The upcoming addition to our mixtape ranks is none other than Shaun J. Wright! Hailing from the western suburbs of Chicagoland, the formative teenage years of Shaun J. Wright were filled with the pulsating sounds of house music. During the golden age of house in the late 80s and early 90s, this genre buzzed through the airwaves of Chicago’s leading radio stations. Being at the heart of the house movement during these crucial years, Wright’s passion for dance music grew throughout high school, engaging in the then-emerging underground dance phenomenon known as Juke.
Attending Morehouse College in Atlanta for their undergraduate studies, Wright honed their talents as a dancer in the vibrant vogue ballroom scene and with leading professional dance troupes. Following this, Wright went on to earn an MA in Fashion Curation from the London College of Fashion and delved into an energetic fashion career in New York City. It was there, in 2008, that they encountered Andrew Butler of Hercules and Love Affair fame, igniting a dynamic voice collaboration with the group. Spanning over three years, Wright toured with them across North and South America and Europe, gracing numerous prestigious stages and festivals. They also played a crucial role in the group’s highly praised second album, “Blue Songs”.
This mix is a snapshot of a full night out with me behind the decks, from the building groove to the banging beats, as the night progresses. I appreciate going on a full journey with peaks and valleys throughout.
Wright made a comeback to Chicago in 2012, determined to carve out a solo career in music. Soon after, a collaboration with the esteemed DJ and producer Alinka began, and in spring 2013, they launched their event Twirl. Not long after, their initial EP ‘Twirl Vol. 1′ was released under the revered Classic Music Company of Luke Solomon and Derrick Carter. Late 2014 saw their Twirl Records’ maiden release, ‘Journey Into The Deep’ EP, featuring remixes by Kim Ann Foxman and Stereogamous, earning widespread acclaim from media houses such as DJ Mag and XLR8R, and nods from BBC Radio 1’s Heidi and Annie Mac, alongside numerous influential DJs.
Supplementing their successive Twirl Records drops, Wright & Alinka compiled an extensive discography with several leading labels like Defected and Midnight Riots. Wright also continues in-demand collaborations with artists like Kim Ann Foxman and Nicholas, releasing tracks on labels including Nervous Records and BPitch Control. Well-known for electrifying DJ sets globally—from Sydney’s shores to Berlin’s Panorama Bar—Wright incorporates live vocals, making waves in cities like Stockholm and Barcelona as well as stateside in NYC and Los Angeles. In Chicago, they are a celebrated resident at the iconic Smartbar. Notably, Wright crafted the pre-show playlist for Beyonce’s innovative Renaissance World Tour.
Wright’s diverse background and immersion in sundry dance music realms affords them a distinctive outlook that’s as precious as it is unusual. They seamlessly enrapture crowds, providing a performance that is as emotionally stirring as it is physically and mentally invigorating. With a vision that spans wide, Wright is poised to further their artistic impact with the anticipated release of solo work in 2024 and the years to follow.
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Feature photo by Alan Epstein
Keep your eyes peeled for Shaun’s ‘Submersion’ on ‘The Synergy Vol.2’ out on the Black Artist Database’s B.A.D. label, releasing on April 5th.
