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SANTIGOLD IS INTO MONSTER TRUCKS AND POLO

Santi White, aka Santigold, is real nice. So nice that she took a quick minute out of her busy Thanksgiving Day planning to chat with us a little bit about polo (yes, that team sport played on horseback) and about being good at learning stuff in general. Thanks Santi!

Vice: Where are you right now Santi?

Santigold: In the supermarket shopping for groceries for Thanksgiving.

Fun! How's your progress toward becoming a professional polo player going?

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Ha. I've made some progress. I mean, I made a lot of progress considering I had never done it before and I didn't really know much about the game or what you needed to do to be good at it. So in that sense, by learning what I'm not good at I made a lot of progress, you know?

When was the last time you were on a horse before this polo project?

It's been less than a year—actually only a couple of months. I went horseback riding in the Philippines in May.

How exotic. Are you addicted to it now? Will you be leaving music behind anytime soon?

No. That will never happen. I'm not good enough. To be honest, I already found a place that gives horseback riding lessons and I'm going to go and take lessons. I've identified my weakness and it's my riding skills. I need to able too at least cancel a gallop in the indoor polo. In outdoor polo the whole speed of the game is gallop, so I'm really far behind on my riding skills.

Oh, you can't be that bad. Rumor around the stables is that you scored a goal.

Yeah, I did. I think they kind of cleared away for me to make that goal. They were being very nice.

What was is like meeting a former pro player?

He was so nice. Paul was great. He was really classy, cool, and patient. He's also a horse vet, which I thought was interesting.

He's British, right?

He's from Zimbabwe.

Oh, not even close. You chose polo, what would have been your second choice?

Another option was a monster truck derby. I was really excited about that. I love the idea. It sounds really fun.

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Two rough sports with potential danger luring under the surface. Did Paul tell you about common injuries in polo?

I didn't ask. I don't think I wanted to know.

You've said you write songs about your life experiences. Will you be writing a song about polo?

I can't say no but I don't have any plans to.

So there's nothing on paper yet?

No. It's not on my bright ideas list yet.

I think you should do it. What is your favorite thing about horses?

I don't know. I just love them. I have a fascination with a lot of animals anyway. I think they're beautiful and that's probably the number one thing that drives me to them. A horse is classy and graceful and keeps its composure. They're also kind of mysterious. You can't really read their faces and expressions.

That's because nothing is going on behind their eyes. They have really small brains.

Don't say that. I don't believe it.

I do.

Maybe it's a fact. I just like them. They are so pretty and strong.

Maybe you should start entering the stage on a horse.

If we get a bigger show budget it might happen one day.

Are there any skills from your artistic life that transfer to polo?

Courage. Ha.

Determination.

Ha. Determination. Endurance… since my stage show is kind of vigorous and riding is a bit hard.

You're obviously into fashion. How did you like the polo outfit?

I loved it. I was so excited! They gave me the whole outfit with pants and blazer and all. I ended up being totally overdressed. None of the other players were wearing it so I was the worst player in the most professional outfit. The guy made me take my blazer off. He was like, "I don't think you need that."

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The helmet looks cool.

Yeah. The helmet was great. It's just such a beautiful looking game, the horses and the gear. It's just really pretty.

You've talked about creative hats before. Is the polo hat formula or art? And what about the game of polo?

Art for sure.

You think so?

OK. It doesn't fit into either one. It's definitely not formula. It's different. There is a proper form of riding. It's sports art. It's definitely a talent you have to master. I don't know if I can say that it's an art. It's not like skateboarding where every skater has his total different style. I can more easily say that skateboarding is an art than I can say polo is an art.

Polo is not too street these days.

Ha ha. No. It's not like everybody is showing up in the newest polo outfit.

It's definitely something else. It's not super popular among the kids, is it?

No and it's supposedly very expensive too. If you really want to play you have to buy a lot of different horses because you switch out your horse five times a game or something like that. They get really tired.

That's why it's mainly the blue bloods that play.

Yeah, but it would be kind of cool if I could get all my friends to play polo.

Like head over to Prospect Park and have a match.

That would be amazing, but for now I'll just settle for being a great horseback rider.

Do you own a horse?

No. Actually my dad had two horses when I grew up. They got them when I was a teenager and by the time they got them I was allergic.

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You're allergic to horses?

Yeah. I'm actually allergic to them.

So you take medication?

Yeah. I take Claritin now. I just found out about Claritin a year and a half ago when I did my L.E.S Artistes video. It works for me but prior to that the only thing was Benadryl and I hate Benadryl. It makes me feel so tired and sick so I stopped riding horses when I got allergic. But now that I can ride horses again I will. I'm kind of bummed that I missed on the whole time my family had horses.

Yeah. What were the two horses called?

I don't even know. I seriously couldn't even go to the stable. I went there one time and I waited in the car and I got hives… just from being in the car.

You got high?

I got hives.

OK, OK.

Ha ha. Yeah. I couldn't even go near.

Are you allergic to other animals?

I'm allergic to cats but I'm not allergic to dogs.

That's good. I was looking at that big black stallion in the your L.E.S. video earlier and I thought it was dead.

Ha ha. No. That was a pretty serious horse too. It got mad and started bucking on the set.

It looked like it had been in the hands of a taxidermist.

It was real and totally alive.

It only moved its ears a little bit and that could easily have been done in some animation program.

It was moving around a lot and it was freezing out too that day. It wasn't very happy with that horse but it was so beautiful and I was so excited to be on it.

Are you never scared on a horse?

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I'm not.

I'm reminding you; it's a very strong animal with a very small brain. You have got to fear that.

I know, but I'm not going to be scared of horses. I don't know why. I've only been a little scared once or twice and that was when I didn't know what I was doing and that's why I want to take lessons.

I got thrown off a horse once and was hospitalized for a week. That's probably why I dislike horses in general.

That happened to my father as well.

I just wanted a photo on the horse. It didn't have a saddle on, Indian style, and then it just took off with me on it. It was heading for traffic so I had to slide down the back and hit the asphalt.

Ohh. That wasn't very smart. It's like jumping in the ocean with no swimming skills. You have to be safe around horses. You've got to know what you are dealing with.

Right. I'm scared for life though.

They say when something like that happens you're supposed to get right back on.

I know. Had it been a car crash, sure, but I can live without horses. Let me ask you something else. How long does it take for you to write a song?

It can take anywhere from half an hour to four months.

Do you start with lyrics or music?

Usually I start with music and then lyrics. On occasion I will start with lyrics.

What's hardest: polo or singing?

I just depends on what skills you have.

Are you a fast learner in general?

I think I am. But there are limitations. My arm in polo wasn't strong enough.

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What thing in the whole world would you like to learn the most?

In the whole world?

Yeah. You are in the Matrix and I'm plugging that cable in the back of your head.

Oh my gosh. I want to learn some Kung Fu. I want to learn Wing Chung. I want to be a master.

See the "Heroes" project on Vodafone360 for more Santi.