House of Cards
Press Release
Press Photos by Seth Celdran
Austin, TX — On October 24th, Karima Santi will release House of Cards, the first single from her upcoming EP titled Royale.
Santi’s music masterfully intertwines dream pop, quiet storm r&b, and triphop soundscapes; blending modern influences from Clairo to Solange; and vintage influences ranging from Dido to Sade.
House of Cards pulls listeners into a romantic world of intrigue, ethereal soundscapes, and cinematic imagery.
Nigerien-American singer-songwriter Karima Santi—a grantee of Austin’s Live Music Fund—self-produced and recorded House of Cards in Austin using 100% local talent.
The song began taking shape after Santi hired Texas State-trained jazz guitarist Ibra Martinez (guitar, synths, programming, additional production) for a gig; resulting in the two striking up a creative partnership and recording an entire EP in Santi’s home studio.
The song features other local talent including Austin Sisler (mixing engineer, Texas State alum), Taylor Turner (bass, UT Butler alum), and Max Lorenzen (mastering).
The single is a dream pop masterpiece that dives into Santi’s world of romance and intrigue, and marks her evolution as both songwriter and producer.
Building on the success of her 2024 EP Queen of Regret which has racked up thousands of streams and garnered radio play on KUTX, KZSM, and KROX—Santi is slated to release her next EP Royale in early 2026.
Preview House of Cards
About the Artist
Karima Santi is a Nigerien-American independent singer-songwriter and producer based in Austin, effortlessly blending dream pop & R&B dreamscapes. Her 2024 EP Queen of Regret made waves around Austin; and her upcoming album Royale, influenced by artists ranging from Clairo, Solange, Dido, Portishead, Sade, and Imogen Heap, arrives early 2026.