sillygirlcarmen drops VA ‘EASE’ EP, debut vinyl release on her Sun & Sound Detroit label

Out Now, celebrating Record Store Day – Get it HERE

Ft. Glenn Underground, Coflo, Jon Dixon, Kevin Reynolds & sillygirlcarmen

‘A vinyl conversation between Detroit & Chicago’s house heritage via deep house, 

jazz roots, and forward-looking soul’

sillygirlcarmen aka Carmen Johnson’s Sun & Sound Detroit imprint releases its first ever vinyl, 4-track VA EP ‘Ease’, out now celebrating Record Store Day. A ‘vinyl conversation’ between Detroit & Chicago’s house heritage via deep house, jazz roots, and forward-looking soul, ‘Ease’ embodies the spirit of collaboration, community, and cross-generational artistry ably represented by Glenn Underground, Coflo, Jon Dixon, Kevin Reynolds & sillygirlcarmen herself. 

DJ/producer/vocalist, sillygirlcarmen represents the new wave of Detroit creativity; raw, fearless, and deeply rooted in the city’s house lineage. She blends her emotive vocals, deep grooves and shimmering electronic textures to connect heart, dancefloor and heritage. She co-founded Sun & Sound Detroit label as a platform both to showcase her music and spotlight other artists’ soulful innovation & underground integrity.

Says Carmen: ‘Releasing the first vinyl on my label Sun & Sound Detroit as a compilation of profound talent from friends in the House/ Electronic space is a really exciting opportunity and brings much gratitude. It’s so empowering to bring creative collaborations to life. I love working with artists of all mediums to keep pushing our culture and possibilities forward. The cover art is even designed by a local Detroit muralist, Jesse Kassel. Every component has intention and vibrancy, I always want to share great music and vibrant color through the Sun & Sound imprint. I want to inspire, take risks and stay courageous in all efforts.’

‘Ease’ EP tracks:

Glenn Underground ‘Dive (Into The Deep)’; the Chicago legend & Strictly Jaz Unit co-founder combines deep house, freeform jazz & soul, here in a jazz-infused, laid-back, hypnotic melange of house beat, synth chord riff, rippling arps, with a whisper of disco in the bassline and 80’s electro in the high, singing strings. 

Coflo x sillygirlcarmen ‘Never Forget (That Feelin’)’; East Bay CA-based Coflo combines Hawaiian & Portugese roots with a global reach. A collaborative skipping house beat, pattering percussion & melodic jazz synth piano embrace sillygirlcarmen’s soulful voice and heartfelt lyrics… emotional storytelling, movement & connection.

Jon Dixon ‘Saturday At Northland’; Detroit’s modern jazz & techno fusionist, rooted in long study and prestigious performance of classical & jazz piano both in orchestral and electronic contexts, employs his keyboard virtuosity in a thrilling wave of melodic piano improvisation & complex lively percussion, combining sheer craft with spiritual heft. 

Kevin Reynolds ‘I Got Music’; from an Irish/US Detroit family, producer/live artist Reynolds blends techno, jazz, soul, from influences as diverse as 90s underground techno, Kraftwerk & John Coltrane, and roles/performances in multiple prestigious venues & positions. Here, a stealthy beat & Kraftwerk-evoking robotic electro synth theme are joined by a dual vocal used as a riff, while clusters of piano chords flower into jazz motifs. 

The release of ‘EASE’ heralds sillygirlcarmen’s upcoming North American tour inc. Detroit’s iconic Movement Festival. Look out for solo releases from herself and more, as Sun & Sound Detroit gears up for a future filled with sun-shiny events and brand collaborations.

‘EASE’ VA EP is out now on Sun & Sound Detroit. Get it HERE.

Tracklist: 

A1 - Glenn Underground – Dive (Into The Deep)

A2 - Coflo x sillygirlcarmen – Never Forget (That Feelin’)

B1 - Jon Dixon – Saturday at Northland 

B2 - Kevin Reynolds – I Got Music

Connect with sillygirlcarmen: Website / IG / Bandcamp / Sun & Sound