Producer and emcee Santana Thomas, aka Dat 378 Boy, introduced himself as Lake Taupō‘s unofficial hip hop ambassador with the cruisey song and video Lakeside, featuring Wayz79 and Downlow, back in early 2020. His latest single, Your Way, talks about ignoring the nay-sayers and was picked up by NZ On Air Music for inclusion on their NewTracks compilation this August.

What’s your name, where are you from and what instruments do you play, if any?

Santana ‘Dat 378 Boy’ Thomas from the beautiful lakeside of Taupō and I used to play drums, keys when was younger.

Was any high school or other music training important to you?

To be honest no. I’m self-taught on how to mix, record and write produce on my own, hashtag PASSION.

Any other previous projects might we know you from?

I had a stint on Juice TV a few years back (just a few) for a competition held by them for which they used a song of mine called Bebo Girl, haha. That was the drive behind their comp.

What’s the background of how Dat 378 Boy came to be as a project? 

Music runs deep in my family, my old man and his brothers were rolling stones, haha, always on the road with their band, so I was just destiny for me I s’pose. Previously I was in a collective of musicians/artists that went by the name Dem 378 Boyz, which I initially kept and carried on with the passion to this day taking the name, hence Dat 378 Boy.

How’s your music evolved from your beginnings to now?

I’m a hip hop head who is just dabbing into the reggae genre, and I find that spending time writing 16-bar verses for all those rap songs makes the laid-back reggae songs a walk in the park for me.

Aside from this release, what’s been the big highlight to date? 

Getting my song selected and noticed by NZ On Air easily for me. Especially for a boy from the hood building on a brand from the ground up with no handouts (labels, bandwagoning), all independent, is by far the highlight for me.

What makes Your Way stand out for you as a single?

The message we put in it. Your Way is about those negative nay-saying people you come across in your life telling you how you should do this, do that… Do you!

What’s your favourite moment of the single?

Start of the song to finish.

Who did you record/produce the track with?

The song features my cousin Tawera ‘Hasee987’ Simmonds who brings the harmonies on the track with Soul Fyah on the beat and we wrote, recorded and mixed the song in my two-bedroom flat.

What would you like listeners to take away from hearing Your Way?

Doing things in life how you want to do it, and ignoring all those negative things chipping at you.

How do you generally work out what would make a good single?

The message and a cool catchy sound we trying it push across.

Who else is in your team?

Tawera ‘Hasee987’, Hemi ‘Classick J’ and Piri ‘Downlow’. There are new EP’s coming in hot from each of my team, exciting tingz.

Got any advice for others about NZ On Air applications or getting included on NewTracks?

Do your research about NZOA. Follow them on IG, they have great info on how to go about getting your song featured on #Newtracks and funding.

Are there any musical blogs, Youtube channels or podcasts you’re super into?

Yes, Too Much Sauce magazine, they gave me my first online interview. Also check out Tuwharetoa FM on IG.

Any last words?

Just DO YOU.