St. Lucia

Jean-Philip Grobler (born 1983), known for his musical project St. Lucia, is a South African singer and musician based in Konstanz, Germany. He is signed to Nettwerk Records and to date has released six albums: When the Night, Matter (2016), Hyperion (2018), Utopia (2022), Fata Morgana: Dawn, and Fata Morgana: Dusk (both 2025).

The band is named after St Lucia, South Africa.

Early life Grobler was born in Johannesburg and raised in South Africa. He spent much of his childhood singing in the Drakensberg Boys' Choir which travelled and performed internationally.

Grobler started making music when he was 12 years old. He was inspired by Boyz II Men, Michael Jackson, Sting, and Phil Collins. He soon was experimenting with rock music; however, after 10 years, he got bored with it and got back to the 80s music influences from his childhood. In 2013, when asked about his main musical influences, he noted Phil Collins, Fleetwood Mac (especially Tango in the Night), Radiohead (OK Computer), Mew (And the Glass Handed Kites), and Paul Simon (Graceland). He has also cited Lionel Richie's album Dancing on the Ceiling as an influence.

Career At the age of 19 Grobler left South Africa to study music in Liverpool, UK. After studying music at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts in England for three years he moved to Brooklyn, NY. When he was signed to Neon Gold Records in 2012, they re-released his self-titled EP he had previously released independently. Also, during the time, he featured vocals in The Knocks' single "Modern Hearts", which was released in 2013.

St. Lucia released the track "Dancing on Glass" in October 2015, and its music video in November 2015. The next single, "Physical", was released in December 2015. These two singles appear on the second studio album, Matter, released on 29 January 2016. A music video was then released for "Help Me Run Away," another song on the album, Matter, in June 2016. The album cover was designed by Jean-Philip Grobler and Patti Beranek from St. Lucia, along with Silas Adler from Soulland, the Danish men's fashion brand.

In June 2018, St. Lucia released two singles, "A Brighter Love" and "Paradise is Waiting", off their third studio album, Hyperion. The next single, "Walking Away" was released in July 2018. Music videos for "A Brighter Love" and "Walking Away" were released in August 2018. Two more singles, "Bigger" and "Next to You", were released in September. The complete album Hyperion was released 21 September 2018.

In 2019, St. Lucia released its Acoustic Vol. 1 EP on April 26, 2019.

In April 2022, St. Lucia released the EP Utopia I.

Personal life Grobler married Patricia (Patti) Beranek in 2012 after the two had dated for 10 years.

In February 2021, Grobler and his family moved from New York to Konstanz, Germany, in order to be closer to Beranek's family.

Band members St. Lucia between sets at a performance at the Sixth & I Historic Synagogue in Washington, DC Jean-Philip Grobler – vocals, guitar Ross Clark – bass guitar Nick Paul – keyboards, synthesizers Dustin Kaufman – drums Patti Beranek – keyboards, percussion, backing vocals

Discography

Studio albums Title Album details Peak chart positions US USHeat. When the NightReleased: 4 October 2013 Label: Neon Gold / Columbia Format: CD, LP, digital download 191 6 MatterReleased: 29 January 2016 Label: Columbia Format: CD, LP, digital download 97- HyperionReleased: 21 September 2018 Label: Columbia Format: LP, digital download--Utopia Released: 7 October 2022 Label: Nettwerk Format: LP, digital download--Fata Morgana: Dawn Released: 14 March 2025 Label: Nettwerk Format: Digital download--Fata Morgana: Dusk Released: 5 December 2025 Label: Nettwerk Format: Digital download-- "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Extended plays Title Album details St. LuciaReleased: 6 March 2012 Label: Neon Gold / Columbia SeptemberReleased: 24 September 2012 Label: Neon Gold / Columbia A Brighter Love / Paradise Is WaitingReleased: 22 June 2018 Label: Columbia Utopia IReleased: 29 April 2022 Label: Nettwerk

Singles

As featured artist Title Year Album "Sun Goes Down" 2012 Icona Pop "Modern Hearts" 2013 "Ready for It" 2014 Strangers "The Beautiful Game" 2017 Ego"Better Days" 2020Boy

Songwriting and production credits Title Year Artist(s) Album Contributing Member(s) Credit(s) Written with: Produced with: "Dancing with Myself" 2015 The Knocks 55 Ross Clark Co-writer Benjamin Ruttner, James Patterson, Michael Francis Gonzalez, Thomas Eickmann - "I Wish (My Taylor Swift)" Benjamin Ruttner, James Patterson, Matthew Bair - "Kiss the Sky" 2016 Benjamin Ruttner, James Patterson, Madeline Nelson, Wyclef Jean - "The Key" Benjamin Ruttner, James Patterson, Phoebe Ryan - "Love Me Like That" Benjamin Ruttner, Carly Rae Jepsen, Christopher Paul Caswell, Hannah Robinson, James Patterson, Martina Sorbara, Richard Philips - "Cinderella" Benjamin Ruttner, James Patterson, Alexander Caplow, Sam Nelson Harris, Samuel Lee - "My Girl" Wyclef Jean Wyclef Jean, Benjamin Ruttner, James Patterson, Madeline Nelson, Ivan Rosenburg, Phoebe Ryan - "What Happened to Love" 2017 The Carnival Vol. III: The Fall& Rise of a Refugee Wyclef Jean, Benjamin Ruttner, James Patterson, Jacob Kasher Hindlin - "Wings" 2018 Haerts Love, Simon: OST Jean-Philip Grobler Producer - Haerts "The Way" New Compassion Co-writer/Producer Nini Fabi, Benjamin Gebert Haerts "New Compassion" Nini Fabi, Benjamin Gebert Haerts "Limo" The Knocks New York Narcotic Benjamin Ruttner, James Patterson The Knocks "Wizard of Bushwick" Ross Clark Co-writer Benjamin Ruttner, James Patterson, Landon Jacobs - "Mad Love" 2019 Blu DeTiger Blu DeTiger, Janee Bennett, Benjamin Ruttner, James Patterson -