Soiree Records Revives a Deep House Andy Vaz’s Classic ‘I Am Not From Detroit’ Remixes EP Review

Review Mike Moggi Mannix

 

VARIOUS ARTISTS – I AM NOT FROM DETROIT (REMIXES)

Soiree Records International – SRT190
Remix Release Date: 16th February 2026

There are certain records that don’t scream for attention. They don’t arrive with fireworks, influencer hype or a neon billboard. They simply live in DJ bags and record crates for years, quietly doing serious damage at 4am while the rest of the world sleeps. Andy Vaz’s 2014 cut ‘I Am Not From Detroit’ is one of those records originaly released on Chiwax

Thirteen years on, Soiree Records International – through mutual agreement with Vaz – have sent it back into the lab and invited a few trusted heads to give it a fresh lick of sonic paint. The result? Not a cash-grab nostalgia package, but a proper, respectful powerful deep house re-imagining that proves the original still has raw underground deep soul left in it!

This is a remix EP that allows each track to stand firmly on its own, while still tipping the hat to Vaz’s incredible original. As a collection, it’s unique – crafted for the real dancefloor, shapes throwing down, invested 100% in the moment not the fucking Instagram one! Every single track is an absolute animal!

Let this release stand as a reminder that raw quality does outlasts fads. The true underground persists through the years, often ignored waiting patiently to be picked up, played loud, and fully appreciated all over again, for fresh ears!

Andy Vaz – Original Mix

Let’s start where it all began.

The Original Mix still stands tall in 2026. Warm, hypnotic, understated and a beautifully patient rolling bassline, delicate pads, subtle stabs –and a seductive vocal nothing unnecessary, everything intentional.

Back in 2013 it felt like a nod to Detroit’s influence without trying to cosplay as it. Hence the title. It was Andy Vaz tipping his hat to the Motor City while clearly doing his own thing.

Listening now, it hasn’t aged a day. If anything, in a modern landscape full of over-compressed, over-produced “melodic techno” templates, this track feels even more refreshing. It’s deep house in the purest sense – music that breathes, moves and evolves instead of begging for attention.

A prototype groove for the after-hours and still absolute class.

Drivetrain – Mix From Detroit

Straight out the gate, Drivetrain delivers the EP’s most immediate moment.

His “Mix From Detroit” flips the script with a true gritty Detroit vibe clever vocal sampling layered over an infectiously bouncy rhythm. There’s a real swing to this version – a sonic swagger that feels rooted in classic US house but with a dirty slice of Detroit grit! Savage!

The groove is seductive, almost playful, with snippets of speech drifting in and out like overheard conversations in a smoky club corridor. It’s the most dancefloor-ready mix of the bunch, no doubt about it.

This one’s built for a packed basement with sweat dripping off the ceiling and hands in the air at half five in the morning.

Pure heads-down business! For the headstrong.

CloudMasterWeed – Def Mix

Equally CloudMasterWeeds version is a slammer in its own right. But, his Def Mix strips everything right back into ghostly minimalism – deep soul textures, tribal overtones and a hypnotic sense of space. It’s subtle, 80s synth power almost eerie at times, like a late-night transmission beamed in from somewhere far away.

There’s a dubby, meditative quality here that will appeal to the more adventurous selectors. No big drops, no cheap tricks – just mood, rhythm atmosphere and a looong fucking build that keeps driving you.

This is the mix you play when the lights are low and only the straight through crew are still on the floor.

Proper underground tackle. Goose bumps!

Javonnette – Mars Mix

Then things get a bit weirder experimental – in a good way.

Javonnette’s Mars Mix pushes the track into slightly tougher, more cosmic acid territory. Accelerated pads, acidic reinforcements and a more driving energy give this version a futuristic edge.

It’s still rooted in deep house DNA, but there’s a technoid restlessness bubbling underneath. The acid lines punch through at just the right moments, adding tension without ever going full rave mode.

Think late-night warehouse vibes with a touch of intergalactic mischief. One for DJs who like to blur boundaries and keep dancers guessing.

 

What makes this release work is that it never tries to rewrite history. Instead, it expands on it.

Each remix approaches the original from a different angle while respecting its core spirit. None of them feel forced. None of them feel like they’re chasing trends. They feel like genuine interpretations from artists who understand the soul of the track.

And in an era where remixes often mean “make it louder and faster for TikTok”, that’s something to be applauded.

“I Am Not From Detroit (Remixes)” isn’t trying to be the biggest record of the year. It’s aiming for something far more important – longevity, credibility and honouring originality, the real dancefloor connection.

Exactly the kind of release you’d expect from Soiree Records International.

 

Final Verdict

A savage classy, carefully curated remix package that breathes new life into an already deep house classic.

Whether you’re a longtime fan of the original or discovering it for the first time, there’s something here for every shade of underground DJ – from soulful grooves to minimal moods and acid-tinged late-night excursions.

Proof, once again, that good music doesn’t expire.

Rating: 10/10 – timeless underground business. Love every fucking bit of it!!