Limited Edition vinyl run of MOODY UMBRA, Shawnee Dez’s debut album, from Smashed Plastic Pressing. Pre-Order now - shipping in May 2024 from Chicago, IL.
Check out Shawnee Dez latest single LET ME!
Listen to “don’t 4get”, a song I wrote to baby Shawnee
From Chicago’s South Side, music artist Shawnee Dez intently engages her audience, encouraging energy exchanges first and foremost. Dez is concerned with ancestral knowledge and performance as an opportunity to channel and communicate with the past and future. Her music style consists of heavy use of harmonic layering, a fusion of live instrumentation with digital production, topped off with her dynamic multi-ranged alto melodic voice, creating the perfect dreamscape.
When off the stage, Shawnee’s work centers youth and community advocacy. She activates spaces for creative youth to express unapologetically. In June 2020, Shawnee organized a mass Pre-Juneteenth Black Joy bike ride through Chicago’s Metropolitan area. This ride was a symbol of liberation and mobility, during a time where many were heavily limited by the horrifying effects of two pandemics: systemic racism and COVID-19.
"Chicago singer Shawnee Dez evokes a wide range of emotions with her sultry and dreamy voice and sound that straddles between Soul and R&B with a pinch of contemporary electronic synths." - Vocalo Radio
Shawnee Dez host SUG N JAM Open Mic at FDC 2019
photo cred: Jacob Kind
SUG N JAM Open Mic is a vibrant and inclusive community initiative aimed at fostering musical talent, nurturing creativity, and building a stronger sense of community through musical expression. This recurring event provides a platform for musicians to showcase their talent, collaborate with others, and engage in the joy of music-making.
SUG N JAM is not just a music event; it's a catalyst for positive change within the community. It fosters inclusivity, creativity, and personal growth while nurturing the local music scene. Grant funding for this initiative would be an investment in the well-being and cultural enrichment of Chicago and beyond, with far-reaching and long-lasting benefits.
