CHOMMI RELEASES ‘SLOW MOTION’ – THE FIRST SINGLE FROM ‘ROOTS.’
A tribute to the car rides, the vibes, and the music he grew up with.
chommi, the artist project of PENTHUS Music founder Amund Valde, releases ‘Slow Motion’ today – the first single from ‘Roots’, a universe of new songs rolling out over the next year. ‘Slow Motion’ is house music coloured by the songs and memories Amund grew up with, artists like Pat Metheny and Fatboy Slim among them, drawing as much from pop and jazz as from the dancefloor.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
1. You describe Chommi as your “comfort project.” What does that mean to you, and how does making music as Chommi feel different from producing for other artists?
It’s something completely different to make music for yourself. When I’m producing for other artist I’m trying to respond on their wishes and do everything to match what they’re looking for. Chommi is the project where I don’t have to listen to any third party in the room kinda thing. Just go with the flow and answer my own thoughts. Don’t get me wrong tho; making music of others is also very fun! But this is different.
2. “Slow Motion” is described as a tribute to late-night drives, jazz chords, and the house music underneath it all. What was the first memory, feeling, or sound that sparked the track?
There was a friend of mine who showed me a track by Shift K3Y a year ago. I thought the track was the coolest house track I’ve hard in years. My dad has always tried to convince me to use my musical background. To use more advanced chords and grooves in my own songs. That Shift K3Y track showed me that it’s possible to make house I like with chords I like. I just needed someone to show it to me. And now I make my dad proud as well 🙂
3. You’ve mentioned the music your parents played in the car on the way to kindergarten. How much do you think those early, almost subconscious musical memories shape the music you make today?
It has shaped me a lot! More than I’ve ever could imagined. When I record dummy vocals for a track I sing them like my dad sang dummy vocals on the piano in the living room when I was three. Almost all the chords I use today is the same chords I found in songs when I was 10. I still love them and they still work.
4. Pat Metheny and Fatboy Slim are two very different references, yet both appear in the DNA of this project. What do you take from artists who might seem completely unrelated on paper?
The melodies in Pat Methenys work are next level and the simplicity in Fatboy Slims songs are next level. It’s two performers that found the gold on both side of the scale – Pat for awesome complexity and melodies, and Mr Fatboy for awesome simplicity. Both are super important!
5. You’ve spent years producing across different genres for other artists. Did working within other people’s musical worlds change the way you approached creating something that is entirely your own?
Yes. But not in the way I thought. I have made two albums in my life for other artist. From start to end. I had to really deep dive into their mind and understand what they want to say, how they want to say it and turn every stone to get there. That’s not what I’ve done here. The opposite. I’m a melody and groove guy. I found the chords, topline and groove in like five minutes and wrote the lyrics in 10. That almost never happen when I’m making music for other artist. So I think I’ve turned so many stones that I didn’t wanted to use energy on that with this one. I loved it from minute one and that was enough.
6. You’ve described *Roots* as a universe of music that will unfold over the next year. How connected are the songs to one another, and what can listeners expect to discover as that universe develops?
Very connected. Everything is based on my roots. Where I’m from, what I’ve listened to until this day and experiences. The chords, the melodies and the way it’s produced is very “me”. My friends and colleagues hear that from the first 10 seconds. I hope listeners who don’t know me will hear that after some songs as well!
7. There’s a clear connection between the nostalgic elements of *Roots* and the newer UK house scene, with artists like Sammy Virji and Duskus mentioned as influences. What are you hearing in that scene that excites you right now?
It’s probably the creativity and the redesigned classic house vibes. The raw feelings in much of Duskus music are really impressive. And Sammy Virji sounds likes he’s from 2003 with a million dollar 2026 production. I find that super interesting and inspiring. Right now I think the invitation of new genres and producers in to that UK garagey world is really fresh. House producers working with trap producers and folk singers. Very fun!
8. You wrote, produced, top-lined, mixed, and mastered “Slow Motion,” with Celine Rensel contributing as co-writer and vocalist. How did the collaboration with Celine shape the final version of the song?
She’s a really good friend and colleague. She understands what I think is cool and I understand what she thinks is cool. This makes it usually very easy to work together. We have done lots of different music for different projects together. I think she noticed the ownership I had making this song. I didn’t let her do anything before I had the chords, melody and hook hahah. But then she recorded it with her Celine-magic, did some small adjustments and the song became much better within seconds!
9. Your work with PENTHUS Music puts you in a position where you’re constantly hearing and developing other artists’ music. Does being an A&R and label founder make it harder to switch off that analytical side when you’re creating your own music?
I think I will never analyze my own music the same way I analyze others people music. I have to ask my fellow A&Rs in PENTHUS for feedback all the time. I think people can see that everywhere. It’s like giving relationship advices; you can tell your friends what to do in the situation and you see the situation super clear. But if you end up in that situation yourself you can’t the same perspective as you saw for your friends. If that makes sense.. Makes sense to me!
10. If someone listens to “Slow Motion” on a late-night drive and then hears the rest of *Roots* over the coming year, what do you hope they understand about Chommi that they wouldn’t get from simply knowing your work in the industry?
That I’m actually a quite talented musician hahah. And I hope the smile when they listen to it. Because I smiled every second of making it.
Ends………
Chommi is Amund Valde’s own artist project – free from genre requirements, built on his own references. The project has already drawn attention from established DJs and industry people in Norway and abroad. His previous single, ‘High’, was released a year ago and remains in rotation on Norwegian radio.
Amund Valde is founder, GM and A&R at PENTHUS Music AS, and has previously worked as a producer and musician with artists including boy pablo, Kapteinen, Kamelen, and Zupermaria, as well as being part of the duo Mat Duo.
About PENTHUS Music
PENTHUS Music AS is an independent record label, booking agency, and management company based in Oslo, built around house music and artists who write, produce, and perform their own material. The company distributes through Gladstone Music Group.
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