The summer I was 18 I moved to Union Square. I was interning in the photo department of the Condé Nast magazine Cookie and was living in NYU Housing with three boys. Tha Carter III dropped, so naturally they forced me to listen to it and I became obsessed with Lil’ Wayne, and Santogold, previously a producer, released her first album. I became totally enamored, ate up all of her mixes with Diplo, and instantly knew I’d be a fan for life. Fast forward five years and here I am in Brooklyn, still working at Condé Nast, and still loving Santigold (she had to drop the first O and switch in an I per a legal dispute). During those five years Santi went back to producing and said she wouldn’t release a new album, and my heart broke knowing I would probably never get to see one of my top three favorite artists ever perform live.

Then, Santi came to Brooklyn. And she performed at the music Hall of Williamsburg to a sold-out crowd, and I was tapped to shoot the entire show for The Bowery Presents. It was a wild show filled with props, three costume changes and the audience dancing on stage; Santi and her two backup dancers just ooze coolness. She recently announced she will in fact be dropping a second album and is going on tour to be the opener for the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Sometimes in life, you just have to wait for those moments to all come together. Fortunately, it is finally happening.

Check out some additional images for Santi’s show below, and be sure to check out Dan Rickershauser’s review on The House List.