L.A. artist Channel Tres shares his music-making mantra

Real ones know: Channel Tres has been the soundtrack to summer in L.A. since his smooth baritone boomed across the city in 2018 with his breakout single “Controller.”

Lynwood-raised and Compton-born, the artist delivers G-funk-inflected house with an unmistakably West Coast groove. With “i can’t go outside,” an album he released in 2020 inspired by his time in quarantine, Tres paid vibe-y homage to pre-COVID L.A. He sings about roller skating to Frankie Beverly on the hit “skate depot” — while also paying tribute to the now-closed Cerritos institution by the same name (and one of his first jobs).

The producer-singer has just released his latest crop of new music, collaborating with electronic duos Polo & Pan and Flight Facilities, and has announced a North American tour this fall with Grammy-winning artist and fellow L.A. native Thundercat.

In other words: Do not sleep on Channel Tres. In his Vibe Guide this week, he shares his mantra while making music, as well as where you can find him dancing this summer.