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New Music from Industry Veterans 43 TheSouthShoreMagazine.com Santo's face plastered on CDs at your local Newbury Comics, but look a little deeper and you'll find that some of their top sellers all have his name deep in the liner notes. With production and recording credits for artists, ranging from Aerosmith, Joe Perry, David Gilmore, Eric Clapton and Kid Rock, Santo has a skill set that is often overlooked in the music industry. That skill set is the skill to do it all. He has the know- how to write, engineer, produce, record and package music in both live and recorded environments. He composed for some of television's most revered stations, including The Discovery Channel, The History Channel, Lifetime and many more. I've had the wonderful opportunity to chat at some length with Santo about his process and how he found himself in this position. At the core, Santo is a true artist with a genuine and creative spirit. No career like his could start any other way, except with a deep interest and willingness to explore every corner of the industry. His creative talents, combined with his overwhelming interests have led Santo to become one of the top advisors that you've never heard of to some of the biggest names in music history…a claim that he is all too modest about. Santo's honesty and integrity have become a valued asset to those around him. With decades of experience, he is shifting his attention to artists looking to build their careers into something sustainable - with an emphasis on longevity - and is greatly looking forward to the next chapter in his creative life, offering his services to those looking to take their career to the next level. A Weymouth native who currently resides in Marshfield, Santo has been the glue that has helped keep some of the world's finest acts together after decades in one of the most challenging businesses. Oh yeah, and what about Santo as a musical talent? Well, let's just say that he wouldn't be in the position he's in if he didn't have chops. Lots of them! See what he is up to at www.PaulSanto.com. Last, but not least, I'd like to talk about Steve Smith, who is a founding member of the Grammy Winning EDM, group Dirty Vegas. Smith is partly responsible for bringing the EDM genre to the forefront of popular music, with his smash hit, "Days Go By." Over the years, and even with the downfall of the old music industry model, Smith has found ways to adapt and overcome the challenges that face artists of his level. This is something that not all artists have been able to accomplish. Smith's ability to do so is not only a testament to his talent, but to his passion and savvy as well. While Smith still occasionally tours with Dirty Vegas, he has made it a point to implant himself firmly in the local music scene, serving as an integral part of The Aldous Collins Band, while also working hard to build his own name as well. Smith recently released a solo EP, entitled "Union," in February and is currently promoting his single, "My Favourite Shoes." Smith is a master at pop songwriting and utilizing his resources diligently vets his own creativity as well as the team with whom he surrounds himself. "My Favourite Shoes" is once again proof of this. The music is beautifully produced, thought-provoking and laced with hooks that drive effortlessly forward to a finely tuned array of electronic grooves. The music video for "My Favourite Shoes" is equally impressive and thought- provoking, featuring elegant and beautifully filmed imagery. The remaining three songs of "Union" are all filled with EDM pop goodness. "Lover Let me In" features a wonderful juxtaposition of smooth synths and brash reeds, while Smith states that "I just want to be your lover, I just want to be your friend;" a simple statement with a universal point of relation. "Happy" has a downtempo quality similar to that of some L.T.J. Bukem recordings. The EP closes out with "History," an instrumental ode to the core of his genre, with track building qualities similar to that of Thievery Corporation. Whether producing hit EDM tracks or alone with an acoustic guitar, Smith is at the top of his game. Visit www.SteveSmithMusic.com for more! Once again, thanks for reading "The Beat" in South Shore Magazine! Looking to check out some live music this summer on the South Shore? Pay a visit to these great local spots: Hull's Kitchen, The Next Page, Mr. Dooley's, Tinker's Son, Levitate Music Festival, Arrow, The Spire Center, The Snug or The Rivershed. All of them feature the best local and regional talent!