In 2015, Tez Cadey composed a track called ‘Seve’ in his student room in Lille. The song would go on to be streamed five billion times, quickly making a name for Tez amongst some of the scene’s biggest names. The track’s success led to Tez working with Ultra Music, a label renowned for dance music worldwide. He quickly embarked on an international career, travelling the world to play, especially in Asia, where ‘Seve’ became hugely popular thanks to a series of viral videos. Tez has since gone on to release a plethora of new music with his most recent single being ‘Movin’ On, in collaboration with Khamsin and Majeur Mineur. We catch up with Tez to get the lowdown on his latest collaboration and career so far.
Welcome to Fresh Music Freaks. To get started please can you give our readers some background on who you are and what led you down the path of music production?
Hi, guys thanks for having me. I’m a French American music producer and DJ and have been making music for a little more than 10 years now. I started out wanting to be a DJ and ended up on FL studio making beats because I found it way more fun. Then the music I produced and put out there eventually forced me back behind the decks to DJ.
Who are some of your favorite artists in music and why?
My all-time two favorite artists would be Calvin Harris and Kevin Parker. I just resonate with their creations you know. They hit all the right spots for me. I also love their approach to music and always staying true to themselves, creating what they want to create and composing with their heart. It’s a rare thing nowadays. I also feel on a personal level the reason I admire both so much is that they have an introverted personalities just like I do. I work my best when I’m removed from the world and the people.
The past 2.5 years have been very difficult for everybody. How was it for you and what impact has it had on your creative process?
It was hard not being able to tour because it’s the only real way for us to see how our music has been received by our public. But apart from that, I’d say it was a positive experience for me, especially creatively speaking. Watching the whole world go silent on social and in the street was inspiring. It felt good to not feel expected by anyone anymore. No more races to be the first to get a “summer hit” or play the biggest festival. It allowed me to take a deep breath and find the joy in making music again.
You are perhaps best known for your incredible single ‘Seve’. Which has begun a huge hut worldwide. What is the story behind the single and were you surprised by the crazy success it has achieved so far?
I was obviously surprised, but I never felt it get out of hand. The truth is it wasn’t all that sudden. The song steadily rose over the year but never really made it to the radios around the world. Even up to this day I have a feeling there are still people discovering it on a regular basis. I feel blessed that it happened that way and that the song still breathes today, 7 years after it was released. The song took a long time to finish also. I can’t remember how many versions they were. The most magical moment of its creation for me was when I played the very first demo in a club in Paris. The song was pretty horrible at the time and very different from the version you know but it already had the plucked melody you can hear on the drop. Except it was sitting right in the middle of the track as a break. I still recall to this day how it felt when that part hit. People were starting to move away from the dancefloor and when the melody arrived, they all froze, closed their eyes and started dancing to it. I have goosebumps just speaking of it. At that moment I had no idea it was going to be that big but I knew I had something special.
Your new song is called ‘Movin On’ and is in collaboration with Khamsin and Majeur Mineur. This is not the first time you have worked together, working previously on the single ‘About That’. What’s it like working with Khamsin and Majeur Mineur?
It’s a lot of fun, to be honest. The three of us have a very similar approach to music and creation with no ego involved. We just want to have a good time and create the music we love, with no strings attached. We are also very complimentary so we’re not stepping over each other’s toes. We don’t have any new releases planned together but I’m sure there will be more in the future.
How has the feedback on ‘Movin’ On’ been so far?
It’s been pretty amazing so far. We’ve got many messages from fans and support from playlists on the streaming platform. The song is still very young and I haven’t gotten a chance to play it live yet. I’ll be able soon tho and I can’t wait to see how the crowd reacts.
Do you prefer to collaborate with other artists or work on your own in the studio?
I like collaborating with other artists but when that happens I’m often still working on my own in the studio. I can’t create anything if there is another person in the room. I need to be alone in order to be comfortable. With Majeur Mineur and Khamsin, we started by having each other listen to some demos then the three of us worked on the tracks later at our respective studios.
And what is your current studio set-up?
My current studio setup is two pairs of speakers and my MacBook. I used to have a bunch of hardware plugged in but now I feel like returning to the way I started making music as a kid. Making music and EPs and albums on a laptop and then having it released worldwide feels like magic. I also often work with simple earphones plugged in while sitting on the couch. In the meantime, my Juno 106 has been collecting dust for the past 3 years.
Do you prefer to be in the studio or on stage performing?
I love both! The stage is an intense, stressful but beautiful experience. The studio is a more laidback and chill one. I like when there is a healthy balance between the two.
Are any summer shows coming up where we can catch you DJing?
I’ll be playing soon in the south of France at the Delta Festival at the beginning of July. We’re also looking into a tour of Asia at the end of the summer but nothing sure for now.
What else do you have coming up in the future?
An extra EP will be coming out on the 23rd of June called “Everysingletime”. It’s a departure from my previous releases as it is much faster and harder hitting. But it’s also a love declaration to the club and rave scene I fell in love with 10 years ago. I’m really excited for this one to come out!
Thank you for your time!
