Rusty Santos is a New York based musician who is largely known for his production work with Animal Collective.

He released an album last year entitled The Heavens for the newish UUAR (Uunited Acoustic Recordings) label, and is soon to release a new double A-side single A Up High / Beloved Below.

As well as recording for a proposed new album, he has recently returned from a Japanese tour with Ariel Pink.

Hi Rusty, how are things?

Things are alright. Summer's in full effect now. The humidity makes work more difficult right now, except early morning / late night. Those times are good.

You are about to release your new single A Up High / Beloved Below, can you tell us a bit about it?

They're meant to be listened to in the summer. Both songs feature this heavy bass sample. A Up High is my first green track lyrically. Beloved Below is about seeing your ex/lover on a subway with another man.

Your last album The Heavens was strictly acoustic, yet the new single is radically different, what made you change direction?

The sounds on the 7" are very different from the sounds I made on The Heavens but my music direction hasn't changed that drastically. My mood was lighter
during that period and the space I'm in is darker right now.

Is this the kind of music we can expect with your next album, or will you constantly be evolving and experimenting?

This kind of sound is a big part of the next album but in a minority of the tracks. The majority of the songs are based more on guitar but there's a common thread in that everything is electric.

When do you think the new album will be out?

November / December

You are largely know for your production work with Animal Collective, do you ever worry your own music may be overlooked as a result of this?

I don't think so. They've helped me a great deal.

Speaking of Animal Collective, what was it like recording the Prospect Hummer sessions with folk legend Vashti Bunyan?

That was a good experience. We were in London. There was no stress but we worked rather fast. I had listened to 2 of the 3 songs Vashti sang on before as Avey and Panda songs. Her vocals made me think deeper about the lyrics. She made the songs very personal. Her singing is very sincere.

If you could collaborate with, or produce any current bands / artists who would it be?

I've been happy working with the people I've met in New York. Recently I got to mix/edit this collaborative live performance between EYE & Hisham Bharoocha.
I'm a big Boredoms fan, that was pretty awesome. I've also had this crazy idea before that I want to produce a Sean Lennon album but with fiercely anti-conventional music arrangements.

As a producer, if you could reproduce any album or release ever made in your own style, what would you like to get your hands on and what would you do with the project?

I'd like to do one of those Kompakt remixes. I'm a fan of their releases. Wolfgang Voigt.

You're also a key part of UUAR which is really beginning to establish itself as an exciting new label, what has it got planned for the future?

This is what we have planned:

- A CD release of the recording I mentioned of the EYE / Hisham collaboration recorded live at Trees Are So Special gallery in Japan. The band name is still
unannounced as well as the release details.
- A 7" 45rpm by Panda Bear. 2 new tracks due out this fall.
- A new Rusty Santos album due out Nov / Dec.
- An O Spirits full length due out early 2006.

You are friends with Noah Lennox (Panda Bear) and he mentioned you guys have a band called Together, how would you describe your music?

We've only had one performance which was at a fashion show for United Bamboo. The music was super melodic and lush made with a delayed acoustic guitar and effected singing.

Can we expect any recorded material from Together?

Right now there's only the tape of that show. Maybe someday.

You recently toured Japan with Ariel Pink, what did you make of the country itself and how do you feel your music went down over there?

The best part was playing with Ariel. The audiences there were also really cool, very respectful, no sound until the final noise fades out. I hope it went down alright, they were some of the best shows I've played. It was my third visit back in recent years (I lived there for a span when I was kid) and every time I learn more about Japanese people. It was really good to finally go perform there.

Do you enjoying playing live and do you have any future shows planned soon? Hopefully you'll be coming to the UK...

I do enjoy playing live although it's a challenge. I'm only one person and when I used to perform it was in bands. Sometimes a friend will collaborate on a set and that will be cool, other times it's better to go it alone. I have show in three days at Tonic. That will be by myself, it's Momus's bill. No UK shows planned yet.

And lastly, who would you say are the main musicians who inspired you to start making music yourself?

I always learned so much from my friends. I started writing songs when I was like 14 listening to records by Fugazi, Bob Marley, and The Cure. About 5 years ago I made a turning point when I began to recording. At that time I was exposed to a much broader range of electronic music and was also inspired by the
productions of CAN, Bowie - Low/Heroes, Quincy Jones, Kompakt Records, and Coxon Dodd.

Thanks for your time, take care

Thank you for listening.