Suzi Analogue

Suzi Analogue brings an expansive skill set to her work as producer, vocalist, designer, and educator, shaping futuristic sounds that merge abstract hip-hop, neo-soul, and electronic experimentation. From the mid-2010s onward her output shifted toward higher tempos, incorporating drum'n'bass, footwork, and other high-energy club forms, moving beyond earlier experimental hip-hop built on blown-out, off-kilter beats paired with smooth vocals. Remaining faithful to her moniker, she issues much of her catalog on cassette and vinyl while operating the tape label Never Normal Records. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, she has called Philadelphia, Tokyo, New York, and Miami home at various points and has led music-production instruction in Uganda, the Netherlands, and at the University of North Carolina. Highlights from her self-released Zonez mixtapes were gathered on Infinite Zonez (2022), while Onez (2024) spotlighted joint work with Jlin, King Britt, and Blu.

Born Maya Shipman in 1987, she adopted the name Suzi Analogue in homage to RZA’s Bobby Digital alias. Her first appearance came in 2009 via the digital Fresh Selects release World. Excerpts 1-9 and through membership in the Klipmode collective alongside experimental hip-hop producers Knxwledge, Devonwho, and Mndsgn. The 2010 project NNXTAPE carried beats from Teebs, Ohbliv, and Dibiase and drew praise within underground circles. Her 2011 7-inch NNXT, issued by Dopeness Galore, included a joint track with Georgia Anne Muldrow and Dudley Perkins. Together with Tokimonsta she formed the duo Analogue Monsta, whose debut album Boom arrived on Scion Audio/Visual in 2012. Cassettes Chills + Thrills and Love Affairz V.1 (with Swarvy) followed on Never Normal in 2014.

Mainly instrumental releases Zonez V.1 and V.2 surfaced in 2016, steering her sound toward faster rhythms shaped by Chicago’s footwork community. Connections to that scene deepened through her appearance on Teklife producer DJ Earl’s Open Your Eyes LP and through their WORKFLOWW partnership. Zonez V.3 arrived in 2017, featuring DJ Taye of Teklife on one cut. Early 2019 brought the King Britt collaboration “Never Normalize,” and Zonez V.4 added guests Junglepussy, RP Boo, and Michael Millions. Several singles and EPs, among them Su Casa, emerged across 2020 and 2021; she also supplied a remix of Dawn Richard’s “Boomerang.” In June 2022 she joined the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill faculty as teaching assistant professor. That year Disciples issued Infinite Zonez, drawing from the Zonez series, and the 2024 collection Onez assembled further collaborations, one-offs, and remixes.