St. Lucia (musician)

Jean-Philip Grobler (1983), known for his musical project St. Lucia, is a South African singer and musician based in Brooklyn. He is signed to Columbia Records and to date has released three albums; When the Night (2013), Matter (2016), and Hyperion (2018).

St. Lucia
St Lucia in 2014
Background information
Birth nameJean-Philip Grobler
Born1983
Johannesburg, South Africa
OriginBrooklyn, New York
GenresIndie electronic, synthpop
Years active2012–present
LabelsNeon Gold Records, Columbia Records
Websitestlucianewyork.com
Members
  • Jean-Philip Grobler
  • Ross Clark
  • Nick Paul
  • Dustin Kaufman
  • Patti Beranek

Early life

Grobler was born in Johannesburg and raised in South Africa. He spent much of his childhood singing in the Drakensberg Boys' Choir which travelled and performed internationally.[1][2]

Grobler started making music when he was 12 years old. He was inspired by Boyz II Men, Michael Jackson, Sting, and Phil Collins. He soon was experimenting with rock music; however, after 10 years, he got bored with it and got back to the 80s music influences from his childhood.[3] In 2013, when asked about his main musical influences, he noted Phil Collins, Fleetwood Mac (especially Tango in the Night), Radiohead (OK Computer), Mew (And the Glass Handed Kites), and Paul Simon (Graceland).[4] He has also cited Lionel Richie's album Dancing on the Ceiling as an influence.

Career

At the age of 19 Grobler left South Africa to study music in Liverpool, UK.[5] After studying music at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts in England for three years he moved to Brooklyn, NY.[1]There he worked for The Lodge, which helps with music licensing for films and television shows, while continuing to work on his own music.[6] When he was signed to Neon Gold Records in 2012, they re-released his self-titled EP he had previously released independently. Also, during the time, he featured vocals in The Knocks' single "Modern Hearts", which was released in 2013.[2] His debut full-length album, When the Night, was released in October 2013.

Live performances have included fellow musicians Nick Brown, Ross Clark, Dustin Kaufman, Nicky Paul and Patricia Beranek. Grobler has also remixed tracks for such bands as Passion Pit, Foster the People, The colourist and Charli XCX. He produced the debut album by HAERTS. Grobler also opened for Two Door Cinema Club during their 2013 tours. Grobler kicked off his St. Lucia 2014 nationwide tour in Philadelphia on 13 January 2014, and continued to tour across the US and Australia in the months following.

In early December 2014, St. Lucia played a special acoustic set at Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel, during which Grobler shared stories about his songs and performed the first live performance of "Call Me Up" and first acoustic rendition of "All Eyes on You."[7]

St. Lucia released the track "Dancing on Glass" in October 2015, and its music video in November 2015. The next single, "Physical", was released in December 2015. These two singles appear on the second studio album, Matter, released on 29 January 2016. A music video was then released for "Help Me Run Away," another song on the album, Matter, in June 2016. The album cover was designed by Jean-Philip Grobler and Patti Beranek from St. Lucia, along with Silas Adler from Soulland, the Danish men's fashion brand.[8]

In June 2018, St. Lucia released two singles, "A Brighter Love" and "Paradise is Waiting", off their third studio album, Hyperion. The next single, "Walking Away" was released in July 2018. Music videos for "A Brighter Love" and "Walking Away" were released in August 2018. Two more singles, "Bigger" and "Next to You", were released in September. The complete album Hyperion was released 21 September 2018.

In 2019, St. Lucia released its Acoustic Vol. 1 EP on April 26, 2019.[9]

Personal life

Grobler married Patricia (Patti) Beranek in 2012 after the two had dated for 10 years.[7]

They welcomed their first child, Indiana “Indy” Elliot Grobler, on 20 December 2017.

Band members
St. Lucia between sets at a performance at the Sixth & I Historic Synagogue in Washington, DC
  • Jean-Philip Grobler – vocals, guitars
  • Ross Clark – bass guitars
  • Nick Paul – keyboards, synthesizers
  • Dustin Kaufman – drums
  • Patti Beranek – keyboards, percussion, backing vocals

Discography

Studio albums
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
[10]		 US
Heat.
[11]
When the Night 191 6
Matter
  • Released: 29 January 2016
  • Label: Columbia
  • Format: CD, LP, digital download
 97 -
Hyperion
  • Released: 21 September 2018
  • Label: Columbia
  • Format: LP, digital download (no CD planned at this time)
 - -
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Extended plays
Title Album details
St. Lucia
  • Released: 6 March 2012[12]
  • Label: Neon Gold / Columbia
September
  • Released: 24 September 2012[13]
  • Label: Neon Gold / Columbia
A Brighter Love / Paradise is Waiting
  • Released: 22 June 2018[14]
  • Label: Columbia

Singles

As lead artist
Title Year Album
"Elevate" 2013 When the Night
"Dancing on Glass" 2015 Matter
"Physical"
"Love Somebody" 2016
"Help Me Run Away"
"Paradise Is Waiting" 2018 Hyperion
"Walking Away"
Title Year Album
"Sun Goes Down" (Icona Pop featuring The Knocks & St. Lucia) 2012 Icona Pop
"Modern Hearts" (The Knocks featuring St. Lucia) 2013 Non-album single
"Ready For It" (RAC featuring St. Lucia) 2014 Strangers
"The Beautiful Game" (RAC featuring St. Lucia) 2017 Ego
"Better days" (RAC featuring St. Lucia) 2020 Boy


Songwriting/Production Credits
Title Year Artist(s) Album Contributing Member(s) Credit(s) Written with: Produced with:
"Dancing with Myself" 2015 The Knocks 55 Ross Clark Co-writer Benjamin Ruttner, James Patterson, Michael Francis Gonzalez, Thomas Eickmann -
"I Wish (My Taylor Swift)"
(with Matthew Koma)		 Benjamin Ruttner, James Patterson, Matthew Bair -
"Kiss the Sky"
(featuring Wyclef Jean)		 2016 Benjamin Ruttner, James Patterson, Madeline Nelson, Wyclef Jean -
"The Key" Benjamin Ruttner, James Patterson, Phoebe Ryan -
"Love Me Like That"
(featuring Carly Rae Jepsen)		 Benjamin Ruttner, Carly Rae Jepsen, Christopher Paul Caswell, Hannah Robinson, James Patterson, Martina Sorbara, Richard Philips -
"Cinderella"
(featuring Magic Man)		 Benjamin Ruttner, James Patterson, Alexander Caplow, Sam Nelson Harris, Samuel Lee -
"My Girl"
(featuring Sasha Mari)		 Wyclef Jean Non-album single Wyclef Jean, Benjamin Ruttner, James Patterson, Madeline Nelson, Ivan Rosenburg, Phoebe Ryan -
"What Happened to Love"
(featuring LunchMoney Lewis)		 2017 The Carnival Vol. III: The Fall
& Rise of a Refugee		 Wyclef Jean, Benjamin Ruttner, James Patterson, Jacob Kasher Hindlin -
"Wings" 2018 Haerts Love, Simon: OST Jean-Philip Grobler Producer - Haerts
"The Way" New Compassion Co-writer/Producer Nini Fabi, Benjamin Gebert Haerts
"New Compassion" Nini Fabi, Benjamin Gebert Haerts
"Limo" The Knocks New York Narcotic Benjamin Ruttner, James Patterson The Knocks
"Wizard of Bushwick"
(featuring Sir Sly)		 Ross Clark Co-writer Benjamin Ruttner, James Patterson, Landon Jacobs -
"Mad Love" 2019 Blu Detiger TBA Blu DeTiger, Janee Bennett, Benjamin Ruttner, James Patterson -
gollark: Or you can make it directly use APIONET.
gollark: PRs to ABR welcome.
gollark: (For us)
gollark: How non-spammy*!
gollark: I think so subject to some constraints.

References
  1. Kot, Greg (23 January 2014). "St. Lucia interview; Jean-Philip Grobler interviewed". tribunedigital-chicagotribune. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  2. Cragg, Michael (9 May 2012). "New music: St Lucia – Before the Dive". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  3. Van Nguyen, Dean (27 April 2012). "St. Lucia. Unashamedly pop". Retrieved 13 March 2014.
  4. Hampp, Andrew (17 October 2013). "Gimme Five: St. Lucia's Biggest Musical Influences". Billboard. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  5. Mendes, Nelson. "[Interview] We chat to Jean-Phillip Grobler of St. Lucia –". mixedapples.co.za. Mixed Apples. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  6. Usinger, Mike (31 January 2013). "St. Lucia's meticulous Jean-Philip Grobler takes his time". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  7. Bedian, Knar. "Sharing Stories and Songs: St. Lucia". Sound of Boston.
  8. https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/02/st-lucia-the-heart-of-the-matter.html
  9. http://www.sfweekly.com/music/indy-rockers-st-lucia-have-gone-acoustic/
  10. "St. Lucia Album & Song Chart History". Billboard 200 for St. Lucia. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  11. "St. Lucia Album & Song Chart History". Billboard Top Heatseekers Albums for St. Lucia. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  12. "St. Lucia – EP by St. Lucia". iTunes (US). Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  13. "September – EP by St. Lucia". iTunes (US). Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  14. "A Brighter Love / Paradise is Waiting EP by St. Lucia". iTunes (US). Retrieved 20 July 2018.

[1]

  1. https://www.sfgate.com/music/popquiz/article/St-Lucia-s-Jean-Philip-Grobler-doesn-t-hold-6851804.php
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