“Material Girl” producer Tre Trax has become a musical force in Atlanta, but his reach extends across the globe.
Since I was young, I always had a detailed vision of who I wanted to be,” shares producer Tre Trax (@tretrax). At just 17 years old, he produced a viral track, and from that moment his sights were locked in on greatness. Now, 23 and familiarized with the industry, he has contributed unmatched moments in music and social media history. His megapopular record “Walk,” with Saucy Santana, inspired countless content creators and celebrities to recreate the confident catwalk trend. While people are debating which areas classify as Atlanta and which don’t, we checked in for the latest on his journey to shining an even greater spotlight on this highly influential city.
Where are you from? How did you land in Atlanta? I was born and raised in Bay Shore, Long Island, N.Y. I initially came down to Atlanta to go to Georgia State for school. I also had a song on the radio down here, which was a big plus.
When did you begin producing? I started producing when I was 12 or 13, and I always knew it was what I wanted to do, but it wasn’t until I was 17 and had a song that went viral that I knew this was what I was going to pursue.
How has your familial upbringing influenced your career? Music has been my life from the beginning. My dad used to be in bands and manage a whole slew of artists. He always kept something like a studio in the house and had me come to studio sessions with him. I would play alongside him in the church band very early on and spend every Saturday at band rehearsal.
What has been your greatest achievement? Becoming the producer that I’ve always known I could be. Since I was young, I always had a detailed vision of who I wanted to be, and to see it come true completely means everything to me. Also, launching my company, TRAX SZN, because that is something that I have always wanted to do and I made it happen. TRAX SZN is my own personal imprint that I launched in 2019 and serves as an all-around music company.
Tell us about your reaction to the national support you received from producing “Walk” and “Material Girl.” What was the inspiration behind that work? When “Walk” first went viral, it seemed very unreal. Literally every female celebrity you could think of was doing it, from Ciara to Gabrielle Union to Ellen to Kelly Rowland to Jada Pinkett Smith. Literally every day I was waking up to a video on my timeline of a new celebrity doing the challenge. But, when “Material Girl” popped and did the same exact thing—but even bigger—that sealed the deal for me.
What inspires your art? I’m inspired by a lot of things. Sometimes, I get inspired by other musicians to create something in the likes of them. Other times, I’m inspired by experiences and vibes, like I could go to the club, feel the energy and want to make a club banger.
How do you remain authentic in your art in an era of constantly changing trends and battles for relevancy? Has social media influenced how you approach music? I try to keep blinders on and remain focused on me. I’m very big on self-awareness and knowing who I am and what I want at the end of the day. Being very firm with myself allows me to not be swayed by what others have going on.
Social media definitely has altered my look on creating music because I now understand the science and have my own personal formula for it. Once I figured that out, now I’m in my groove and everything has been happening smoother.
Why is your work and sound unique? My sound is unique because it’s uniquely crafted for that artist. Sometimes I might take a week or so to just make a bunch of beats for a specific artist or I might just cook up on the spot and just go off the vibes at that current moment, which is even more authentic. For example, me and Santana did that for ‘Shisha.’ [We were in the studio and] I had pre-made hookah and one of the things he just randomly asked was ‘Where the shisha?’ and that’s how that [song] came along.
How has the culture of Atlanta impacted your craft? I’m a New Yorker at heart, so even down to my music taste I still keep that with me, but Atlanta has definitely opened my ears to some new sounds and grooves that I incorporate in my music.
What are your hobbies outside of producing? If I’m not producing, I’m either playing with my dog, Quincy, or binge-watching movies; that’s definitely my go-to.
Tre's Favs
Lounge — Copper Cove, @coppercovebuckhead
Rooftop — Whiskey Blue, @whiskeyblueatl
Restaurant — Cuts Steakhouse, @cutssteakhouse
Hangout — Hide Kitchen & Cocktails, @hidelounge
Photography by: Photo by Brandon Ogene and 404 Culture
