Wow.

Earlier today, T (The New York Times style magazine) premiered the album art for Santigold‘s upcoming sophomore record Master of My Make-Believe on their blog. The gorgeous photograph was shot by Jason Schmidt and inspired by 18th century painter Joshua Reynolds‘ “Portrait of an Officer.” For further details, head to T.

Sort of makes every other album cover released in the past year look like child’s (Photoshop) play, no?

Santi’s (amazing) new single, “Disparate Youth,” was released earlier this month, along with “Big Mouth” back in January.

Master Of My Make-Believe will be released on May 1. (iTunes)

Santigold‘s coming strong for her sophomore record.

After premiering the M.I.A.-esque banga “Big Mouth” back in January, the Philly-born singer-songwriter/MC (short for musical chameleon, not master of ceremonies–don’t get it twisted) is hitting even harder with “Disparate Youth,” the ridiculously replayable new single off of her forthcoming album, Master Of My Make-Believe.

Floating atop a very Santigold friendly reggae-infused hip-hop beat (see: “Shove It”), Santi gets sassy against earnestly tripping beats, putting her hands up in defiance while keeping her head held high. It’s like a sort of post-Occupy Wall Street anthem of disillusionment, playing as equally outraged as it is inspired.

“So let them say we can’t do better/Lay out the rules that we can’t break,” she cries out before a jagged Yeah Yeah Yeahs-esque guitar lick comes piercing into the speakers. Interesting, given that she’s worked with YYY’s guitarist Nick Zinner on this upcoming record. Coincidence? Me thinks not!

The song is seriously sick–an absolute must! Consider my excitement for the record officially intensified times ten.

We know that we want more, a life worth fighting for…

“Disparate Youth” will be released on February 21. (iTunes)

What’s that you say? Yup, Santi’s back!

Kicking off the promotion for her upcoming album with a bang (and a whole lot of dizzying doodle effects!), Santigold has just unleashed her “Big Mouth,” the first song and video from her long-awaited sophomore follow-up, Master Of My Make-Believe.

Produced by Switch & Portuguese electro-dance outfit Buraka Som Sistema, “Big Mouth” is pumped full of tribal drums, frantic electro bleeps and Kuduro rhythms, giving off big M.I.A. and Major Lazer vibes. (No surprises there–Major Lazer is the collaboration between Switch & Diplo, and M.I.A.’s worked with Buraka Som Sistema in the past.) As a result, you might even hear some of Beyonce‘s “Run The World (Girls)” and Nicola Roberts‘ “Beat Of My Drum” thrown in too!

“Got a big mouth, big mouth…you said enough!” Santi snaps during the maddeningly manic track, recalling the healthy helpng of sass delivered on Santigold‘s “Shove It.”

We already know that Santi’s a genre-hopping chameleon, so it’s difficult to make any real predictions about the sound of the new album just yet. But so far, it sounds like Make-Believe‘s going to be one mayjah dance party!

Liking what you hear? Well, good: She’s giving away for free on her official website. (iTunes)

The official line-up for the 2012 Coachella Festival–a strange world where hipsters, hip-hop enthusiasts, ravers and wandering Burning Man attendees, join for one magical celebration–has just been announced.

The two week line-up includes some majorly MuuMuse Approved acts, including Swedish House Mafia, Florence + The Machine, Avicii, Morgan Page, M83, Kaskade, Afrojack, Miike Snow, Santigold and many, many more.

Will you be heading to Coachella Valley for this year’s festival? Who knows…I just may show up twirling in the crowd!

Santigold first burst into the scene with her brilliant 2008 genre-bending debut Santogold (pre-name change, of course), featuring killer cuts like “L.E.S. Artistes” and “Lights Out” that quickly won her comparisons to acts ranging from M.I.A. to The Gossip.

While she’s busied herself in between 2008 and now–including collaborating with N.A.S.A. and Basement Jaxx and penning “Monday Morning” and “Bobblehead” for Queen Legendtina‘s Bionic–fans have remained hungry for her long delayed, highly anticipated follow-up.

In a new interview this month with V Magazine, the Philly-bred musician revealed new details about her upcoming sophomore attempt now due out in 2012, called Master of My Make-Believe, which was been recorded with Greg Kurstin, Switch, TV On The Radio‘s Dive Sitek and Nick Zanner of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Two choice quotes from the article:

How do you go about songwriting?

I write to the music. The lyrics came slowly on this record.

Why do you think that was?

It was about learning to trust myself. I also had expectations. Never have those! Everyone I worked with before was in a different headspace. I had to get past that. That’s why I started writing with Nick, and it started being cool and fun.

So was that the turning point?

That was when it was like, I just want to work with who I want. We recorded in Jamaica for a little while and finally some lyrics started to come to me. I think that time really colored the record.

No one wants to be real anymore. Wikipedia is always wrong. No one fact checks and it’s not even a priority. Reality TV is more popular than ever, and it’s the fakest thing ever. Where is there place for truth in all of that? My record is called Master of My Make-Believe because I want it to be about creating your own reality. I have a song called “The Keepers”: “we’re the keepers, while we sleep in America our house is burning down.” It’s about how if we accept this then that’s what it is. We’ve got to fix it.

Is that, in your opinion, the overall feeling of the record?

I connect with music that makes me feel alive, or a sense of possibility. Music is powerful. If I go out and I’m watching a show and it’s really good, all I want to do is go home and work on music. It’s a backhanded motivation when something is really good. I want my music to be that for people. I want it to be an initiator of something compelling, to set something in motion.

Make sure to check out the full article at V.

Kurstin, Switch and some Yeah Yeah Yeahs flavor to boot? Yes, yes and yes, PLEASE!

Frankly, it’s about time. While Santogold still sounds more fresh and innovative than most of the albums released in 2011, we’re in desperate need for Santi to switch up the game once again. For now, let’s go out with one of my favorite cuts off of her debut: “Shove It.”

We think you’re a joke, shove your hope where it don’t shine! (Not you, Santi!)

Master of My Make-Believe will be released in 2012. (iTunes)