Chè drops a vulnerable gem with his latest EP "Until We Meet Again"
The Singer/Songwriter breaks new ground with this project
The last time we covered Chè was in 2019 for his second EP entitled "L.O.V.E" and we were thoroughly impressed with the Oakland singer/songwriter's ability to weave in and out of both time and genre, blending classic jazz with contemporary R&B and more. As the title suggests, that project was an ode to love that was delivered right around the time of Valentines Day 2019. Over two years later, Chè has followed that project up with "Until We Meet Again". On this six song EP, we witness Chè assess a love that has come and gone with an impressive amount of introspection and depth.
Welcome back to the platform. We featured you once in 2019 for your EP “LOVE”. Can you talk about some of the experiences that have shaped you since then for this project?
Thank you! A lot has happened in between “L.O.V.E.” and “Until We Meet Again”. When I released L.O.V.E. in 2019, I was freshly out of college, working part-time jobs, and felt in a state of flux. I feel much more established now, and I feel like the journey to finding stability and independence has resulted in me having more confidence and trust in myself. I’m always reflecting on the different areas of my life, and I wanted to take a deeper examination into my love life. I wanted to combine the culmination of my experiences with romance so far. It always felt like for one reason or another things would come to an end. I wanted to explore & reflect upon the different ways things ended and how I reacted to them. I wanted this project to embody my process of working through these feelings, the different stages of grief and how to reconcile with the loss of this once euphoric feeling. https://soundcloud.com/che-official/seasons?utm_source=clipboard&utm_campaign=wtshare&utm_medium=widget&utm_content=https%253A%252F%252Fsoundcloud.com%252Fche-official%252Fseasons
Your latest EP feels like something deeply personal and honest. How difficult/easy is it for you to be vulnerable about past experiences in your work?
Translation and vulnerability were two things I wanted to improve upon for this EP. I remember telling myself back in 2018 that I wanted to be more vulnerable and for that to reflect in my music. Being able to translate and express these feelings and experiences into my music has been extremely cathartic for me. It feels like a form of closure because I’m able to put it into words and define the thoughts and feelings that have been swimming around my head for a while. Being vulnerable in my music has become a lot easier than when I first started songwriting. In the beginning I would make up a scenario or situation but as I got more comfortable and gained more experiences, I was able to write from a more personal space.
Musically, we love where you went with the production on this. Who did you work with? What was your creative process like for “Until We Meet Again”?
Thank you! When I release a project, I look at it like a story. There's a beginning, middle, and end. I love finding a way to have cohesion while including a little juxtaposition as well. I like to play with how the environment around you makes you feel. I begin with “Seasons” because it represents the realization that the relationship has changed. And I wanted to follow with “Vacation” because it’s about vacating your current state of mind and re-emerging with a refreshed perspective. It’s like a manifestation of what you know you need, and I wanted to reflect that through repetition and layered harmonies. Songs like “Summer’s Over” and “Malibu (Interlude)” reflect partying and working through the hurt and sadness. But when you get to “Home” it’s much more stripped. It’s about wanting a love and a relationship that will last so I wanted it to be confident, very raw, honest, and vulnerable. And I chose to close out the project with “Peace of Mind” to represent that I have come to accept the experience for all that it was, the good and bad, and can now move on.
"When I release a project, I look at it like a story. There's a beginning, middle, and end. I love finding a way to have cohesion while including a little juxtaposition as well."
Honestly, I’m always hunting for new producers and sounds. Much like my previous projects, I went looking through YouTube and SoundCloud and I was able to come across a few producers that I really liked. They had already created the instrumentals and it felt really effortless writing to the sounds they created. I definitely want to give credit and thanks to GC Beats, Liberty Beats, and Meechy for creating music that inspires me. Everything was very intuitive but also intentional. I never second guess myself when it comes to music which is funny because I’m so indecisive in other areas of my life.
What’s been inspiring you lately? Is there anything you’ve listened to or connected with that had an impact on you while you were creating?
I love listening to and watching artists of all disciplines talk about the stories behind their works. I’m incredibly fascinated with how people are able to transfer and translate the ideas in their mind and into their work. I also love revisiting and learning about the discographies of some of my favorite artists and the conception behind the albums they’ve made. And I’m always inspired by my friends and the passions they have for their craft. I remember having a really meaningful call with my friend AnnonXL who’s an incredible artist. I went through some health issues before the release of this project that impacted my way of living at the time. I was feeling pretty depressed but that call with Annon really helped me get out of my funk and ultimately motivated me to bring this project together.
"Translation and vulnerability were two things I wanted to improve upon for this EP. I remember telling myself back in 2018 that I wanted to be more vulnerable and for that to reflect in my music"
What is the best/most rewarding part about what you do? What keeps you motivated to create new work?
I love feeling dialed in whenever I’m making music. It feels so innate and like I’m in a trance. It’s as if I don’t have to worry about time and I’m just suspended within the moment of creation. That feeling is so addictive and it makes me want to do it over and over again and to do it better than the last time. I would say I’m motivated by the idea of pushing myself, digging deeper into myself to be better and to always improve. I love exploring and expanding my capabilities! And I’m definitely motivated by my fellow artist friends!
Anything else you’d like to add?
Yes, I just wanted to say that I am always looking to collaborate with other artists, producers, engineers, and work on songs from the ground up. That’s something I would love to be a part of and experience. I also can’t wait to release my next project, titled “Ethereality” for now! I also want to take this time to shout some fellow artists and creatives I love and am inspired by: AnnonXL, JimiJame$, Derek Holland (TheDanthology), Amen, Bankwayz, Jailyn Pointdexter, Aaron Wilson Watson, Tyván, Shug, Carmise Bentley, Lauren Richardson, Bèya, Leeyuh Neptune, Elujay, Wow Jones, Anisa Sloan, Blkkkgodd, Josh Clark, and so many more!!