by Ben Hogwood

DJ Kicks, the jewel in !K7’s crown, is one of the longest running series of mix compilations – and in the last year they have enjoyed stellar contributions from Disclosure, Jessy Lanza and Cinthie. However they are set to go one better than even that, with a rare guest appearance from Theo Parrish, who has carved a creative homage to his home city in the form of Detroit Forward.

Parrish himself says, “Detroit creates. But rarely imitates. Why? We hear and see many from other places do that with what we originate. No need to follow. Get it straight. In the Great Lakes there’s always more under the surface – more than what appears to penetrate the top layer of attention and recognition. What about those that defy tradition? Those that sidestep the inaccurate definitions often given from outside positions? This is that evidence. Enjoy.”

The 90-minute mix will include Ian Fink’s Moonlite, which you can hear below to get a flavour of the compilation:

DJ Kicks: Detroit Forward will be released on 28 October on !K7 – and you can be sure to read more about it on these pages! In the meantime, you can preorder your copy here:

Download / stream tracklist:

01: De’Sean Jones & Ideeyah – Pressure

02: Donald Roland II – Simba’s Theme

03: Meftah – When The Sun Falls

04: Theo Parrish & Duminie DePorres – Real Deal

05: Specter – The Upper Room

06: Deon Jamar – North End Funk

07: Ian Fink – Moonlite (Duality/Detroit Live Version)

08: John C & Meftah – Full

09: Monica Blaire – aGain (T’s Edit)

10: De’Sean Jones – Psalm 23

11: Raybone Jones – Green Funk

12: Jon Dixon – Wind Drifts (Instrumental)

13: Whodat – Don’t Know feat. Sophiyah E.

14: KESSWA – Chasing Delerium feat. Nova Zai

15: Raj Mahal – Hudsons

16: De’Sean Jones – Flash Spain

17: Jason Hogans – Surrounded By Trees

18: Howard Thomas – Experiment 10

19: Sterling Toles – Janis

2CD tracklist:

1/01: De’Sean Jones & Ideeyah – Pressure

1/02: Donald Lee Roland II – Simba’s Theme

1/03: Meftah – When The Sun Falls

1/04: Theo Parrish & Duminie DePorres – Real Deal

1/05: Specter – The Upper Room

1/06: Deon Jamar – North End Funk

1/07: Ian Fink – Moonlight (Duality/Detroit Live Version)

2/01: John C & Meftah – Full

2/02: mBtheLight – aGAIN (T’s Edit)

2/03: De’Sean Jones – Psalm 23

2/04: Raybone Jones – Green Funk

2/05: Jon Dixon – Wind Drifts (Instrumental)

2/06: Whodat & Sophiyah.e – Don’t Know

2/07: KESSWA – Chasing Delerium feat. Nova Zai

2/08: Raj Mahal – Hudsons

2/09: De’Sean Jones – Flash Spain

2/10: Jason Hogans – Surrounded By Trees

2/11: Howard Thomas – Experiment 10

2/12: Sterling Toles – Janis

Triple vinyl tracklist:

A1: De’Sean Jones & Ideeyah – Pressure

A2: Donald Lee Roland II – Simba’s Theme

A3: Jason Hogans – Surrounded By Trees

B1: John C & Meftah – Full

B2: Meftah – When The Sun Falls

B3: De’Sean Jones – Psalm 23

C1: Ian Fink – Moonlight (Duality/Detroit Live Version)

C2: KESSWA – Chasing Delerium feat. Nova Zai

D1: Specter – The Upper Room

D2: Raj Mahal – Hudsons

E1: Raybone Jones – Green Funk

E2: Whodat & Sophiyah.e – Don’t Know

F1: Howard Thomas – Experiment 10

F2: mBtheLight – aGAIN (T’s Edit)

F3: Sterling Toles – Janis

* All tracks exclusive to ‘DJ-Kicks: Detroit Forward’, aside from ‘Real Deal’ by Theo Parrish & Duminie DePorres