Martin Joseph Léonard Bresso (; born 12 May 1985), better known by his stage name Tchami (), is a French record producer and DJ from Paris. A founding member of the Pardon My French collective, he is best known for his solo work and regarded as a pioneer of the

future house Future house is a house music genre that emerged in the 2010s in the United Kingdom, described as a fusion of deep house, UK garage and incorporating other elements and techniques of other EDM genres. It is high in energy, generally consistin ...

genre alongside Dutch DJs

Oliver Heldens Olivier J. L. Heldens (born 1 February 1995) is a Dutch DJ and electronic music producer from Rotterdam. He is regarded as a pioneer of the future house genre, propelling it to international attention and scoring numerous chart successes, includ ...

and

Don Diablo Don Pepijn Schipper (; born 27 February 1980), better known by his stage name Don Diablo, is a Dutch DJ, digital artist, record producer, musician and songwriter of electronic dance music from Coevorden. He is one of the pioneers of the future h ...

. When asked about the origins of his name Tchami, the French artist explained, "I used to travel a lot across Europe and Africa these past five years. Tchami is a name that has been given to me in Africa which is an honor. Fortunately it sounded catchy to me, so I kept it. That's all folks." Tchami often performs with the persona of a priest and a church theme. He wears a clerical collar and includes visuals such as an altar and

stained glass Stained glass is coloured glass as a material or works created from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant religious buildings. Although tradition ...

windows. In an interview he explained that "it is my message, being spiritual. I think my music is about that too.".

Musical style

Tchami most commonly produces music he has called

. Tchami has since explained that future house was in some ways, just a tag for his music on Soundcloud as a way to stand out. In an interview with

Complex Media Complex Networks is an American media and entertainment company for youth culture, based in New York City. It was founded as a bi-monthly magazine, ''Complex'', by fashion designer Marc (Ecko) Milecofsky. Complex Networks reports on popular a ...

, Tchami said

Career

2013–2014

On 5 December 2013, Tchami released his first EP "Promesses" for free under the

Fool's Gold Records Fool's Gold Records is an independent record label based in Brooklyn, New York, United States. The label is known for its annual series of Day Off concerts across the US and Canada. History Fool’s Gold Records was founded in 2005 by DJs A- ...

label. Both of the EP's tracks were re-released as singles; "Shot Caller" on 17 December 2014, and " Promesses" on 4 January 2015 under

Ministry of Sound Ministry of Sound or Ministry of Sound Group is a multimedia entertainment business based in London with a nightclub, shared workspace and private members' club, worldwide events operation, music publishing business and fitness studio. James ...

, which features vocals from Kaleem Taylor. The latter peaked at number 7 on the

Official Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

. On 18 April 2014, Tchami released his debut single "Untrue" under the

Spinnin' Records Spinnin' Records is a Dutch electronic music record label founded in 1999 by Eelko van Kooten and Roger de Graaf. In September 2017, Warner Music Group acquired Spinnin' Records for over $100 million. Background Van Kooten is the son of former ...

label. Tchami had co-wrote

DJ Snake William Sami Étienne Grigahcine (born 13 June 1986), known by his stage name DJ Snake, is an Algerian French music producer and DJ, first achieving international recognition in 2013 by releasing an instrumentation-oriented single called " Turn D ...

's and

Lil Jon Jonathan H. Smith (born January 17, 1971) better known by his stage name Lil Jon, is an American rapper, producer and former frontman of the rap group Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz. He was instrumental in the emergence of the hip hop subgenre cru ...

's hit single "

Turn Down for What "Turn Down for What" is a song by French DJ and record producer DJ Snake and American rapper Lil Jon released on December 18, 2013. The song and its viral music video popularized the use of the phrase. The song was particularly successful in Nort ...

2015–present

He launched his own record label, called Confession. On 12 March 2015, he announced his debut extended play titled ''After Life''. He uploaded his new song "After Life" featuring vocals from

Stacy Barthe Stacy or Stacey may refer to: Places In the United States: * Stacy, California, an unincorporated community * Stacy, Kentucky * Stacy, Minnesota, a city * Stacy, Virginia, a village People * Stacy (given name) * Stacy (singer) (born 199 ...

and is part of the After Life EP along with "Missing You", which has also been released by Tchami and AC Slater. In October 2015, Tchami and fellow electronic producer

were injured in a car crash. Consequently, both artists missed a scheduled performance at Toronto'
Monster Mash festival
His remix of

AlunaGeorge AlunaGeorge are an English electronic music duo from London, consisting of singer-songwriter Aluna Francis and producer George Reid. Career 2009: Formation The duo first met in June 2009, when Reid remixed Francis' band My Toys Like Me's trac ...

's "

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" was featured in the soundtrack of the 2015 movie " We Are Your Friends". After an 8-month break following the ''After Life'' EP, Tchami released "Siaw" on his own record label Confession as a free download on 18 August 2016. The track was an experimental bass house influenced track which sampled KRS-One's Step Into A World (Rapture's Delight). He then went on to release his only single of 2016, "Prophecy", on 20 September 2016. The track was a collaboration with mysterious Parisian producer Malaa, and again featured a more experimental bass house element compared to much of Tchami's earlier work. On 3 February 2017, Tchami released "Adieu", widely believed the 1st single of his rumoured upcoming second EP. The track was once again experimental, this time calmer than much of Tchami's earlier work. Tchami also released "World To Me" featuring London singer

MNEK Uzoechi Osisioma "Uzo" Emenike (born 9 November 1994), professionally known by his stage name MNEK (, ), is a British singer, songwriter and record producer. He has been nominated for a Grammy and a Brit Awards, Brit Award, and has received the ...

on Spotify, however the track was quickly made private although not taken down for unknown reasons. The track was included in his second EP, "Revelations EP", with new vocals from Luke James, alongside Adieu, Taiki Nulight collaboration "Godspell" (previously known among the dance music community unofficially as "Godspeed" and "Fallin"), "Zeal", "Adieu, Pt. ll" and a

Kaelyn Behr Kaelyn Behr, known professionally as Styalz Fuego, is an Australian music producer, songwriter, vocalist and artist based in Melbourne. Styalz is renowned for his diverse production and songwriting, and most known for his eclectic take on hip-h ...

collaboration "Don't Let Me Down". The Revelations EP was released on 25 August 2017. His first full-length album, titled "Year Zero" was announced in the first half of 2020. Some singles from the album and other songs he released in 2020 include "Proud" featuring vocals by Daecolm, "Ghosts" featuring vocals by HANA, "Buenos Aires", "Born Again", "Faith" featuring vocals sampled from

Marlena Shaw Marlena Shaw (born Marlina Burgess, September 22, 1942) is an American jazz, blues and soul music, soul singer. Shaw began her singing career in the 1960s and is still singing today. Her music has often been sampled in Hip hop music, hip hop mus ...

, and "Praise" featuring vocals by

Gunna (rapper) Sergio Giavanni Kitchens (born June 14, 1993), known professionally as Gunna, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. He is signed to Young Thug's record label YSL Records, as well as 300 Entertainment and Atlantic Records. He released ...

. In 2020, he also released a remix for Justin Martin's song "Stay" featuring vocals from Dalilah.

Pardon My French

He is currently part of the Pardon My French team, a collective of four French DJs composed of

, Mercer, Malaa and himself. Throughout the year 2016 and early 2017, DJ Snake did a world tour with Pardon My French Tour with Tchami and Mercer.

Confession

In 2015, Tchami announced that he would be launching a new record label called "Confession". Throughout late 2018 Tchami toured North America with other DJs signed to the Confession label for the Confession tour.

Discography

Live performances

Something Wicked

* 29 October 2017 - Sam Houston Race Park Houston, TX * 28 December 2017 - Shaw Conference Centre Edmonton, Alberta

Decadance 2017

* 30 December 2017 - Colorado Convention Center, Denver, CO

No Redemption Tour (Tchami and Malaa)

* 10 November 2017 - World Market Center Las Vegas, NV * 11 November 2017 - Shrine Expo Hall Los Angeles, Ca * 17 November 2017 - Electric Factory Philadelphia, PA * 18 November 2017 - The Tabernacle Atlanta, GA * 22 November 2017 - City National Civic San Jose, CA * 24 November 2017 - Rebel Toronto, Canada * 25 November 2017 - New City Gas Montreal, Canada * 1 December 2017 - Brooklyn Hangar Brooklyn, NY * 2 December 2017 - Echostage Washington, DC * 8 December 2017 - The Fillmore Miami, FL * 9 December 2017 - Aragon Ballroom Chicago, IL

CRSSD Festival

* 4 March 2018 - Waterfront Park, San Diego, CA

EDC Mexico 2018

* 24 February 2018 - Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Mexico City, Mexico

Tchami x Malaa

* 24 March 2018 - Ultra Music Festival, Miami, FL * 4 May 2018 - Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, CA * 11 May 2018 - Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, CO *21 July 2018 - Parookaville, Weeze, Germany * 30 December 2018 - Rhythm & Vines, Gisborne, New Zealand * 3 July 2019 - Balaton Sound, Zamárdi, Hungary *7 July 2019 - Electric Love, Salzburg, Austria *20 July 2019 - Parookaville, Weeze, Germany * 21 July 2019 - Sunrise Festival, Kołobrzeg, Poland *26 July 2019 - Tomorrowland, Boom, Belgium * 25 August 2019 - Mysteryland, Haarlemmermeer, Netherlands * 30 December 2019 - SnowGlobe Festival, Lake Tahoe, CA * 31 December 2019 - Resolution Festival NYE, WaMu Theater, Seattle, WA

Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival

*16 & 23 April 2016 - Indio, California *11 & 18 April 2020 - Indio, California (Postponed / Cancelled)

Ultra Music Festival

* 24 March 2017 Mainstage Miami, FL * 24 March 2018 Live Stage Miami, FL *30 March 2019 Mainstage Miami, FL *26 March 2022 Mainstage Miami, FL

''
DJ Magazine ''DJ Magazine'' (also known as ''DJ Mag'') is a British monthly magazine dedicated to electronic dance music and DJs. Founded in 1991, the magazine is adapted for distribution in the United Kingdom, the United States, Spain, France, Italy, Lat ...
'' Top 100 DJs

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tchami 21st-century French musicians French dance musicians French DJs Living people Musicians from Paris Future house musicians 1985 births Electronic dance music DJs