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."
A native of Olympia, WA, DJ Dan first experienced music as
a welcome escape, surrounded as he was by nine brothers and
sisters. By age 14, he'd figured out how to rig his tape deck
to the turntable to record to tape. Around this time, he also
developed a passion for clothing design, so much that he was
later accepted into Seattle's prestigious Thomas Edison School
of Design, from which he graduated at the top of his class.
Attending his first rave in L.A. in 1991 put his design career
on hold. "Something flipped, " he recalls. "I
realized my true calling. I knew this was something I must
do." Dan spent every waking minute learning the art of
mixing, scratching and programming, and soon he was ready
to test his mettle in the club scene.
He hooked up with L.A. DJ Ron D Core, and by 1992, Dan had
emerged as one of the cities top DJ's at a time when the city's
rave scene hit its peak. "The parties were so fresh,
so colorful," he remembers. "There were no categories
back then, nobody came in with preconceived notions of what
the music should be. Those were the moments that started the
trends." As the L.A. rave scene waned, Dan and Ron launched
No-Doz, a musically diverse club that set a new standard for
after-hour parties. Meanwhile, Dan was also beginning to get
frequent bookings in San Francisco, eventually causing him
to move north.
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."
In Stereo is the first release originating from a West Coast
artist for Kinetic, which boasts an eclectic roster of high
profile artists from different electronic genres, including
Sandra Collins, LTJ Bukem and Sasha & Digweed. "They
are very interested in everything," says DAN of his new
label home. "They see where the music is going. They
agree with my vision and have given me an open door to do
as I wish." This also marks DJ Dan's first major release
since departing Moonshine Music where he released his popular
albums BEATS 4 FREAKS (1998), FUNK THE SYSTEM (1999) and ANOTHER
LATE NIGHT (2000). Previous to that Dan released URB MIX VOL.
2 (Smile, 1997) and LOOSE CABOOSE (VRG, 1996).
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.
