LA Priest

LA Priest is the solo project of British musician Sam Eastgate (also known as Sam Dust), formerly the frontman of the influential dance-punk outfit Late of the Pier. His work represents a significant pivot from the frantic energy of his youth toward a highly idiosyncratic, hardware-focused exploration of pop and funk.

Central to his identity is the 'Gene' machine, a custom-built analog synthesizer and drum sequencer that dictates the unique timing and timbral qualities of his middle period. His sound is characterized by a 'wonky' aesthetic, where pitch and rhythm are intentionally fluid, creating a sense of psychedelic disorientation. Critically, he is positioned as a 'musician's musician,' admired for his technical ingenuity and his ability to make complex electronic arrangements feel intimate and bedroom-produced. His influence web connects the eccentric pop of Prince and Arthur Russell to the modern indie-electronic sensibilities of Metronomy and Connan Mockasin. Across his career, he has moved from the maximalist collage of Inji to the more organic, guitar-driven meditations of Fase Luna, maintaining a consistent thread of surrealism and analog purity.