Sonny Daze

Music Producer • DJ • Label Owner • Creative Director

Sonny Daze is a Chicago-based music producer, DJ, and independent label owner whose work exists at the intersection of jazz, electronic music, improvisation, and contemporary underground culture. As the founder of Division 81 Records, Daze has built a platform dedicated to adventurous artists and forward-thinking music, creating space for projects that challenge genre boundaries while honoring the history and spirit of Black music.

As a producer and DJ, Sonny Daze approaches music as both a creative practice and a form of cultural exchange. His work connects acoustic musicianship with electronic sound, bringing together improvisation, rhythm, texture, and experimentation. His production philosophy is rooted in collaboration—allowing artists to develop their individual voices while creating recordings that feel immediate, organic, and deeply connected to the moment.

Through Division 81, Daze has worked across recording, publishing, artist development, merchandising, live performance, and physical releases, championing music that might otherwise exist outside traditional industry structures. The label’s catalog reflects his broad musical vision, encompassing contemporary jazz, spiritual and experimental music, electronic sounds, and projects that connect generations of musicians.

Daze’s collaborations and projects have included artists such as Laraaji, Oraculu, Isaiah Collier, Emma Dayhuff, Cecilia Stalin, and other innovative musicians working across the global jazz and independent music community. His production work emphasizes the importance of listening—creating environments where musicians can respond to one another and where unexpected musical possibilities can emerge.

Whether behind the turntables, in the studio, or developing an independent release, Sonny Daze is committed to expanding the possibilities of music and building sustainable creative platforms for artists. Through Division 81 Records, he continues to cultivate a community centered on experimentation, collaboration, cultural history, and the transformative power of sound.