From Chicago’s South Side, music artist Shawnee Dez intently engages her audience, encouraging energy exchanges first and foremost. Dez is concerned with ancestral knowledge  and performance as an opportunity to channel and communicate with the past and future. Her music style consists of heavy use of harmonic layering, a fusion of live instrumentation with digital production, topped off with her dynamic multi-ranged alto melodic voice, creating the perfect dreamscape. 

When off the stage, Shawnee’s work centers youth and community advocacy. She activates spaces for creative youth to express unapologetically. In June 2020, Shawnee organized a mass Pre-Juneteenth Black Joy bike ride through Chicago’s Metropolitan area. This ride was a symbol of liberation and mobility, during a time where many were heavily limited by the horrifying effects of two pandemics: systemic racism and COVID-19.


Created and hosted by Nah...  Positioning Your Passion is a monthly informative conversation series featuring creative entrepreneurs discussing their process and most importantly how they are successfully navigating the creative industry. From rallying resources to collaboration, we’re talking accomplishments, challenges and future goals. 

Crew: 
Executive Producer/Host - Nicole Humphrey
Art Direction - Jhaylen Cherry 
Executive Producer - Rey Keys
Director of Photography 1 - Cain Camacho
Director of Photography 2 - Law Mahone
Production Sound Mixer/Editor -Jesse Perez
Gaffer - Vasyl Broda

PYP Podcast - Ep. 001 - Shawnee Dez

Created and hosted by Nah...  Positioning Your Passion is a monthly conversation series featuring creative entrepreneurs discussing their process and most importantly how they are successfully navigating the creative industry. From rallying resources to collaboration, we’re talking accomplishments, challenges and future goals. 

On Episode 002, founder and owner of Classick Studios, Chris Classick talks about his journey building a successful studio, shifts from 2020, how he organizes his time as an artist manager and more.

PYP Podcast - Ep. 002 - Chris Classick

Created and hosted by Nah...  Positioning Your Passion is a monthly conversation series featuring creative entrepreneurs discussing their process and most importantly how they are successfully navigating the creative industry. From rallying resources to collaboration, we’re talking accomplishments, challenges and future goals. 

On Episode 003, creative entrepreneur and musician Elton Aura discusses his musical journey, growing up in Illinois and building his craft and community.

Positioning Your Passion Podcast