Page 79 - Flaunt 171 - Summer of Our Discontent - Lili

While our collective con- sciousness con- tinues to churn along during this time of flux and unwavering coro-
navirus confusion, the Los
Angeles-based artist Chan-
nel Tres has found solace in
self-enlightenment. During
the stay-at-home order, his in-
terest in Stoic philosophy led
him to pore over Meditations, a
collection of journals penned
by Marcus Aurelius, one of
the last emperors of Rome.
Among other maxims, Stoicism encourages the practice of endur- ing the vicissitudes of life, without the intrusion of emotions.
In the midst of a global pandemic and the historic Black Lives Matter Movement to end police brutality, mass incarcera- tion, and systemic racism, Tres reflects, “I think the most im- portant thing for me has been not letting this be an emotional moment. I don’t want to be angry anymore, so I have to fight differently now.”
The Compton-born songwriter and producer has been supporting the Black community in the only way he knows
how. Tres has transcended his anger, disparity, and energy into
a musical tapestry woven from nothing but luscious grooves, timbric soundscapes, and a deeper meaning behind his languid lines. Narrowly escaping a career in EDM, he now finds himself at the scintillating intersection of hip-hop and house. He credits his grandparents for sparking his love for music at age five, allowing him to emulsify his past with experimental textures and re-invent the idiosyncratic sounds of his childhood. Our guess would be that recent collaborations with James Blake and King Princess, tours with Robyn, Childish Gambino, and Vince Staples, as well as piloting the only official Tyler the Creator remix, might have
said grandparents pretty pleased.
Earlier this spring, Tres re-
leased “Weedman,” a jovial house track that longs to be loudly broadcast
to a packed dance floor. However, what some listeners might not expect from a summer dance anthem is the thoughtful poli-
tics that meander beneath the surface of an otherwise up-
beat hip-house track. The melodic constellation of lyrics, paired with an inescapable groove, calls for the decriminalization and normalization of marijuana use. His music is his voice and Tres transcends his own narrative about what it means to be a Black man in America right now, while encouraging others to reimagine their vulnerability as power. “I spend my time every day trying to find different ways I can break stereotypes,” he says. “I know that there are other people that feel marginalized because of different things. For me, I know I felt that way and different artists have helped me so much, so I want to be that for other people.”
As quarantine separates us from witnessing the bloom of summer up close, Channel Tres continues to use this time to reflect, awaken, and realign himself with his inner voice. He has recently remixed Joji’s “Gimme Love” (with 88rising) and has a guest spot on Disclosure’s next record, but he is now devoted all of his energy toward creating his next project.
“I have been spending time with the music. It is like a story about letting my stream-of-consciousness flow,” he says. “I just want people to love themselves and find their pas- sion. When you are doing what you’re supposed to be doing the world works better.”
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PHLEMUNS tank and hat, JETPACK HOMME shirt and pants, and AMAN ITOMI necklaces and rings.
PHOTOGRAPHER: ANDI ELLOWAY. STYLIST: KATIE QIAN. LOCATION: MACK SENNETT STUDIOS.