St. Panther channels sultry SoCal cool on "EAST SIDE GIRL”

For Dani Bojorges-Giraldo, also known as St. Panther, music has always been a collective enterprise. As we sit down to talk about their upcoming album, East Side Love Story, the Chicano/Colombian, LA-raised singer-songwriter is eager to locate their work within their community, a sentiment they express from the jump: “I feel strongly that we need less performance of community, and more musicians that are consistent in being actively invested in who they’re speaking to; it only improves the experience of sharing.” The love affair between community and music rooted itself in St . Panther’s life from an early age. Their Dad would often play the family piano alongside their Mum, who would occasionally join in with backing vocals. Dad, a formative early force in their musical exploration, cultured their sonic palette with eclectic artistic influences, ranging from Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” and Elvis’s " Heartbreak Hotel", and “O Pato” by João Gilberto. In school, a series of teachers recognised St. Panther’s evident skill, encouraging them to read, write, and feel music, cultivating their early interest into a recognisable capability. During this developmental time, Giraldo leaned ...