Born and raised in west suburban Chicagoland, Shaun J. Wright spent most of their teen years immersed in the sounds of house music. In the late 80’s and early 90’s, house music was a powerful force, permeating the mainstream airwaves of Chicago’s most prominent radio stations. With Wright being raised in the epicenter of house culture during this era, their love for dance music began to expand throughout their high school years as they partook in the underground dance scene now globally known as Juke.
While in undergrad at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Wright developed their skills as a dancer in the vogue ballroom scene and professional dance companies. After acquiring an MA Fashion Curation from the London College of Fashion, Wright enjoyed an active career in fashion in New York City. That is where they met Andrew Butler, founder of Hercules and Love Affair, in 2008, and began a whirlwind collaboration with the ensemble as a vocalist. They spent nearly three years touring with the outfit, performing in major venues & festivals throughout North & South America and Europe. They’re also featured prominently on the ensemble’s lauded sophomore album, “Blue Songs’.
Returning to Chicago in 2012 to forge their solo career, Wright began to collaborate with respected DJ and producer Alinka. Promptly after beginning their party Twirl in the spring of 2013, Wright & Alinka released their first EP, Twirl Vol. 1, on the celebrated Classic Music Company led by luminaries Luke Solomon and Derrick Carter. They continued to expand upon the brand in late 2014 with their Twirl Records debut release “Journey Into The Deep” EP which included remixes from Kim Ann Foxman and Stereogamous. The label’s output has received much critical acclaim and has been supported by DJ Mag, XLR8R, Mixmag, BBC Radio 1’s Heidi and Annie Mac, and a plethora of notable DJ’s.
Wright continues to collaborate with other sought after producers including Chrissy, Kiki, System Of Survival, Stereogamous Bell Boys, Bobmo, and Nicholas, and has been released on Freerange, BPitch Control, Honey Soundsystem & Cocktail D’Amore, Discovery, Marble, and 4Lux, respectively. Wright steadily exhilarates dance floors internationally as a DJ weaving live vocals throughout their sets in locations as far and varied as: Sydney, Berlin (Panorama Bar), London, Auckland, Stockholm, Barcelona, NYC, Los Angeles and their hometown of Chicago (Smart Bar).
