Animal Collective/Panda Bear Producer Rusty Santos Debuts The Present

LOS ANGELES (Top40 Charts/ LOAF Recordings) - The Present is the new music project of legendary New York musician and producer Rusty Santos (Panda Bear Person Pitch, Born Ruffians Red Yellow & Blue, Animal Collective Sung Tongs). Described by one band who worked with him as a hyper boy genius, Rusty has always fixed his attention on producing music that is experimentally rich whilst remaining accessible. By attempting to create music that arises unconsciously through improvisation, The Present's debut album, World I See, set for release in the US on LOAF Recordings (The Chap, Johan Agebjorn/Sally Shapiro, Black Devil Disco Club) hauls this ethos over its shoulders as it tramples on musical boundaries and preconceptions, whilst leaving an album that is still capable of relating musically and emotionally to a wide audience. The album comes complete with artwork by the incredibly talented Alex Kuo, https://www.charlierose.com/guests/andrew-kuo

After many years and variant modes of collaboration, Rusty formed together with Jesse Lee and Mina, who bring a plethora of extra dimensions to the sound of The Present. Mina's background in classical piano and the love of Japanese traditional songs meets at intense and imaginative levels with the expressive attitude of the band, whilst the long standing musical partnership between Jesse and Rusty, which began when they were in high school together, provides the cemented sound giving the songs one voice and the band the sound of a single instrument. Though the instruments on World I See aren't necessarily new (the basic elements are piano, guitar and drums), guided by intuition the band attempt to make timeless music by using the most minimalist methods in innovative new ways. The result of capturing and developing these sounds is the beautifully elegant yet emotionally powerful sound of The Present.

"This record is pure instinct with no attention paid to belonging. It is raw intellect and emotion. The Present is indeed both GIFT and NOW. Open you ears and your mind will follow. God Bless this record for teaching me that." - Brian Degraw, Gang Gang Dance