There’s a corner of the night reserved for the strange ones—the ones who don’t quite fit, who move slower, think sharper, and dance on their own terms. That’s exactly where Dizzy Panda and Slaakmut (aka Sam Smooth) invite you with their latest single, “Chicago Pockets,” released April 25, 2025. It’s not just a track—it’s a mood, a movement, a meandering walk through the smoky back alleys of house music’s deep soul.
If you’re expecting formulaic EDM drops or polished chart-seekers, look elsewhere. Dizzy Panda isn’t interested in playing it safe. With “Chicago Pockets,” they double down on everything that makes them compelling: raw production, surreal storytelling, and stylishly subversive soundscapes.
On its surface, “Chicago Pockets” pays quiet homage to the classic house era—specifically the deep, emotional grooves pioneered by artists like Joe Smooth. But instead of rehashing, Dizzy Panda and Slaakmut reinterpret and warp that legacy into something beautifully odd and intentionally off-kilter. The beat creeps, the groove smolders, and the vibe is unmistakably underground. It’s slow-motion soul for the late-night loners.
The track thrives on tension—not in a loud, aggressive way, but in the way it doesn’t resolve. Every dry snare hit, every minimalist synth layer, feels deliberate and raw, creating a sound that feels both vintage and ahead of its time. It’s a track that smirks instead of shouts, and that restraint is what gives it weight.
What makes “Chicago Pockets” stand out isn’t just its sonic palette—it’s the entire aesthetic package. Dizzy Panda doesn’t just release singles; they build strange, immersive worlds. With their evolving visual identity—brought to life with the help of Slaakmut—the release is backed by an animated music video that matches the track’s oddball energy and noir-cyberpunk undertones.
As with past singles “Astronaut” and “Turn It Back On”, this new release is another piece in the puzzle that is their upcoming album “Bamboo Bass”. That full-length project, due later in 2025, promises to be a chaotic mix of breakbeat, 2-step, techno house, hip-hop, and twisted pop. If “Chicago Pockets” is the temperature check, then expect a humid, hazy jungle of sonic experimentation that refuses to be tamed by genre boundaries or playlist algorithms.
More than just music, “Chicago Pockets” is a declaration: you don’t have to be fast, flashy, or fashionable to make waves. This is a track for the slow burners, the people who feel more at home on a dim dancefloor at 2 a.m. than in a sunlit festival crowd. It’s gritty, groovy, and unapologetically weird.
That’s the thing about Dizzy Panda—they don’t ask to be liked. They invite you into their world, and whether you stay or not, they’re going to keep making their own rules.
“Chicago Pockets” isn’t just another single—it’s a reminder that art thrives in the margins. Dizzy Panda and Slaakmut have carved out a niche that blends music, character, and atmosphere into a cohesive, offbeat experience. It’s weird. It’s stylish. It’s addictive. And if you find yourself drawn in, don’t worry. That means it’s working.
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