Enfnts Terribles

The album is out for a while now. How are you looking back at the journey? Was it a true rollercoaster?

Looking back, I feel like everything in my life always goes a bit like I expected, but the specific way towards it is always different. Making and releasing this album felt like I hoped it to be, but the whole album promotion plan was a trip that I’m just getting out of. It’s like I haven’t been able to fully retrospect just yet. Now, the promo storm is getting a little calmer, which means I’m currently going to the studio again with a slightly different approach. Everything is more open, there is no script or plan for what has to be made. I’m free to create anything.

Did the album fulfill your expectations? Do you feel like people understand what the album means?

Good question. I’m super happy with the numbers of the album. The tracks I predicted to do well filled in the expectations. However, you notice that only a small percentage of the audience actually listens to the whole project, which makes it difficult to get across the meaning behind the full album. Of course, that’s no surprise, since it’s an album with many guests. Fans of one particular artist on the project – for example Bhavi – that speak Spanish, won’t necessarily continue to listen to a French or Dutch song. But at the same time, there are plenty of people that listen to the album from start to finish. I appreciate every approach. I’m here to create and put out music that I love. People are free to enjoy that in their own way.

How did you put together the tracklist of INSIDEOUT?

It’s mostly based on my gut feeling. The title is INSIDEOUT and the theory behind the album is to live life from the inside out. I feel like we should aim more towards being active creators of life from within, instead of undergoing our circumstances. Sonically, the first half of the album feels like the experience of the inner world. “Revolution” with Charles and Sofiane Pamart is the turning point towards the second half, which has a more outgoing feel to it.

Every song of yours has the tag ‘Chuki got the sauce’. How would you define ‘the sauce’ to someone who doesn’t know what stands for?

The sauce is a combination of knowledge, confidence, and
effortlessness. It’s difficult to explain but I got this question a few times already. How do I explain this? You can do something with and without sauce. You can construct a building with sauce, design clothes with sauce, … it’s more a general feeling and it doesn’t really matter to what it refers.

You’re working on a show called ‘Chuki & Friends’ in Ancienne Belgique. How do you create this headline show based on the festival shows you already did?

I think I want to add an extra musician and play a bit more instrumental. I released quite a lot of instrumentals before this album, and I want a part of the show to focus on that. My friend Dejavu, who was part of the festival shows as well, is a great drummer. I would love to add a guitarist so Dejavu can focus on doing more rhythmic stuff. We’ll also continue to explore the live versions of certain songs. Adding thislive feeling is super important to me because I feel like some artists are not that creative with their shows. Some people can pull that off by compensating with high energy, but others could use some extra effort when it comes to bringing a true “live” experience in my opinion.

Where do you see yourself in the future and what will you do to achieve your goals?

Mentally, I’m already there. (Laughs) I enjoyed making the album, and I will continue to enjoy making music. I might take a more goal-oriented approach for the future though, working with a clear vision in everything I do. I also want to work more consistently on my YouTube because the combination of that with the album release wasn’t always easy.
Besides that, I want to be even more selective in the artists I work with. I want to work with people that have the same ambition and hunger to get there.