Head of Content
Tuff Questions is our series where we ask artists a selection of incredibly difficult questions.
Parisian producer, Tchami, takes on the toughest interview in dance music.
Tchami burst onto the scene with 2015's UK Top 10 Single, "Promesses", which was released on our very own Ministry of Sound Recordings. Since then he's been a regular at our London club, often going B2B with fellow Frenchman, Malaa.
Last year he released his highly anticipated debut album, Year Zero. The sprawling 16-track release is packed full of sun-kissed dancefloor energy and was named Dancing Astronaut's album of 2020.
MoS: Describe your press shot in five words or less.
Tchami: Trying to be serious here.
House or Techno?
House.
If House is a spiritual thing, who is its prophet?
Frankie Knuckles.
What does your music smell like?
Probably like having a lobster roll on a Boston pier.
What was the first song/album you bought with your own money
Sade - Diamond Life
What was your first email address?
Martinmatin00@hotmail.com
What would you say in your tinder bio?
Never run with a damaged heart.
Best way to cure a hangover?
Junk food without a doubt.
What song would be your wrestling entrance theme?
Toto - "Hold The Line"
Who’s the biggest party animal in dance music?
My top 3’s are Chris Lorenzo, Carnage and Wax Motif.
You can only ever DJ B2B with one other person for the rest of your life, who is it?
Malaa.
You can only ever play one record again for the rest of your life - what is it?
Stardust - "Music Sounds Better With You"
Who is your celebrity crush?
Absolutely no one.
If you could live in any other place and time, when and where would you pick?
Paris in the 1920’s.
Is a hotdog a sandwich?
I tend to not answer existential questions.
Teetotal or tearing it up?
Tearing it up.
Favourite production? (pick one) lazers, disco ball, strobe, Co2, LED screen, confetti, foam, nothing or other.
Confetti is really fun. It’s like fireworks for non-headliners.
You can only wear one colour for the rest of your life, black is not an option, what colour do you choose?
Purple.
What’s the best moment you’ve had on a dancefloor?
When I did a backflip for my friend’s birthday back in 2010. Ended badly but we all had a good laugh.
What job would you do if you weren’t a musician?
I’d be a projectionist in a theatre But more realistically, I’d probably be a sound engineer and I would love it.
Would you rather all your burps smell of eggs, or have a green cloud appear when you fart?
Green cloud for sure. It’s way funnier than egg smell.
What’s your biggest non-musical interest?
Probably playing basketball or riding my bike. I like playing chess as well.
You’re forming a cheesy pop group in the vein of 5ive, Steps, Spice Girls etc. You must all sing and do choreographed dance routines. Which other 3 DJs do you want in your band?
Valentino Khan, Malaa and Wax Motix. Best DJ boy band ever.
6 = 2(x+2) what is x?
1
What’s your secret weapon to rescue a dancefloor?
Stardust - "Music Sounds Better With You"
Strangest / funniest thing you’ve seen in a club?
A mosh pit where everybody hugged each other. There were roughly 10 people left in the club and it was 6AM.
What single thing would make your life better?
Eating what I want without putting on weight.
If you had your own nightclub, what would you call it, and what’s the dress code?
I would maybe call it “Spirit”. No specific dress code and come with a good state of mind.
Why do lots of DJs wear masks? What’s the deal with that?
I have no idea.
Most regrettable track you’ve dropped in a set?
A very poor edit of Madonna over a disco instrumental.
What’s the most expensive thing you own?
A $4000 compressor.
Where is the strangest place you’ve DJed?
A cube lifted 30 meters above the ground.
One piece of advice you would give your younger self?
Think a little less.
Where’s the afters?
In my backyard generally.