Part of what makes Theo Parrish’s mixes so compelling is how effortlessly he manages to situate house in the broader galaxy of Black American music, from funk and jazz fusion to gospel and R&B. Framed as a showcase for underground Detroit, his contribution to !K7’s vaunted DJ mix series is unusual in that it’s the first time a DJ-Kicks set has focused almost entirely on exclusive tracks (the exception being Parrish and Duminie DePorres’ “The Real Deal”), not to mention by artists with almost no other credits to their names—a testament to Parrish’s community-first approach. Conscious rap (John C & Meftah’s “Full”), beat-tape abstractions (Donald Lee Roland II’s “Simba’s Theme”), piano-driven house (Specter’s “The Upper Room”)—the styles shift, but the mood is consistently introspective and uplifting. And like Parrish’s own productions, the beauty of them is how they balance their sophistication with a homespun, almost punk approach that serves as a reminder that the point isn’t perfecting—it’s doing.