Mitch Santiago is a self-taught multi-instrumentalist from Perth, Australia. He is a solo artist who works across indie rock and psych-influenced music, and he is known for building songs and live shows through looping and layered instrumentation.

Early development

Santiago starts playing guitar at nine after finding one on the side of the road and fitting it with strings. He teaches himself using the trial version of a guitar-learning app, then begins taking guitar lessons when his parents buy them for his tenth birthday. He has also learned viola, which he says helps him develop an ear for music.

He expands his self-taught repertoire to include drums, bass, piano, pan flute, mandolin and harmonica. While still at school, he balances music with his education, and his parents support his music career as managers, roadies, booking agents and transport.

Live work and performance style

Santiago busks and plays numerous shows around Perth, building experience through hundreds of performances. His live set is a one-person show built from live-looped tracks and effects, with strong vocals and a layered sound. He describes his approach as drawing from different genres and combining elements such as psych and rock melodies, jazz or blues phrases, and rap-influenced drums.

Releases and recognition

His first single, Falling, gains almost 1.7 million global streams. He follows it with Out For You and How I See You, and later records Seeing Straight with producer Andy Lawson. “Out For You” is described as a track that develops his psych sound with indie rock influences, and “Seeing Straight” premieres on triple j. His work also receives attention from triple j, which describes him as a Perth prodigy making indie rock, and he is named among Bigsound 2022’s standout acts.

Career activity

He tours nationally in support of his singles and appears at Brisbane’s BigSound event, where he plays two showcases. He also performs a one-off show in Perth for the release of Seeing Straight.