View source for A. Chal

{{Short description|Peruvian singer-songwriter and producer|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name            = A.CHAL
| image           = A CHAL Press Photo from Epic Records 2018.png
| landscape       =
| alt             =
| caption         = A. Chal in 2018
| birth_date     = {{Birth date|1986|05|30}}<ref>{{Cite tweet |user=AlejandroChal|number=1266871795862274048 |title=I am about to go protest [on my birthday]}}</ref>
<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.astro.com/astro-databank/A._Chal|title=A. Chal, Astro Databank|date=August 19, 2022 |access-date=March 10, 2024}}</ref>
| birth_name      = Alejandro Chal Salazar<ref name="people">{{Cite web|url=https://peopleenespanol.com/chica/a-chal-interview/|title=An Afternoon and Evening with A.Chal, the Peruvian Singer-Songwriter up Next|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809050523/https://peopleenespanol.com/chica/a-chal-interview/ |archive-date=August 9, 2019 |access-date=March 10, 2024}}</ref>
| alias           =
| birth_place     = [[Trujillo, Peru]]
| origin          = [[Queens, New York]], [[U.S.]]
| genre           = {{flatlist|
* [[Latin trap]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en_au/article/kzvjn9/as-latin-trap-thrives-a-chal-is-the-one-to-watch-in-2019|title=As Latin Trap Thrives, A. CHAL Is The One To Watch In 2019|first=Gary|last=Suarez|date=December 28, 2018}}</ref>
* [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]
* [[Hip hop music|hip hop]]
* [[chillwave]]
* [[Pop music|pop]]
* [[Soul music|soul]]
}}
| occupation      = {{flatlist|
* Singer
* songwriter
* rapper
* record producer
}}
| instrument      = Vocals
| years_active    = 2011–present
| label           = {{hlist|[[Epic Records|Epic]] {{small|(current)}}|[[Empire Distribution|Empire]] {{small|(former)}}}}
| associated_acts = {{flatlist|
* [[Rosalía (singer)|Rosalía]]
* [[Gunna (rapper)|Gunna]]
* [[Zane Lowe]]
* [[Jennifer Lopez]]
* [[Lali Espósito|Lali]]
* [[2 Chainz]]
* [[Nicky Jam]]
* [[Darell (rapper)|Darell]]
}}
| website         = {{URL|gazi.world/}}
}}
'''Alejandro Chal Salazar''' (born May 30th, 1986), professionally known as '''A. Chal''' (stylized '''A.CHAL'''),<ref name="Remezcla">{{cite news | last=Montano| first=Zoe| title =Meet A.Chal, the Sultry R&B Singer You Won't Be Able to Get Out of Your Head| work = Remezcla| date =July 10, 2015 | url =http://remezcla.com/releases/music/meet-a-chal/| accessdate =December 5, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Idol">{{cite news| last =Williams| first =Megan| title =Meet A.CHAL: LA's Rising Star| work =Idol Magazine| date =June 3, 2015| url =http://www.idolmag.co.uk/music/meet-a-chal-las-rising-star/| accessdate =December 5, 2016| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20170505184437/http://www.idolmag.co.uk/music/meet-a-chal-las-rising-star/| archive-date =May 5, 2017| url-status =dead}}</ref> is a Peruvian-American singer-songwriter, rapper, and record producer.<ref name="XXL">{{cite news | last=Krastz| first=Roger| title =A.Chal Has His Sights Set on World Domination| work= [[XXL (magazine)|XXL]]| date =September 28, 2016 | url =http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2016/09/a-chal-interview/| accessdate =December 5, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Noisey">{{cite news | last=Seabrook III| first=Robby| title =Welcome to A.CHAL's Changing World| work = [[Noisey]]| date =September 13, 2016 | url =https://noisey.vice.com/en_us/article/welcome-to-achals-changing-world| accessdate =December 5, 2016}}</ref> He released his first EP, ''Ballroom Riots'', in 2013.<ref name="Noisey"/><ref name="PP2016">{{cite news | last=Muir| first=Jules| title =A.CHAL on the Afterlife, Equality, and Reaching GAZI Level| work = [[Pigeons & Planes]]| date =August 17, 2016 | url =http://pigeonsandplanes.com/interviews/2016/08/achal-welcome-to-gazi-interview/| accessdate =December 5, 2016}}</ref> His debut studio album, ''Welcome to GAZI'', was self-released in June 2016.<ref name="Noisey"/><ref name="Noisey2">{{cite news | title =A.CHAL Drops Regretful but Cathartic "Far From Home"| work = Noisey| date =May 31, 2016 | url =https://noisey.vice.com/en_us/article/achal-drops-regretful-but-cathartic-far-from-home| accessdate =December 5, 2016}}</ref> His single, "Round Whippin{{'"}}, was premiered by [[Zane Lowe]] in 2015.<ref name="PP2016"/><ref name="Noisey2"/> He has performed at the Day N Nite Fest.<ref name="Remezcla"/><ref name="Idol"/><ref name="Noisey"/> ''[[Pigeons & Planes]]'' named him one of the best new artists in 2015.<ref name="PP2015">{{cite news | title =Best New Artists of 2015| work = [[Pigeons & Planes]]| date =December 17, 2015 | url =http://pigeonsandplanes.com/in-depth/2015/12/best-new-artists-of-2015/| accessdate =December 5, 2016}}</ref>
==Early life==
Alejandro Chal Salazar was born in [[Trujillo, Peru]], where he lived for 4 years before his family moved to [[Queens]], New York City. His mother was from rural northern Peru.<ref name="XXL"/> His stage name is derived from his brother's name, Ichal who died at 2 weeks old, which in turn originated from a mountain that was named after that his father grew up near in Peru, along with being closer to large Peruvian cities.<ref name="people"/> He began rapping at age 12 and later started making beats and writing songs with a friend at the Museum of Science in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In 2010, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career as a songwriter and producer.<ref name="Remezcla"/>
==Career==
A.CHAL released his debut EP, ''Ballroom Riots'', in 2013. The album found some success, which he later signed a publishing deal with [[Sony/ATV Music Publishing]].<ref name="Remezcla"/><ref name="XXL"/> In June 2014, he produced the song "Never Satisfied" by American singer [[Jennifer Lopez]], from her eighth studio album [[A.K.A. (album)|A.K.A.]]
===2015 – 2017===
However, after this appearance A.CHAL kept low profile for two years before taking up his artistic pursuits in a highly diversified way. In 2015, he began a series of single releases, which one after another forged his community of followers.
He then spent two years out of the public spotlight before beginning to release a variety of singles in 2015.<ref name="Remezcla"/><ref name="PP2016"/> One of those singles, "Round Whippin'", was debuted online on [[The Fader]] and then followed up with a world premiere on Zane Lowe's [[Beats 1]] channel and supported on Canadian rapper [[Drake (musician)|Drake]]'s [[OVO Sound Radio]].<ref name="PP2016"/><ref name="Noisey2"/><ref name="USA"/> As a result of this publicity, A.CHAL was named one of ''[[Pigeons & Planes]]'' best new artists of 2015.<ref name="PP2015"/> He also performed at the ''[[Interview Magazine]]'' event during [[Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival|Coachella]] that year.<ref name="Remezcla"/><ref name="Idol"/>
In February 2015, he released the single "GAZI", which he co-produced with [[Count Justice]].<ref name="Remezcla"/> In September 2015, A.CHAL released another a single, "Vibe W/U", which was first publicized by American rapper [[ASAP Rocky]] on his Twitter profile.<ref name="PP2016"/><ref name="Noisey2"/><ref name="USA">{{cite news | last1=Peters| first1=Micah|last2=Scott|first2= Nate| title =The 10 best songs of the week| newspaper =[[USA Today]]| date =October 16, 2015 | url =http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/10/the-10-best-songs-of-the-week-10-16-15| accessdate =December 5, 2016}}</ref> In 2016, A.CHAL performed at the Day N Nite Fest.<ref name="Noisey"/> He also released a few more singles before self-releasing his debut studio album, ''Welcome to GAZI'', in June 2016.<ref name="XXL"/><ref name="Noisey2"/> He has since premiered the official music video for "Round Whippin'" with [[Complex (magazine)|Complex.com]]<ref name="COMPLEX">{{cite news | last=Mench| first=Chris| title =Premiere: A.CHAL Shares the Dreamy Video for "Round Whippin'"| work = [[Complex (magazine)|Complex]]| date =August 10, 2016 | url =http://www.complex.com/music/2016/08/a-chal-new-video-round-whippin| accessdate =December 5, 2016}}</ref> and been featured on tracks by Ro James,<ref name="Ro">{{cite news | last=Kellman| first=Andy| title =Eldorado – Ro James – AllMusic Review by Andy Kellman| publisher =[[AllMusic]]| date =2016 | url =http://www.allmusic.com/album/eldorado-mw0002935478| accessdate =December 5, 2016}}</ref> Stwo,<ref name="Stwo">{{cite news | last=Wilson| first=Zanda| title =Hear A.CHAL Vibin On Stwo's New Cut 'Out At Night'| work =The Interns| date =June 21, 2016 | url =http://theinterns.net/2016/06/21/hear-chal-vibin-stwos-new-cut-night/| accessdate =December 5, 2016}}</ref> and Tess.<ref name="Tess">{{cite news | title =Tess – Endlessly (Ft. A. CHAL)| publisher =Fashionably Early| date =November 16, 2016 | url =http://www.fashionably-early.com/2016/11/16/tess-endlessly-ft-a-chal/| accessdate =December 5, 2016}}</ref>
On June 2, 2017, he released the single "Cuánto", featuring American rapper [[ASAP Nast]].
===2018 – 2019===
On January 25, 2018, Alejandro released the remix of his single "Love N Hennessy", featuring American rapper [[2 Chainz]] and reggaeton singer [[Nicky Jam]].
In March 2018, A.CHAL signed a record deal with [[Epic Records]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Estavez|first1=Marjua|title=A.CHAL Signs Deal With Epic Records|url=https://www.vibe.com/2018/03/a-chal-signs-with-epic-records/|accessdate=March 8, 2018|publisher=Vibe Magazine|date=March 5, 2018|archive-date=March 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180308231625/https://www.vibe.com/2018/03/a-chal-signs-with-epic-records/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In November of the same year, he produced the song "[[Bottled Up]]" by American singer [[Dinah Jane]], with rapper [[Ty Dolla Sign]] and singer [[Marc E. Bassy]].
In April 2019, A. CHAL was featured in Spanish singer [[Rosalía (singer)|Rosalía]]'s song "[[Me Traicionaste (song)|Me Traicionaste]]", which appeared on the American TV series [[Game of Thrones]] soundtrack, "[[For the Throne: Music Inspired by the HBO Series Game of Thrones]]".
===2020–present===
On May 6, 2020, Alejandro released the single "Hollywood Love", featuring American rapper [[Gunna (rapper)|Gunna]].
==Musical style==
A.CHAL's music generally fits into the hip hop and R&B genres. ''[[USA Today]]'' has described his music as falling somewhere "in the negative space between Hip-Hop, R&B, [[chillwave]], and pop music."<ref name="USA"/> A.CHAL himself has described his music's genre as [[Soul music|soul]].<ref name="XXL"/> His sound has also been characterized as "sedated", "hazy", and "almost-psychedelic".<ref name="Remezcla"/><ref name="PP2015"/><ref name="HB">{{cite news | last=Montes| first=Patrick| title =A.Chal – Round Whippin| work =HypeBeast| date =June 23, 2015 | url =http://hypebeast.com/2015/06/a-chal-round-whippin| accessdate =December 5, 2016}}</ref> ''Remezcla'' has called his voice "sultry, sparse, and desperate".<ref name="Remezcla"/>
Lyrically, he largely discusses anecdotal experiences. Writing about his 2016 album ''Welcome to GAZI'', Jules Muir of ''Pigeons & Planes'' noted that A.CHAL attempts to cut "to the core of many of society's ills and triumphs by tapping into a deep well of personal experiences and anecdotes."<ref name="PP2016"/>
==Discography==
===Studio albums===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
|+ List of albums
! scope="col" style="width:10em;" | Title
! scope="col" style="width:23em;" | Details
|-
! scope="row" | ''Welcome to Gazi''
|
* Release: June 3, 2016
* Label: [[Empire Distribution|Empire]]
* Format: Digital download, [[Streaming media|streaming]]
|-
! scope="row" | ''On Gaz''
|
* Release: June 2, 2017
* Label: Empire
* Format: Digital download, streaming
|}
===EPs===
*''Ballroom Riots'' (2013)
*''Exotigaz'' (2018)
===Singles===
====As lead artist====
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"| Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:1em;"| Year
! scope="col" colspan="4"| Peak chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album
|-
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay|US<br />R&B<br />Airplay]]<br /><ref name="USR&BA">{{cite magazine|title=A.CHAL Chart History: R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/achal/chart-history/hot-r-and-b-hip-hop-airplay|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809090834/https://www.billboard.com/music/achal/chart-history/hot-r-and-b-hip-hop-airplay|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 9, 2018|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|accessdate=August 9, 2018}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[Latin Pop Songs|US<br />Latin<br />Pop]]<br /><ref name="USLatinPop">{{cite magazine|title=A.CHAL Chart History: Latin Pop Songs|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/achal/chart-history/latin-pop-songs|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|accessdate=May 7, 2019}}{{dead link|date=December 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[Rap Airplay|US<br />Rap<br />Airplay]]<br /><ref name="USRapA">{{cite magazine|title=A.CHAL Chart History: Rap Airplay|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/achal/chart-history/rap-airplay|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809122013/https://www.billboard.com/music/achal/chart-history/rap-airplay|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 9, 2018|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|accessdate=August 9, 2018}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[Rap Airplay|US<br />Rhy.]]<br /><ref name="USRhythmic">{{cite magazine|title=A.CHAL Chart History: Rhhythmic Songs|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/achal/chart-history/rhythmic-40|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180521001415/https://www.billboard.com/music/achal/chart-history/rhythmic-40|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 21, 2018|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|accessdate=August 9, 2018}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| "Round Whippin'"
| 2016
| — || — || — || —
| ''Welcome to Gazi''
|-
! scope="row"| "To the Light"
| rowspan="5"| 2017
| — || — || — || —
| rowspan="5"| ''On Gaz''
|-
! scope="row"| "Matrix"
| — || — || — || —
|-
! scope="row"| "Love N Hennessy"<br />{{small|(solo or featuring [[2 Chainz]] and [[Nicky Jam]])}}
| 50 || — || 24 || 20
|-
! scope="row"| "Perdóname"
| — || — || — || —
|-
! scope="row"| "Cuánto"<br />{{small|(featuring [[ASAP Nast]])}}
| — || — || — || —
|-
! scope="row"| "000000"
| 2019
| — || 40 || — || 28
| ''Exotigaz''
|-
! scope="row"| "Hollywood Love"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allaccess.com/top40-rhythmic|title=Top 40 Rhythmic Crossover|publisher=All Access|accessdate=July 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200709104626/https://www.allaccess.com/top40-rhythmic|archive-date=July 9, 2020}}</ref><br />{{small|(featuring [[Gunna (rapper)|Gunna]])}}
| 2020
| — || — || — || —
| {{n/a|Non-album single}}
|-
|-
| colspan="14" style="font-size:90%" | "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
|}
====As featured artist====
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"| Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:1em;"| Year
! scope="col" colspan="4"| Peak chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album
|-
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | [[Monitor Latino|ARG]]<br /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://charts.monitorlatino.com/top20/Print/argentina/General/20180521|title=Top 20 Argentina – Del 21 al 27 de Mayo, 2018|publisher=[[Monitor Latino]]|accessdate=May 29, 2018|language=es}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | [[National-Report|ECU]]<br /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.national-report.com/top-ecuador/|title=Top 100 Ecuador – Semana 26 del 2018 – Del 22/06/2018 al 28/06/2018|publisher=[[National-Report]]|accessdate=July 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629181259/http://www.national-report.com/top-ecuador/|archive-date=June 29, 2018}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | [[Mexico Airplay|MEX]]<br /><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/2018-06-09/mexico|title=Mexico Airplay : Jun 09, 2018|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|publisher=[[Prometheus Global Media]]|accessdate=June 5, 2018|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | [[Monitor Latino|URU]]<br /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://charts.monitorlatino.com/top20/Print/uruguay/general/20180625|title=Top 20 Uruguay – Del 25 de Junio al 1 de Julio, 2018|publisher=[[Monitor Latino]]|accessdate=July 13, 2018|language=es}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| "No Promises"<br />{{small|(Youth Is Dead featuring A.Chal)}}
| 2014
| — || — || — || —
| {{n/a|Non-album single}}
|-
! scope="row"| "Out at Night"<br />{{small|([[Stwo]] featuring A.Chal)}}
| rowspan="2"| 2016
| — || — || — || —
| ''D.T.S.N.T.''
|-
! scope="row"| "Endlessly"<br />{{small|([[Tess (singer)|Tess]] featuring A.Chal)}}
| — || — || — || —
| ''Tess''
|-
! scope="row"| "Primavera"<br />{{small|(Soso and Hansaa featuring A.Chal)}}
| 2017
| — || — || — || —
| {{n/a|Non-album single}}
|-
! scope="row"| "No Te Pegas"<br />{{small|(C.Tangana featuring A.Chal)}}
| rowspan="2"| 2018
| — || — || — || —
| {{TBA}}
|-
! scope="row"| "[[100 Grados]]"<br />{{small|([[Lali Espósito|Lali]] featuring A.Chal)}}
| 19 || 53 || 38 || 8
| ''[[Brava (Lali Espósito album)|Brava]]''
|-
! scope="row"| "Madonna"<br />{{small|(Hamza featuring A.Chal)}}
| rowspan="2"| 2019
| — || — || — || —
| ''Paradise''
|-
! scope="row"| "[[Me Traicionaste]]"<br />{{small|([[Rosalía (singer)|Rosalía]] featuring A.Chal)}}
| — || — || — || —
| ''[[For the Throne: Music Inspired by the HBO Series Game of Thrones]]''
|-
| colspan="14" style="font-size:90%" | "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
|}
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20161102194452/http://www.gazi.world/ Official website]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chal, A}}
[[Category:American hip hop musicians]]
[[Category:Hispanic and Latino American musicians]]
[[Category:Musicians from Queens, New York]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Epic Records artists]]
[[Category:Peruvian emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:Latin trap musicians]]
[[Category:1989 births]]