Two grand masters of Detroit house share the decks

Theo Parrish is rightly regarded as one of the most daring, powerful voices in house music culture. Synonymous with his Chicago roots, the Sound Signature founder has carved a bold and unique path by refusing to adhere to genre conventions. While his studio work is soulful and explorative on its own terms, his approach to DJing is just as adventurous, reaching from free jazz and epic funk edits to house bombs and techno intensity, testing the limits (and the mixer’s EQ) to reach for a higher plain of artistic expression.
Marcellus Pittman shares this ineffable, unconventional style, although the two have wildly different catalogues of recorded music behind them. Pittman comes at his equipment with a crooked, but instinctively groovy, verve that can set the party alight without ever sounding formulaic.
Parrish and Pittman have worked closely together for many years, in 3 Chairs (with Moodymann and Rick Wilhite), and with Omar S in T.O.M. Project. Pittman has also played keys for Parrish’s flagship jazz collective, The Rotating Assembly.
Having previously showcased their collaborative skills at Dekmantel Festival and Corsica Studios in London, the pair will take over the Studio X Floor at Contact for a whole night, presenting their b2b DJ collaboration in Japan for the very first time as Sound Signature celebrates its 20 anniversary. As two artists with a long history together and such strong identities, the stage is set for a night of sonic fireworks filtered through the legacy of Detroit music.