Born and based on Chicago’s South Side, interdisciplinary artist Shawnee Dez wields sound to intently engage her audience, encouraging energy exchanges. Their dynamic, multi-ranged, alto melodic sound, paired with powerful grit aims to shake your soul. Performing for Dez, is an offering to the Most-High, an act of gratitude for this life and the opportunity to create, to share. She hopes to evoke emotion, reminding us that we are here.

When off the stage Dez can be spotted cycling with The Black JoyRide or leading the Sug N Jam Open Mic. The Black JoyRide is a bike collective founded by Dez and friends in 2020 as a way to amplify Black joy and leisure during a time of grief, pain, and trauma within the Black community. While their work with BJR is centered primarily around Black communities, Dez does not ignore the ways in which Black and brown communities often intersect in infrastructure disparities and resource necessities. The intention for Dez is to show folks at large that we can share both the lane and resources on a greater scale, again, reminding us that we are all here!