Selects: Honey Dijon

Mixmag has showcased charts from many talented selectors in years past, including Mr. G, Modeselektor, Simian Mobile Disco and Kevin Saunderson just to name a few. Now we tap Chicago's own Honey Dijon to dig into her record bag and reveal the tracks that inspired her early on and still fuel her passion today.

Throughout her career, Honey Dijon has been known to string together vigorous, grooving, steady beats in a brilliantly cohesive manner, which highlights her ability to energize any dancefloor. As one of the more versatile artists on the club circuit today, her diverse selection has captivated crowds the world over, from Berghain to Space or at her hometown venue of Smart Bar.

She's been extremely busy in recent months and is showing no signs of letting up as she'll be playing alongside Ricardo Villalobos, Âme, RPR Soundsystem and more at SXM Festival in Saint Martin in March.

For her Selects Honey's provided an eclectic batch of music, some she plays in her DJ sets and others, like one from Grace Jones, changed her life. There are gems from legends like Sade, Nuyorican Soul and D'Angelo, plus more that touch on a variety of genres. Like her unique DJ sets, Honey's offered a glimpse at what makes her tick, so with out further ado, dive right in.

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Harrison is Mixmag's East Coast Editor. Follow him on Twitter here

Wally Badarou '****Novelas Das Nove'

Wally Badarou is one of my favorite keyboardists. He's appeared on some of my favorite albums from Grace Jones, Tom Tom Club and Level 42... in fact, he was an unofficial member of Level 42. He was also one of the Compass Point All Stars (with Sly and Robbie, Barry Reynolds, Mikey Chung and Uziah "Sticky" Thompson), the in-house recording team of Compass Point Studios owned by Island Records founder Chris Blackwell. Wally's biggest hit was 'Inspector Gadget', but I always loved this one because it's just so damn sexy and I love to drop it as my last tune.

Grace Jones 'Walking In The Rain'

Grace Jones changed my life. She was the first black female artist for me that combined art, music, theatre and fashion together. She's not traditionally pretty or soft, but instead hard, angular, strong and otherworldly. She made me dream and relieved me of the mundaneness of life. She allowed me to not be afraid of being myself! I'm a diehard fan and I'm so happy that a new generation gets to experience her brilliance now that she is touring the world!

Sade 'Cherry Pie'

Sade is one of the most beautiful women in the world to me. Her voice and delivery is spellbinding. I used to hole myself up in my room as a kid and listen to 'Diamond Life' on repeat and read Interview and i-D Magazine. I remember it like it was yesterday. I collected every single 12" that was ever released. Unfortunately, some of them were destroyed a few years ago when there was a fire in my vinyl collection storage. It nearly killed me, because some them can't be replaced. I'm still looking to find the ones that were damaged, because Sade has a special place in my soul forever.

The B'52's 'Mesopotamia'

A lot of people don't know this, but New Wave music and fashion heavily influenced early house culture. In fact, before 'jackin' was known as the dance to house music, you 'punked' out! Punk and New Wave clothing were the social cues that you were into house music. Lots of safety pins, badges and hair cuts like Alison Moyet and Vince Clark. I miss the days when different subcultures influenced each other. Those injections of glamour from different tribes has been lost. This, along with 'Planet Claire', are huge Chicago house tunes.

Sylvester 'Tell Me'

I am a disco fanatic because I wanted to get to the source of house music. Early house was disco breaks with drum machines. I wanted to know what records these breaks came from and one thing leads to another and you discover stuff just from being curious. When I was kid first going to clubs in Chicago you couldn't escape Sylvester's voice. Don't Stop, Over and Over, and Dance Disco Heat were the jams du jour! However, when I bought his albums I would often love the overlooked joints. This was one of my favs alongside Give It Up. To this day I still get chills from these tunes.

Ashford and Simpson - 'Stay Free'

Two of my favorite songwriter and producers ever. The chicness is almost unbearable. One of the things that I love so much about disco is the lyrics reflected the human condition. Be it sex, love, loss of love, desire. I get so lost in this tune because it really talks about being in love when the other wants to be free. We have all been there. Also, a friend and I talk about how all of the greatest disco records ever were released in 1979. Something about that year.

D'Angelo - 'Spanish Joint'

One of the greatest soul singers ever. This was a big tune at Body and Soul in NYC and it was where I actually heard it on a proper system. It's really wonderful to go to clubs and here different genres and tempos over the course of the night. Sadly that art has been lost alongside that of the resident dj. You also need an audience that is willing to go along for the ride and it's impossible to do those types of sets in the standard 2 hours alotted. To hear proper music on an analog soudsystem will change your life. There is a reason people still revere The Loft, The Paradise Garage, The Gallery, and The Sound Factory.

Erykah Badu - 'Green Eyes'

SEX. This is one for grown folks as my parents used to say. This tune to me is like foreplay, intercourse, and orgasm. It was the first time I saw a triptych painting applied to music. It really is a work of art. Three different songs in one. I love Erykah because she really bring so much spirituality, sex, and consciousness to music. She is a shaman!

Nuyorican Soul - 'Habriendo el Dominate'

What more can be said about Masters At Work. They are the Quincy Jones's of the dance world. I can't think of any other dance artists that combine soul, disco, funk, and jazz together so effortlessly. When this album dropped it blew my mind. It's still on heavy rotation in my life because it's a timeless classic. Much, much respect and love for Louie and Kenny.

****Solange** - 'Don't Touch My Hair'**

One of the most beautiful pieces of music I have heard in a long time. Solange knocked it out of the ballpark with this album. As a concept album, it is flawless from track selection, production, lyricism, social issues, love. Dare I say it's the Marvin Gaye album of out times. On repeat, repeat, repeat! Did I say repeat????? Thank you Solange to putting into music what so many of us have been feeling.