On Friday, June 25th, 2010 electronic dance music sensation Dave Dresden heads to NYC’s Cielo for an awesome live set. Read below for details and an exclusive (and detailed!) interview with Dresden himself.
Dave Dresden is most notable for his DJ collaboration with Josh Gabriel, which he formed in 2001 – Gabriel & Dresden. The pair went on to have a huge impact on the world of trance with remixes of their tracks by Tiësto, Way Out West, and Above & Beyond. Gabriel & Dresden scored 18 #1 positioned singles and remixes on Billboard’s Club Play Chart including the worldwide smash “As the Rush Comes”. By 2007 the duo was recognized by the IDMA’s as Best U.S. DJs, and then again the following year.
As a solo artist, Dresden has worked with superstars such as the The Killers, Annie Lennox, Sarah McLachlan, Paul Oakenfold, Madonna, and Radiohead. Now, he has a new collaboration with former Mephisto Odyssey frontman Mikael Johnston. Already releasing several successful remixes for the likes of Lily Allen, BT, and Crystal Method — Dresden & Johnston are now hard at work on their first full-length album. Their club smash single “Keep Faith” has been steadily climbing the Beatport charts and they are set to release their latest double A side “The Cove/Redhead” on their own Problem Child Records, inspired by Rick O’Berry’s moving and critically acclaimed dolphin conservation documentary — The Cove. In addition, their work with vocal powerhouse Nadia Ali has been generating serious buzz with inclusions on upcoming compilations from Armin van Buuren and Menno de Jong. The duo is also set to unveil a new live show incorporating elements of DJing, remixing, and live instrumentation in support of their new material.
TheMst.com tracked Dresden down to find about how he got started in the business, his rise to international fame and his new musical partnership.
Benjamin-Émile Le Hay: How did you start off? Not many internationally recognized DJs come from Stamford!
Dave Dresden: Actually it was Moby from Darien, CT who was my first influence in DJing and the music industry. He used to play at all these small clubs in and around lower Connecticut and Westchester counties. When I was 16 he played in a juice bar in a church in Greenwich, CT and from going there every weekend, I got the bug to be a DJ. It was also really inspiring to watch him go from local DJ hero to big New York City DJ, to international superstar playing alongside the biggest names in music.
How did you learn and perfect your skills? Did it always come naturally?
Practice, practice, practice. Once I was taught the basics of beat matching, I would lock myself in my basement and experiment with different tracks over each other. I would try to play songs over other songs for as long as I could so that I felt confident about my mixing. I gradually progressed to learning basic music theory and that’s when I wanted to start making music.
At what point in your career did you realize the success was happening? Is there a city where you feel like you most blossomed?
I have had many points in my career where I felt that success was happening. From going to a club to playing in a club, to having a mix show on the radio to traveling around the world and making records that connected with people. The biggest highlight of my career, the moment I felt I made the biggest impact was when Gabriel & Dresden performed “As The Rush Comes” with Jes Brieden live at a Gatecrasher show at the Birmingham (UK) NEC Arena and the entire 20,000 people in attendance were singing along!
Tell us about the 2001 formation of Gabriel & Dresden?
I had befriended Pete Tong from the BBC UK while I was working as the music director at Grooveradio.com in LA. Once we got to talking he hired me on to be his antenna for new music in the US. I was feeding him music to play on his Essential Selection show while also looking out for new talent for his FFRR imprint. One of the artists I found for him was Josh Gabriel, who had floored me with his demo when he handed it to me at WMC 2001 in Miami. Forward nine months into the future, Pete offered me a spec remix for New Order and I asked Josh if he would collaborate on the remix with me. We immediately hit it off in the studio and saw that maybe there was more than just met the ear during that session and that we should make a go at it for real.
You’ve collaborated with top-notch talent – what is something you learn and apply to your own music production in working in partnership with great artists?
I’d say first and foremost I apply my A&R skills when starting a new project with a collaborator. I think about the music they make and where it fits into what I want to make. I find a few things I really like about their production style and really hone in on making those work with the song we are making. I think there are quite a few commonalities that can be found in almost all of my collaborations. I really like to make music that pulses on the 8th note. It really helps the groove and gives your track the space it needs to rock a dance floor.
Tell me about this new venture with Mephisto Odyssey’s Mikael Johnston?
It’s an interesting musical meeting of the minds. We both have extensive backgrounds and have a common goal we want to achieve in music. Combining pop hooks with cutting edge dance music production and trying to make an album that will rock the dance floor but doesn’t sound like a collection of singles.
What are some of your personal favorite tracks and why?
For my own work, I am still partial to the song “Beautiful Things” by Andain — I love the lyrics, the vocals, the arrangement, the beat…9 years later and I still can’t find a fault with this track.
Where do you enjoy touring the most? Where do you see your music most appreciated?
My favorite places to play are actually the smaller towns and less known scenes. It just feels like the crowds appreciate you more when you took the time to come to their city.
If you were to choose a totally new occupation what would it be? You use to be a writer to eh?
Everything I’ve done in my life has been in and around music. Yes, I was a writer and used to do music reviews and interviews of well known DJ’s for a host of electronic and dance music publications. I’m not really qualified to do anything else. I’m kind of a lifer.
What are your other passions?
I really love to listen to and go to stand-up comedy shows. I know the comedy scene pretty much as well as I know the music scene and can talk for hours about the differences between David Cross, Patton Oswalt, Greg Giraldo and Bill Hicks.
What’s planned for the rest of your summer? (Touring? Holiday?)
Finishing up recording this long promised album with Mikael. We were very lucky to have worked with some amazing vocalists on this project. In particular Holly Brook who has recorded with Linkin Park and was signed for an album to their label. We also worked Nadia Ali on a song and Jan Burton who has also lent his vocals to both the Gabriel & Dresden album and my collaboration with Morgan Page (“I’ve Had Friends”) which is the next single from his album “Believe”. Mikael and I are really excited to finally get this album out and get on the road and play all over the world!
Cielo
18 Little West 12th Street
New York City
Doors at 10pm
21 and over with valid state issued photo ID
$15 advance tickets while supplies last @ www.MadeEvent.com
Tickets also available at
Rebel Rebel, 319 Bleecker St NYC 212.989.0770
Event Info Line: 917.723.9381
www.MadeEvent.com
www.davedresdenmusic.com
www.dresdenandjohnston.com
www.myspace.com/davedresden
www.cieloclub.com
