic love of archival clothing, and again, I guess the environment I’m in and the people I’m around inspires me — like my uncle and my aunties, who love to collect stuff. Now I look at stuff and I’m like, “Oh, that person had that in ’08, ’05, ’01 — I need that”.

Similarly, New Balance also represents another brand you’re heavily affiliated with. What is it about New Balance sneakers that pair effortlessly with the styling of Sainté?

You know, for me, I definitely feel like they're understated, chill, natural and luxury – all of those things in one. I’m flexing Stone Island with New Balances right now, and you know, I feel like with most high-end brands they might look cool, but they aren’t nearly as comfortable. Seeing Stone Island and New Balance together again, seeing how they reference colour palettes from the actual archives and incorporate that into the shoe, it’s cool man.