Thursday March 13, 2008

DECIBEL w/ DJ DAN

djdan.com || In Stereo Recordings

The sounds of high energy samples, funky guitars, heavy bass lines and filtered rhythms come through loud and clear on In Stereo, DJ Dan's new release for Kinetic Records. After transforming the 90's into a decade of dance, the West Coast DJ jumps into the new millennium with his most exciting mix to date.

For his new release, DJ Dan fuses together an impeccable listing of 18 songs tenderly balanced out to gratify the most discerning house music fan while making the vibe accessible to those not totally convinced of house music--yet.

"It's very raw and true to the way I spin," remarks DJ Dan. "In fact, it was one of the most inspiring sets I've played out...It's funky, guitar-based, on the tweaked out house party vibe and has a bit of 80's electronic influence. A lot of the inspirations on this CD come from my older sound."

Heavy with bump-boogie-n-shake tunes such as Joey Beltram's "Push," Scanty's "Get Next To The Opposite Sex" and Todd Terry's "Can't Play Around" make In Stereo a fine representation of what West Coast mix is all about. "This is definitely a party CD," says DAN, "...and it's not trying to be anything but that."

His involvement with the Bay Area DJ collective Funky Tekno Tribe was a significant milestone on the establishment of what is known today as the signature West Coast house sound. The sounds of the DJ's--which included fusing funk and hip-hop with breaks and melodies--were a great influence on Dan, and caused him to revisit those sounds he loved so much in his youth, thus morphing into his own personalized sound. DJ Dan's international profile expanded exponentially with the release of the groundbreaking "Loose Caboose" by the Electroliners, a classic track he co-wrote and co-produced with Jim Hopkins. It was soon picked up by XL Records in the U.K., which led to a fruitful partnership between Dan and famed DJ Carl Cox. The Electroliners continued to create many remixes, which only bolstered DJ Dan's reputation as a producer. Since then, he's remixed projects for Keoki, Groove Armada, Filter, A Tribe Called Quest, Olive and Orgy, the latter of which obtained platinum status with "Blue Monday."

When asked about the direction of music today, Dan says, "Music is hard to categorize now than it's ever been. Techno guys playing tracks slowed down could be house...speeded up could be techno. I don't think it should be classified. It should be based on if it's good or not. A good record is a good record."

As for his own persona, DJ Dan defies the conventional wisdom that the DJ has to retain a kind of standoffish mystique. "I got into this," says Dan, "because I love how people unite on the dance floor, bringing in their own energy and excitement. So, I never turn my back on the crowd." And they've never turned their backs on him. DJ Dan remains a towering figure in the world of dance music, always a step ahead in bringing new musical styles to his fans. He is a DJ for the people burning up dance floors around world.

Also featuring...

ROOZ
VAHID

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