It’s been a major year for Channel Tres. Even though he’s been steadily releasing music for the past five years, I feel like he truly came into his own in 2022. He has spent the last quarter of 2022 on his own headlining tour of North America with support from Rochelle Jordan (some of the RMR team also just caught him at the Emerald Cup Harvest Ball a few weeks back). With this tour, he is also preparing for the release of his highly-anticipated debut album, Real Cultural Shit.
When I found the Black Moses EP that Channel Tres released in 2019, I was hooked. Years later, and I’m finally listening to him perform “Sexy Black Timberlake” to a sold-out crowd at the Showbox in Seattle, WA. The energy in that room was electric. From the front of the stage to the back of the bar, people were groovin’ for the entirety of his set. You could tell there were a lot of people in the crowd who were very familiar with his already extensive catalog.
Channel Tres North American Tour
Throughout the tour, Channel Tres has had a collective of dancers enhancing his stage show with some badass choreography. They were on point the entire time; giving the audience several “wow” moments that made it hard to look away from the stage.
The stage itself was a slick minimalistic stair set. It elevated the performance into a chic and sophisticated Compton House party. The stairs provided a nice dynamic between Tres and his crew of dancers, as they utilized every step throughout the show.
Channel Tres has previously spoken about how he studied the history of House music. As well as how much it inspired him and today that influence is evident in everything he does. Part of why I think this year has been major for him is because his own journey has aligned with what the mainstream is seeking out. We’ve seen both Beyonce and Drake take a dip into the House scene. Now, it’s no question that the world is ready to embrace Channel Tres.
What I found beautiful about his live show, other than the obvious performance aspect, was that he was reflecting on his tour. Channel Tres was feeding the crowd with this massive energy of gratitude. At one point towards the end of his show he even acknowledged his growth this past year; he mentioned how much it means to him to be able to do what he’s doing.
Album artwork for Real Cultural Shit album by Channel Tres
Channel Tres Album Real Cultural Shit Impending Release
After seeing Channel Tres perform, there’s no question in my mind that he’ll be a defining artist of this decade. I’m truly looking forward to hearing his debut album, given that the singles he’s already released are STELLAR. Peep his singles, “Just Can’t Get Enough,” “No Limit,” and his most recent release “6am” while you wait for the album to drop. It was supposedly going to drop in the fall of 2022. However, it has yet to receive a release date as we come up to the final two weeks of the year.
Real Cultural Shit by Channel Tres will release at some point via GodMode / RCA Records
