Music has always been innate to Los Angeles artist/producer Channel Tres. Having been around the music traps as a producer and writer of tracks for significant others for quite a while (Duckwrth, Rich Brian, and Kehlani), he was encouraged to begin turning out some creations in his own name. After doing some work with Shamir he fired off his demos in a mass email and the eventual results were noticed by former dark side A&R turned good Tayla Elitzer and former online music editor and now songwriter Nick Sylvester, co-founders of Godmode Records, the label that features the aforementioned Shamir and elevated the profile of New York based Korean artist Yaeji.
Co written with Sylvester, the resulting first single, ‘Controller’ is a sublime fusion of underground Chicago via Detroit House and 90s R&B adorned with vocal styles that range from the deep to the plaintively soulful. All elements are then fitted out with an affirming and defiant attitude influenced by the west coast rap. Tres had this to say recently to Pigeon and Planes about the influences behind the track;
“Me and Nick just really felt drawn to it (Chicago-Detroit sound). When we started working I was listening to a lot of dance music and Moodymann and Jimmy Edgar became a big influence. Also I really felt like people shouldn’t give a fuck no more and shake their ass. I also found out my dad was from Chicago and that’s where the genre originated and that gave me much more of a spiritual connection to it.”
‘Controller’ comes complete with a colourfully shot Goodwin directed video which Tres underline his underground credentials with self effacing style. Despite his self admitted love of being in front of the camera, there’s a proudly distinct unpretentiousness in the faux pretence on display as he casually strolls his home neighbourhoods of Lynwood and Compton with a bunch of good mates.
Stream and watch ‘Controller’ below and purchase it digitally here. Apparently an EP is not far away which we await with bated breath
Controller
Channel Tres (USA)
From the single, ‘Controller’, Godmode.
Channel Tres Facebook
Audio Stream
Official Video