Blacklight Media Records

Chris Santos, executive chef and managing partner of the New York City restaurants VANDAL, The Stanton Social and Beauty & Essex, together with Brian Slagel of Metal Blade Records, have announced the launch of Blacklight Media, a label focusing on hard rock and heavy metal. Blacklight Media’s debut band, Good Tiger, led by guitarists Derya Nagle and Joaquin Ardiles, will help launch the label as they head on tour this March.

In addition to his status as one of New York’s most well known chefs, Santos is a lifelong fan of hard rock and metal music. A longtime friend of Slagel’s, Santos has worked to launch bands with Metal Blade Records in the past, preparing him to break into the industry and create an entity of his own.

Blacklight Media, a name created to expose talent that has been concealed and deserve the recognition of a larger audience, will work with high energy bands with a progressive unique sound. Blacklight will release music that possesses an extensive amount of melody, mixed with heavy ebbs and flow to catch the attention of its listeners.

“Starting a label of my own is truly a dream come true,” said Santos. “Music has always spoken to me in a visceral, instinctive way, and I’m hoping to curate a blend of hard rock and heavy metal that is unique in every way. Similar to my cooking, I hope the music our artists create will be engaging, well rounded, and sometimes whimsical.”

About Chef Chris Santos
Chef Chris Santos has over twenty years of experience as an executive chef in New York City’s hottest restaurants. In January 2016, Santos opened VANDAL alongside TAO Group at 199 Bowery, his biggest and most ambitious to date with a focus in street art and street fare from around the world. He is also currently the managing partner of The Stanton Social and Beauty & Essex in the Lower East Side, where he oversees the menu development and culinary operations of both properties. In addition to his presence at the restaurants, Santos is a resident judge on the Food Network’s most popular hit series Chopped. Later this year, he looks forward to debuting two additional restaurant projects, which will finally expand his unique brand to a West Coast audience in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Santos will debut his first cookbook with Grand Central Life & Style in February 2017.

About Blacklight Media
Blacklight Media is a hard rock and heavy metal label founded in February 2016 by Chris Santos, executive chef and managing partner of New York City restaurants VANDAL, The Stanton Social and Beauty & Essex, in partnership with Brian Slagel, founder of Metal Blade Records. They launched the label with breakout band Good Tiger, led by guitarists Derya Nagle and Joaquin Ardiles. Blacklight has a distinct focus on releasing music that possesses an extensive amount of melody, mixed with heavy ebbs and flow.