Channel Tres says he could imagine himself performing at Coachella years ago, when he and one of his best friends attended the festival as fans in 2016.

“I just came and experienced it, but kind of manifested it,” the R&B and rap entertainer said in an interview on the grounds of the Empire Polo Club in Indio. “I figured I’d play there then.”

“(Playing at Coachella) is just a testament to hard work and perseverance and sticking with something and it works,” he added.

The hard work of Channel Tres, real name Sheldon Young, was on full display during Weekend 1 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, when the artist was joined by Ty Dolla $ign for a performance of their last, yet to come. – be released collaboration.

Channel Tres’ music mixes several genres, from rap to jazz to techno, giving festival-goers the perfect beats to rave about, and that’s exactly what they did at the festival’s Sahara tent over the weekend. -end 1.

And even with temperatures in the 90s, the Compton native didn’t let the weather stop him, dancing energetically alongside four backup dancers throughout his show – although he admitted the weather weighed on him.

“It’s hot like (expletive)… Even the water is hot,” Channel Tres joked after performing one of his most popular songs, “Controller.”

Channel Tres also performed their latest single, “Acid in My Blood,” and ended the performance with their hit song, “Topdown,” which is their most streamed single on Spotify. The songs are a testament to the unique sounds Channel Tres has developed, which has earned him collaborations with artists such as Tyler, the Creator.

“I was trained (musically) in church, so generally I try to do all types of music,” Tres said of his work. “I’m a big fan of Parliament and George Clinton, and if you listen to their music, you hear classic jazz, and obviously creative funk, so I’m a funkateer.”

“Music is an art form where I always express myself, and it’s never a set,” he added. “You can always try new things. Then I got into modular synths and electronics and different things like Detroit techno and house music and different things. So it’s kind of like trying different things.”

Although Ty Dolla $ign won’t be making a second appearance, festival-goers can expect plenty of energy during the artist’s Weekend 2 performance. Channel Tres said the biggest difference between performing at Coachella and performing on tour is the size of the crowd.

“You really get into performing a lot more (at festivals),” he said. “At concerts, it’s more intimate. You do the show, but you can kind of adapt it to your fans, and you might not see all the words because they sing them.

Following his Weekend 2 performance – as well as the release of his latest EP, “refresh”, earlier this year – Channel Tres have announced that they will be gearing up for a headlining tour in the fall and will be doing some concerts in Europe. But a main goal will be to complete his first full album.

“I’ve had EPs, but I’ve never released an album, so this will be my first,” Channel Tres said, adding that he hopes to finish it by the end of 2022: “It’s the goal.”

And given his chance to manifest the goals he sets for himself, it’s a safe bet that Channel Tres will see him come to fruition.

Check out Channel Tres’ Weekend 2 performance at 4:20 p.m. Sunday in the Sahara tent.