Tchami. Courtesy of Anthony Ghnassia.
Today, future house music producer Tchami released his latest track “Faith” with an accompanying music video. The single features soulful gospel vocals from legendary singer Marlena Shaw’s 1969 track “Woman of the Ghetto.” In true Tchami style, “Faith” delivers euphoric house beats made for the club dance floor.
This marks the fifth release this year from the CONFESSION record label boss, following the double-single releases of “Born Again” / “Buenos Aires” and “Proud” / “Ghosts.” All five tracks will be part of Tchami’s highly-anticipated debut album, Year Zero, that is slated for later this year.
The founding member of the Pardon My French collective boasts an illustrious career to date, having delivered chart-topping singles “Promesses,” “Adieu” and “After Life,” as well as co-producing four singles from Lady Gaga’s hit album CHROMATICA. In addition, the French producer has toured with critically-acclaimed artists Skrillex, Diplo and DJ Snake, and performed at major music festivals such as Creamfields, Tomorrowland, Mysteryland and Dreamland.
Tchami took the time to share with Forbes the inspiration behind “Faith,” what fans can expect from his Year Zero album and more.
Lisa Kocay: Can you describe your sound in three words?
Tchami: “I would choose: melodic, home-made [and] personal.”
Kocay: What was the inspiration behind your single “Faith”?
Tchami: “Originally, [DJ] Snake came to the studio and played me the a cappella of Marlena Shaw’s ‘Woman of the Ghetto’ as he thought it would be a great piece to work on. With her amazing voice and meaningful lyrics that were already there, I had to match the energy.”
Kocay: How did you pick the name of the single? What does “Faith” mean to you?
Tchami: “Despite all the hurtful things and terrible situations that can happen in your life, faith can be a real savior. For me, it brings out the best in us as it precedes any actions towards something I want to change or stand for.”
Kocay: You’ll be releasing your debut album, Year Zero, later this year. What can fans expect from it?
Tchami: “This album is the continuation of how my sound has evolved over the past 5 years. I’ve tried new things, as well, with some extremely talented vocalists and songwriters. [I] loved the process of creating this project.”
Kocay: You notably co-produced four singles on Lady Gaga’s hit album CHROMATICA, which were “Stupid Love,” “Rain On Me” collaboration with Ariana Grande, “1000 Doves” and “Babylon.” Can you share the stories behind how some of those tracks were created?
Tchami: “While working on ‘1000 Doves’ with BloodPop, we were struggling on the direction we should take for the record. The aim for the album was more club-oriented, and it was a ballad at the time. We realized that the BPM of the original demo was around the same BPM that a dance record would be. So we ended up with a very emotional dance piece that is now ‘1000 Doves.’”
Kocay: You recently launched a new YouTube interview series called Confessions that’s a play on a classic priest confessional. What was the inspiration behind creating this series?
Tchami: “I wanted to interview people that I already knew on a personal level in this very specific setup, letting them share their personal take on whatever topic they want. I generally ask fairly open questions and then dive into their answers. It allows us to create a very personal vibe for these interviews.”
"Faith" is the fifth single Tchami has released in 2020. Courtesy of Anthony Ghnassia.
Kocay: How did you initially get into making music?
Tchami: “By playing my parents records when I was three-years-old. I took some piano lessons as well, and finally got my first turntables at the age of 16. Started producing around 18.”
Kocay: Do you remember the first song you heard that made you think electronic music is the genre of music for me?
Tchami: “It was ‘Signatune’ by DJ Mehdi, but also ‘Music Sounds Better With You’ by Stardust, ‘You Are My High’ by Demon and ‘Relax’ by Étienne de Crecy.”
Kocay: If you could go back in time to when you first started making music and give yourself one piece of advice, what would it be?
Tchami: “Please don’t overthink music. [It] doesn’t have to be perfect, and it will never be.”
Kocay: What are your plans for the future?
Tchami: “Learn how to grow a garden and cook better. Make some more music with my friends and family. Take my time and enjoy it.”
