Molly Santana makes it all look so effortless. The Japanese-American pop/rap princess exudes confidence and swag in all she does, including her recent single “Windows Up,” from her latest project Masonic Musik.

The 20-year-old’s unique sound stems from a cross-cultural upbringing between Los Angeles and Tokyo, where she attended fashion school and developed a distinct identity that blends sonics and style. With co-signs by Lil Uzi Vert and Bryson Tiller, Santana is clearly carving out a lane all her own with music that incorporates genre mixes from punk and rage aesthetics that are still bubblegum-trap and flirty at the same time.

“The power of music never fails to amaze me,” she tells PAPER in an exclusive tour diary. “Look at all the people it can bring together.” After working a job at Little Caesars, Santana went from rags to riches by uploading her songs to SoundCloud and quickly became a noteworthy rising star in the underground internet rap universe.

Fast forward to today, and she is playing stadiums across the country. After opening up for Ski Mask The Slump God this summer, Santana took it a step further by landing an opening gig for Don Toliver on his massive North American ‘PSYCHO’ tour. Santana took PAPER backstage at one of her biggest career highlights thus far — performing at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

On my way to soundcheck, got my Topicals Faded under eye masks on.

Getting cozy next to the pyrotechnics. Fun fact: I’m always freezing cold before every show.

Who would’ve ever thought lil’ old me would be performing at the Barclays Center?

Laying around in the cables, nothing to see here.

All my little tingz. My favorite pierced Balenciaga handbag with my matching white Goyard backpack, the most cutest and comfortable Givenchy slides, my new fave spiked Doublet sneakers and the I <3 NY teddy bear backpack I wore on stage.

Everything is pink and cheetah print! I am simply just a girl 😜.

More cheetah print, plus my favorite lotion from Byredo and the only necklace I ever wear from No Mass Production (duh!)

Smokin’ in the bathroom pre show with my favorite girl in the world, Mya <3 Life doesn’t get any better than this.

I really wish there was two of me!

On my way to the stage, bouta go crazy as per usual.

This photo was taken a minute before my set. I think you can see the anxiousness on my face lol.

Truly a beautiful sight. The power of music never fails to amaze me. Look at all the people it can bring together.

Post show post up in the laundry room that I still haven’t utilized.

I really do! Thank you for such a beautiful night, New York ❤️.

Photography: Tasmin Meyer Ersahin