After more than a decade of writing and performing with indie pop act, The Tins, Mike Santillo is creating music under the new moniker Matches Laces. Primarily a recording project, Santillo’s new venture combines electronic and natural elements, including moody sci-fi synths, dark acoustic guitar, retro drum machines, field recording samples and layered vocal harmonies to create a mix of somber and upbeat pop-leaning songs. In an interview with 1120 Press, Santillo says, "everything I’m writing, I kind of write and record as I write. The songs kind of write themselves as I’m recording and adding layers."

These recorded layers have come together to form an eight song EP. In the self-titled debut, Santillo explores heart break by examining past relationship dynamics, contemplates the finite nature of existence while resolving to focus on the love there is in the moment, and tracks time just existing in mundanity, "sitting down by the water to pass the time away," and "taking stills and hiding out."

The name Matches Laces, is lifted from the shouts of a peddler in a transitory scene from horror anthology, "From Beyond the Grave." No more than a sales pitch, "Matches! Laces! Matches! Laces!" A character repeats the simple yet essential, staple items for sale. "And in a way, that's what this project is," says Santillo. "These songs are small, often short phrases of expression about everyday things, capturing mundane, simple thoughts, not always fully fleshed out, but passing phrases of story and melody, capturing a mood. I try not to overthink it, and when I've said all there is to say, the song ends, if sometimes abrupt and unceremoniously." Passing thoughts, little excerpts. Matches, Laces.