Emerging hip-hop artist, Saint Tatum shines light on his truth in his latest EP, Are You Awake Yet. The young rapper seeks connection with listeners by telling his stories authentically—and set to a solid beat.
Hailing from eastern Canada and raised across multiple households, Saint Tatum is a bold storyteller eager to share his stories with the world. At only 16 years old, he is on track to continue developing his unique sound as he puts out EP after EP.
Even when he’s at school, Saint Tatum is thinking up his next hit. “During free time, I’m trying to find my next beat and write my lyrics to that beat. I don’t really stop at school. I just like doing music.”
“I want to spread my love and all good intentions as other artists have done for me,” adds Saint Tatum, who is set on creating a style uniquely his own. He finds inspiration in hip hop, particularly mumble rap, but his homegrown sound infuses a variety of styles.
Saint Tatum has loved music for as long as he can remember; the confidence to make his own, however, took time to develop. “I never thought I had talent because I didn’t like my voice. But then I came to a point where I realized that everyone has their own voice and a different way to tell stories. You’ve just got to find it.”
When it comes to crafting his songs, Saint Tatum always starts with the beat. “I don’t write unless I hear the melody,” shares Saint Tatum. “It comes from my heart—it’s authentic. I have inspirations but I try and sound the furthest away from them and more of what I sound like—more like myself.”
Currently, he produces his music from a home studio. Working with a MacBook and Focusrite Scarlett Interface, Saint Tatum captures his sound and produces each track. As for software, he prefers BandLab because of one effect he loves using time and time again.
Saint Tatum’s new EP, Are You Awake Yet, contains six self-produced tracks. “I think they have their own sound. They’re similar, but not all have the same vibe—there’s different emotions to them.”
The first two tracks, “The Mirage” and “Love It Like That” have what Saint Tatum calls a “more nonchalant vibe.” “The Spot” explores a more psychedelic sound, leaning on vocal effects to set it apart. “Abominal” returns to the “nonchalant” chill of earlier tracks.
Saint Tatum’s favorite track of the bunch, “Don’t Ask Me Why,” is based off pure emotion. “I layered my voice with a negative state of mind. Every time I listen to it, I can feel it,” explains the artist.
In terms of sound, “Pretty Boy Life” shares a similar beat with “The Mirage” and “Love It Like That,” which has become a fan favorite. Overall, Saint Tatum’s voice and musicality ring true across all tracks.
“I want listeners to feel connected when they listen to my songs,” tells Saint Tatum. “When I listen to songs, it’s like some artists are explaining your life. They’re relatable. I want that relatability. Not everyone will feel that way, but certain people will see we’re the same.”
Ultimately, Saint Tatum wants listeners to know he’s made a community for them. “Feel free to check it out and see if it’s a space you resonate with,” he adds. “You can’t know about me unless you want to find out what the space is like.”
Make sure to stay connected to Saint Tatum on all platforms for new music, videos, and social posts.