Jean-Philip Grobler rejects the idea that he is a synth-pop artist, citing his equal use of electronic and non-electronic instrumentation to support the claim. There are prominent piano chords, wandering guitar riffs and the odd sax solo littered throughout his sound, but with programmed beats providing the heartbeat and earthly synths bringing the soul, the NYC based South African – who releases music under the moniker St. Lucia – does create instrumentals of great electronic beauty. The comparisons to Temper Trap and Empire of the Sun are appropriate, but to my ear, Peter Gabriel is the most fitting comparison. A wonderful thing, I’m sure you’ll agree. St. Lucia is heading towards an important couple of weeks, with a show at Terminal 5 opening for The Shins and then a European tour which will take him to the UK and Paris. – Read Dean Van Nguyen interview with St. Lucia here.
