From “Z-List Celebrity” to House Music Hit Maker, Channel Tres Talks Debut Album “Head Rush”

Channel Tres took his last shot of alcohol in 2021. During a music session a few months later, he smoked his last blunt, albeit with funk music pioneer George Clinton (“I got high on George Clinton. I didn't I need to get high now,” he says.) Tres spent his formative years using substances to escape his trauma growing up in Compton, but these days, with a swing in California and gigs playing to packed crowds at the legendary club Berghain, Tres chooses to be high in life. “I'd be on tour and I'd meet my idols and different people and I'd be high and drunk,” says Tres Rolling rock. “It was like 'dude, you've done all this work to get here, now are you going to let some substances and things distract you or are they going to make you lose it?'

Instead, Tres says he feels good when he's working out, jamming in the studio, shopping for watches or taking his two dogs — a shih tzu named Willow and a miniature schnauzer named Jeremiah — for a walk. The Compton-raised house music producer and rapper introduced listeners to his warm baritone and pounding beats in 2018 with his hits “Controller” and “Topdown.” The following year, Tres released his second EP Black Moses, and has since worked alongside Kaytranada, Thundercat and Tyler, The Creator, among many others. On Friday, Tres released his debut album “Head Rush,” a 17-track project that chronicles a recent heartbreak, his survivor's guilt, the death of a close friend (August 8, who co-wrote DJ Khaled's chart-topping track “I'm the One”) and his journey from rags to riches. His latest album also features artists such as Teezo Touchdown, Ravyn Lenae, Estelle and Ty Dolla $ign.

Tres began working on the album while on Thundercat's 2021 North American tour, making three beats a day as they stopped in Dallas, Phoenix, Los Angeles and other cities. After taking a break from touring last fall, Tres treated time in the studio like a full-time job and spent the next six months recording, freestyling and collaborating with friends. “This album and this concept is a specific story that I know will live on and help someone,” says Tres. “Feed my soul to make it.”

Rolling rock talked to Tres about Survivor guilt, writing his latest track in one take, and teamed up with low-key legend Kaytranada.

The following questions and answers are edited for clarity.

What does Head Rush mean?
The general definition for me is that it is a feeling of euphoria. You get high, maybe when you're partying or doing drugs or drinking or something. You get that rush. Some people get it when exposed to nicotine, depending on what you do. The way I get it these days is through music and dancing, walking my dogs, things that get me excited.

Your first track “Head Rush” delves into growing up in Compton. How do you handle survivor's guilt?
I don't know if this is my Twin or whatever, but I always have these two things fighting each other like “nigga you made it” but “oh you don't deserve to be here” or “why do you understand make it and then do you have relatives who are still struggling?''I've always had these conversations in my head. I go to therapy whenever I can, but I also recognize a lot of hard work I've put in to proceed.

Did you always plan on using music to get out of Compton?
I never thought I could really be an artist. It was something [that was] it was always too far-fetched for me, even though I was a very musical child. But, I thought everyone was better than me. I never saw myself as someone who was on drugs. Now I'm better at recognizing that I'm on drugs, but I've always struggled.

When you walked into the office the other day, you called yourself a Z-list celebrity. Is that what you call yourself?
I don't believe I'm a celebrity. I live a normal life. I know that if I go out to certain places, people will know who I am. But celebrity for me is Michael Jackson who closed the mall.

You dedicate your latest track “Here” to your friend and producer on August 8, who passed away in 2023. Do you think this album might have been healing for you or helped you in any way?
For “Here” specifically, I was recording that album when that happened. I did my sessions from 9 to 5 and we got the call two days before. Nigga won't go to church like that, so I told everybody to go to the studio and before they came, I was already on this program talking to [record producer] Terrace Martin and he said, “Brother, I know this shit hurts.” He was like, “just put everything into the music bro.” Just put everything into the music. Even if it sucks, just put everything into the music.” And, I just did.

I wrote it off the top of my head. It wasn't thought out. All these things are simply true.

What specific verse did you write off the top of your head?
The whole song. It's like free, and I didn't change anything and I didn't do anything. It's a download.

How long have you known him and what were the first years of making music with him like?
In my sixth grade year, I was the school drummer. I would drum for the choir, I did all the assemblies. So seventh grade would start, and I would get there late because we would all meet in the drum room. I was in the band room every day around six in the morning and we jammed before going to class. The staff would come in and play, the security would come in and play, it was just one thing.

The next year, my seventh grade year, I was missing a few days of session and everyone was like “boy, there's this new kid who's on drugs” and I was like “what?” The next week, I went in and caught him and the kid they were talking about was Augustus. He was right there jamming. That's how we met. He was a church boy and a musician, and so was I. It was like I finally met someone who was able to share the craziness of being a musician.

Who are your musical idols?
Moodymann, I learned the use of space from Moodymann, be yourself on records, don't do too much. By speaking with your phone voice, you speak in a low tone and just let the record breathe. Produced by Kanye West, he was my favorite producer [and] also a genius. You don't have to be just one thing, you can be a producer and an artist. Don't let people put you in a box. It's not a box, I like boxes, but you can take people wherever you want [them]. If you want to be that, all you have to do is put in the work and you can be that. That's what I learned from Kanye. Andre 3000, style? Pharrell, style; Prince, musicianship? George Clinton, funk? DJ Quik is a mix of Prince and George Clinton, but his rhymes are insane. There's a lot in there.

You mentioned Kanye. I'm sorry to have to bring this up. Despite the controversy surrounding him, is he still an idol? Are you able to separate art from man?
I don't really get into it. I met him for the first time this year. He was cool. He was cool. He offered me some sushi. I met [his wife] Bianca [Censori] and everything was fine. We talked about music for about a couple of hours. I have more important things to do than get involved in other people's lives. Trying to sort out something made up or real, you just never know.

You also participated in Kaytranada's new album Eternal. What was it like working with Kaytranada, who just gave away? Rolling Stone's Digital Pride Cover?
Kaytranada is my friend, man, he broke me up. This is my dude. It's just cool. Kai doesn't talk much. he is a man of few words, but when he does speak it is very impressive. This fool won. I'm just a person who likes to make music and that's how I think about Kaytranada. that's where we feel. It's really about music and being good people and getting our families out of their situations and into better situations. That's the core for me.

The album was released in the midst of Pride Month and Black Music Month. Was there any significance there?
There's no meaning behind it, but I'm someone who knows what it's like to be left out of the loop or to be the one picked on and bullied. So whenever I do something, I really hope that people who have ever felt this way know that you can make it because there was a lot of bullshit that I had to go through. I was the least expected to be where I am in many circles, so you just have to get over it.

I think both you and Kaytranda make great music for the queer community, the black community, the ragers in Germany…
Love is at the core of it all and people want to talk about love, bro, love is not judgmental, love is none of that. It is accepted by all, so I tried to get to the core of it. The safe spaces provided to me are the reason I am where I am. So I just want to also be a safe space for anyone.