Honey Dijon, the prominent Chicago-based DJ and producer, is set to contribute to the esteemed DJ-Kicks series from !K7 Records with her upcoming mix, DJ-Kicks: Honey Dijon, scheduled for release on October 18, 2024. This compilation marks Dijon's first commercially available mix and features 19 tracks, including a notable collaboration with fellow artist Ben Westbeech.
Dijon has curated this mix with meticulous attention, intending to highlight lesser-known tracks that resonate with her dance floor experiences. "I'm a huge fan of research," Dijon stated. "So putting this compilation together was basically going into my dance floor experience and finding gems I wanted to present to people that they may not have been familiar with or that they didn't even know existed."
The tracklist showcases a variety of artists, including the Stereo MC's, D-Ream, Art of Tones, and Waajeed, comprising a blend of classic and contemporary dance music. The opening track features Honey Dijon's own work, "Finding My Way (DJ-Kicks)," featuring Ben Westbeech, encapsulating her artistic vision and connection to the dance floor.
Dijon articulated her profound connection to dance music: "The dance floor to me is a sacred space. I feel like I'm a facilitator of spirit through sound. Dance floors are healing spaces, sexual spaces, joyful spaces, liberating spaces… They're places for people to discover who they are, to leave behind your worries, to celebrate with your friends, to dance, to get laid, to have fun. The dance floor is a reflection of life and I take it very seriously."
This DJ-Kicks mix follows DJ BORING's installment released in July 2024, continuing the series' tradition of showcasing diverse dance music talent. While audio samples of the mix are not yet available, further updates can be observed via !K7's Instagram.