Tsatsamis embraces escapism into hedonism on electropop single “Recreational”

Driven by an undercurrent of lust and sweat, “Recreational” is cut with a pulsing beat synonymous with a thumping heart. There’s a push-and-pull between the track’s 80s dance-factor and electronic immediacy that posits Tsatsamis as extraordinarily innovative.

“I love the songwriting, energy and vocal performance of 80s and 90s music, with the sharpness and brightness of modern electronic music,” Tsatsamis tells BEST FIT. “Vocally, I’m inspired a lot by Bronski Beat, George Michael and Wham!, Soft Cell, Tears For Fears and Prince, who have all been huge influences in the past year. On the flip side, artists and producers like Lorde, Caroline Polachek, Charli xcx, Addison Rae and Danny L Harle influence a lot of my production and are also who I’m culturally most engaged with at the moment. Me and the girls!”

The line “recreational fantasy” melts on the tongue, hovering between wanting to indulge in a feeling and the intensity of it being imposed on you. “For me, it represented this idea of escapism into hedonism,” Tsatsamis muses. “There is a specific moment that influenced the story, but the feeling in general is one that only happens when you’re in a club or a festival completely enveloped by music and other bodies.”

The story behind “Recreational” furthers its poignancy, as Tsatsamis reveals his struggle to let go of the hedonistic desires that pull him in. “I had this one weekend last summer at a festival where I actually let go completely and suspended any of the usual anxieties or guilt that would typically pull me back,” he reveals. His queerness feeds directly into his musical process, too. “Being gay influences my music culturally more than anything, and informs the experiences that fuel the music,” he says. “The people I hang out with, make out with, the music I listen to and the clubs I go to. Just being biologically wired into pop culture, what my friends are listening to and what gigs we go to [has an influence].”

In terms of the songwriting process, “Recreational” presented itself as an accidental miracle. “I wrote it with an amazing producer and writer, and now friend, Isaac, aka Sakima. We started this as just a shot in the dark, and it came together so quickly. I remember listening to the one-minute demo voice note I had for half the train journey back to London [from the studio]. I then brought the production into my world, with the help of Clarence Clarity who helped amp it all up.”

“Recreational” is just the start of Tsatsamis’ musical journey in the coming months. To celebrate the release, he hosted a single launch party at London’s Roses of Elagabalus. He will also be making an appearance at HOWL’s Love Ball. “I’ve just announced my mixtape Tsycophant which is coming out later this year,” he shares. “There’s going be a tour announced shortly, too. I’ve been sitting on this new music for a while now, and I’m really desperate to let everyone hear it.”