Bask in the warm, clean-cut compositions of Saint Guel in ‘Closer EP’

Miguel Santiago aka Saint Guel has just dropped ‘Closer EP’ on December 8 2022, partnering with FuFu Records for its release.

This marks the third time the Filipino producer has worked with the Hong Kong label, the previous times being for their ‘88 – Double Happiness’ compilations, volumes two and seven. The latter, released in October this year, saw Saint Guel contribute his warm and warbly track ‘Going On’, which gets not one but two reworks in ‘Closer EP’.

“We discovered Saint Guel’s music through his production for More Rice Records and we really like the atmosphere of his tracks mixing vocals, deep house, acid, breakbeat... [composed] all around the groove, just like the spirit of FuFu Records,” mention the label.

Responsible for the vivid artwork is Berlin and Singapore-based artist Reza Hasni who was inspired by Saint Guel’s Euro trip, particularly when in Berlin.

Saint Guel found himself taking charge behind decks at 15 years old, which led to scratching that music production itch two years later. Since then, his deep dive into the Manila nightlife scene and frequent trips to international festivals (including his recent pilgrimage to electronic music mecca, Berghain) have ignited a sonic spark that he incorporates into his compositions.

Read this next: Parting with the pandemic: The beginning of the world for Saint Guel

‘Closer EP’ portrays just how expansive Saint Guel’s musical craftsmanship can get. It opens with the seductively groovy title track ‘Closer (Main Mix)' before going deeper into the percussive and warbling depths of ‘Frenzy Tool’.

His previously released track ‘Going On’ is transformed into a trippy, dubby composition, plus a more minimalistic ‘Mental Version Instrumental’ rework before he closes off the release with the comfortably floaty ‘Closer (Reprise)’.

Read this next: FuFu Records revives the musical mastery of Hong Kong’s Joi Lau in latest EP

Speaking exclusively to Mixmag Asia, the prolific producer states how reworking his original tracks ignited a certain excitement from within. “It surprised me by showing myself how much more can be done and improved. I always thought that the best track a producer can make is the one that hasn’t been made yet,” the artist underlines.

Saint Guel ‘Closer EP’ was released by FuFu Records on December 8, listen to and purchase it here.

Amira Waworuntu is Mixmag Asia’s Editor, follow her on Instagram.