Channing Day, best known as GOD.DAMN.CHAN, is a Portland, ME-based producer and DJ. Chan describes his music as a bubbling fondue pot of hip-hop, trap, electronica, bass, and broken-beat. In Bandcamp Daily’s ears, he sounds like “punishing, face-frying trap,” yet XLR8R commends Chan’s “delicate beats and psychedelic lullabies.” Perhaps it’s his intricate style of genre-bending that’s garnered GOD.DAMN.CHAN loyal fans and attention in the beat community. Having been majorly influenced by the likes of J Dilla, Flying Lotus, and other beat scene mainstays, GOD.DAMN.CHAN set out from his home in Portland to pursue acclaimed L.A. electronic label, Alpha Pup Records.
Longtime Low End Theory resident, DJ Nobody, was one of the first to discover Chan, and quickly put him on a Low End Theory lineup. Flash forward to 2018; GOD.DAMN.CHAN.’s debut album, “Slush“, releases via Alpha Pup Records. On release day, “Slush” quickly climbed iTunes’ “Top 10 Electronic Albums” chart, landing at number 6; an impressive accomplishment for a debut project. Two months later, Chan dropped “VEIB“, a hip-hop collaboration featuring rapper Shane Reis, over beats produced by GOD.DAMN.CHAN. The two projects have since been featured on several of Spotify’s curated playlists including: Silk Sheets, Genre Glitch, Just Bounce, Jazz Vibes, and Fresh Finds. EDM Sauce dubbed Slush one of the “coolest records of the year”, alongside work from heavy-hitters like Alison Wonderland, Sango, and The Glitch Mob.
Daily Steeze had the pleasure of speaking with Channing, to get to know the man behind the trap mask. Here below is our interview with this rising star coming out of Portland, Maine.
DS: Can you take us back to your child hood days? What music did you listen to growing up? Did your taste in music change over time?
CHAN: A lot of hip hop and soul, oldies. First few things I really remember hearing were doggystyle, kriss kross, and the temptations.
DS: Why did you get into music production? What do you like about producing music?
CHAN: I was rapping when I was younger and stole some beats from a producer on myspace. I was proud of the tracks so I sent them to him and he basically responded with “Get this garbage off the internet immediately”. From there I decided I needed to learn how to make my own beats. Fell way more in love with beatmaking than rapping. I have a lot of fun with it.
DS: Did any particular artists inspire you to produce music?
CHAN: dilla, madlib, flying lotus… first time i really heard beat albums. I was shook that people were making albums without words/vocals that could still hold my attention as well if not better than an album with a singer or rapper.
DS: What are some of your favorite current music producers?
CHAN: Madlib, Flying Lotus, Little Snake, Kenny Beats, tek.lun, alchemist
DS: When did you start to develop your own sound?
CHAN: It took a while but probably like 6/7 years into making beats I really started to find my sound. still kinda searching for the next level to it tho. I’ll figure it out by my next LP.
DS: What are some of your upcoming projects?
CHAN: I don’t wanna drop titles but I got an EP dropping soon, and wrapping up a couple other things.
DS: What advice do you have for aspiring artists looking to find their way in the music world?
CHAN: You Get Out what you Get In, and Never stop making shit. ever.
DS: Is there anything else you would like to inform your fans about, so they can get to know you better?
CHAN: If you bring blunts to the shows, we’re automatically friends.
Armed with ambition and talent — and if the traction Chan’s gained in only a short-time is any indication of his trajectory — GOD.DAMN.CHAN has proved he is destined to make a lasting imprint on the beat scene. Check out GOD.DAMN.CHAN on Soundcloud in the link below!
