Released earlier this May by Detroit’s First Lady of Wax DJ Minx, the two-track EP The Throne is the crown jewel of the entertainer’s career that spans over 20 years in Detroit. Deeply rooted in Detroit’s electronic music culture, Minx (she/her) is known for combining house, techno, and old-school funk, all at 130 bpm. Since 2000, Minx has been a local fixture at Detroit’s Movement Festival, which draws thousands of attendees from across the world. This year she is hosting her own stage at the festival.
“This, my friends, is one of the best musical feelings I’ve had in a long time, and I’m in my feelings bringing it to you,” Minx says about the release. “Welcome to my world of Detroit realness. In this two-track EP, I present ‘The Throne’ and ‘Walking Tall.’ It’s giving late-night, closer vibes. Let’s get into it!”
The EP itself features Minx’s lyrics, with fervent, Detroit-style chord progressions on “Walking Tall”, with the title track offering a more gritty, industrial, Berlin-style feel. Both tracks seem to encompass Minx’s straightforward production style, which she has carefully honed for the duration of her prolific 20-year career. With this EP, Minx offers two cohesive pieces of music indicative of her own progression as an electronic artist.
In the summer of 1989, Minx fell in love with electronic music and spent the majority of the next couple of months working, going to business school, and experimenting on her decks. Making good use of her education, Minx collaborated with mutual friends to create a mobile record store. Through this work, she met local legend Bruce Bailey which led to her big break into Detroit’s thriving electronic music community.
Since coming up in the Detroit scene, Minx has established Women on Wax Recordings, a collective and label which amplifies Black female artists. For her cultural contribution to the city of Detroit, Minx received the Spirit of Detroit Award in 2018. During Pride Month 2021, Minx came out as a lesbian and was shortly thereafter included in a mural dedicated to the city’s queer community which can be found at Detroit’s Ruth Ellis Center.
This release will undoubtedly be part of the setlist in Minx’s upcoming appearances at EDC in Las Vegas and the aforementioned Detroit Movement Electronic Music Festival. Those interested in catching Minx’s set at an upcoming tour date can find out more here.
Featured image credit, DJ Minx
