- Dave Dresden
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Dave Dresden 
Dave Dresden (back) as Gabriel & Dresden at Coachella Festival, Indio, California. April 20, 2006.Background information Birth name Dave Dresden Also known as Dave "The Wave" Dresden Born May 20, 1969 Origin Stamford, CT, United States Genres Progressive trance
Electronica
HouseOccupations DJ, Producer, Remixer, A&R, Music Director Years active 1990–2008 Labels Organized Nature Associated acts Dresden & Johnston, Gabriel & Dresden, Motorcycle, Summit, A.llison D.resden D.uo, Attention Deficit, Bigtop, The Consumers Notable instruments iMac G5, Logic Pro[1] Dave Dresden is an electronic dance music DJ and producer, co-founder of the collaborative acts Gabriel & Dresden with Josh Gabriel, and Dresden and Johnston with Mikael Johnston of Mephisto Odyssey fame.
Contents
History
1990-2000: Early years
Dresden's zeal for dance music and culture developed early in high school where he frequented local Connecticut dance clubs and befriended the Café's DJ Moby, a local dj hero at the time. His early experiences at the Café' fueled his passion to immerse himself in the culture that would become his career and lifelong obsession. From there, he purchased a pair of pitch controlled cd players and got to work. Dresden quickly cultivated a following due to his simple but effective music policy; play the right track at the right time and only play great songs. His ambitions did not stop with spinning. While he continued to play in the clubs sometimes five nights a week, he became a dance music journalist by day. Dresden was named a reporter to the Billboard dance chart, and he began writing reviews and features for national magazines such as DMA, DJ Times and Mixer. Dresden profiled Paul Oakenfold, Moby, Masters at Work, Todd Terry, Sasha & Digweed, Puff Daddy, BT, Crystal Method, Keoki, Josh Wink, Chemical Brothers, and Deep Dish. Many of these artists' first American press came through Dresden's journalism efforts.
Since his affiliation with respected publications gave him easier access to obscure and unreleased tunes upfront, that gave him an edge. Dresden regularly contributes his A&R skills to Promo Only CD's and its "Mainstream Club" and "Alternative Club" series. In addition, he scouts new music for Pete Tong's highly influential Essential Selection radio show on the BBC Radio 1. Through his efforts there, Dresden has hipped Pete to some rather large records, three of which have become "Essential New Tunes", Tong's method of gauging a guaranteed hit. Dresden's wide knowledge of dance music led to the opportunity to help select songs for Nettwerk Records popular Plastic compilation series. Dresden has also had a hand in producing compilation cd's and single releases with other independent labels such as Strictly Hype, 4 Play and Max Music. In addition, he's accredited by his own releases for Strictly Hype's trance offshoot Sunrise; Trancendence: The First Wave, and the hit packed Transit. His radio career began with the long running, highly rated "Electro Circus," (Produced by then WMRQ personality and Hartford Club DJ, Omar), which aired on Hartford, Connecticut's modern rock station WMRQ from 1997 until 2000. Dresden's radio career continued as music director and on-air personality for GrooveRadio, an internet radio station during the year 2000.
2001-2008: Gabriel & Dresden
Main article: Gabriel & DresdenDave was a club deejay in a suburb of New York City as well as a renowned US dance music journalist. He became the Music Director of grooveradio.com and met Pete Tong, who asked him to help find music for the Essential Selection.[2] They met at a party being hosted by grooveradio.com at the Miami Winter Music Conference in March 2001. Josh Gabriel gave Leon Alexander a record, the record was "Wave 3", which Dave then gave to Pete Tong, and he played it on the Essential Selection and also used it for his compilation that same year. Pete gave Dave the opportunity to do a spec mix of New Order and Dave asked Josh to work on it with him. The two joined forces in 2001 and made a name for themselves by creating numerous remixes. In 2002 Gabriel & Dresden released their first single "Lament" (Saw Recordings) in the United States. The duo released numoerous singles and number one Billboard hits like "Tracking Treasure Down" and "Dangerous Power"; they also released one self-titled studio album together, Gabriel & Dresden which was named as the "2006 Album of the Year" by M8 magazine.[3]
The duo won the 2007 and 2008 IDMA award for "America's Best DJ". He has achieved 16 Billboard Dance Chart #1 hits as "Gabriel & Dresden", composed music that has appeared on Fox, HBO, NBC and CBS TV shows. Gabriel & Dresden have their own record label, Organized Nature, and they are about to release a new record as Andain, in which he co-wrote and produced. Gabriel has also invented a new pro-audio web application that will be available to the public in Winter 2008.[dated info] The duo finished their last tour with two appearances at the WMC in Miami.
2009-present: Dresden & Johnston
"Of all the collaborations that I've done since the split, my work with Mikael Johnston is the first that has actually bore fruit," he says. "I worked very closely with one person for seven years so I'm taking my time, getting used to working with other people again. I'm also learning how to use Logic."
- says Dave.[4]
After the break-up of Gabriel & Dresden, Dave collaborated with Chris Cox on a track called "Whole Wide World", which was played on Pete Tong's Essential Selection on April 4, 2008. Dave also worked with Trent Cantrelle on a remix for Serge Devant's cover of The Beloved's "Sweet Harmony." On June 22, Dave opened a set for Tiësto's In Search of Sunrise: North American Summer Tour 2008 in Connecticut. In mid-2008 Dave stated that him and Josh Gabriel were trying to keep Organized Nature running, but if there was no chance, a new label might come in the way but since the label in which Gabriel & Dresden grew has a large amount of fans there might be a possibility to keep it.[5]
On February 4, 2009, Dave announced through Beatport a joined partnership with Mikael Johnston from Mephisto Odyssey. The new duo confirmed the creation of their first track, which features guitarist David Penner from Andain, as well as a remix for Lilly Allen for her single "The Fear" requested by Capitol Records, and Nadia Ali's single "Love Story".[6] Dave met Johnston in 2000 at a live performance of his band Mephisto Odyssey, while working at grooveradio.com in Santa Monica as music director. They announced that there has not been any plans for live performances of Dresden and Johnston yet, but their agent replied that they will at the WMC, one year after the separation of Gabriel & Dresden.[7] Plans were announced to produce his first studio album since Gabriel & Dresden in 2006, with or without johnston, as well as forming part of the production team of Morgan Page's new album, including "I've Had Friends", a track in which both collaborated along Jan Burton in mid-2008.[8] On March, Dave informed that he was working on a remix alongside Mikael Johnston for BT's upcoming album, the remixed song was "The Unforgivable", later named "The Unbreakable", which features Rob Dickinson from Catherine Wheel.[9] In a Las Vegas Weekly interview Dave stated: "being in G&D sort of created these huge shoes that I have to fill, that's why I've done a lot of collaborations with people that I admire and respect their production skills. I'm not afraid to say I'm a collaborator. That's who I am… I didn't go to music school." He also spoke about his relationship with Josh Gabriel, "We were friends and we loved each other—we were like brothers", when referring to their ability to make music together and individually.[10] During summer Dave collaborated with Funkagenda for a remix on Bat For Lashes' "Daniel", while with Johnston they produced a remix for The Crystal Method's "Black Rainbows", as well as a song for BT's forthcoming album and for newcomer JD Webb. It has also been rumored that the duo will both co-produce and remix a song for R&B singer Goapele's upcoming album. Additionally Dresden and Johnston have had recording sessions with David Penner, Nadia Ali, Jan Burton and Skylar Grey as well as mentioning that there is a large chance of remixing songs from Morgan Page. The duos first original song together is a track called "Keep Faith" that is a collaboration with friend John Debo and features vocals by Mezo Riccio.
Discography
For discography as Gabriel & Dresden, see Gabriel & Dresden discography.
For awards as Gabriel & Dresden, see Gabriel & Dresden Awards / Nominations.Singles
- Goddess (as Summit) 2004
- Chris Cox & Dave Dresden - Whole Wide World 2008 (unreleased)
- Morgan Page & Dave Dresden - I've Had Friends (feat. Jan Burton) 2008 (unreleased, scheduled for release on Page's forthcoming album)
- Dave Dresden & Grayarea - Cloud Atlas 2009 (unreleased)
- Dresden & Johnston vs. Debo ft. Mezo - Keep Faith 2010 (released) Problem Child Rekords
- Dave Dresden, Super 8 & Tab - Black Ice 2009 (unreleased)
- Dresden & Johnston - That Day (feat. Nadia Ali) 2009 (unreleased)
- Dresden & Johnston - I Hear You Calling (feat. David Penner & Essence) 2009 (unreleased)
Remixes
- Lily Allen The Fear (as Dresden & Johnston) 2009
- Nadia Ali Love Story (as Dresden & Johnston) 2009
- BT The Unbreakable (as Dresden & Johnston) (unreleased)
- JD Webb Better Man (as Dresden & Johnston) 2009
- The Crystal Method Black Rainbows (as Dresden & Johnston)
- Enrique Iglesias feat. Ludacris Tonight (as Dresden & Johnston)
- Morgan Page & Dave Dresden I've Had Friends (as Dresden & Johnston) (unreleased)
- Linkin Park Waiting For The End (as Dave Dresden)
Compilations
- Trancendence - The First Wave 2000
- Provocative Progressive 2002
Co-productions
- Armin van Buuren - Zocalo
- Markus Schulz - Without You Near
- Christina Aguilera - Hurt (Chris Cox Club Anthem)
References
- ^ Notable Instruments
- ^ Dave Pearce Interview
- ^ 2006 Album of the Year
- ^ "Dave Dresden Reveals New Partnership". beatportal.com. http://www.beatportal.com/feed/item/dave-dresden-reveals-new-partnership/. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
- ^ "Dave Dresden Interview - Post Gabriel & Dresden Split". http://www.discowhore.com/2008/06/dave-dresden-interview-post-gabriel_22.html. Retrieved 2009-02-12.[dead link]
- ^ "Lily Allen e-Card". capitolrecords.com. http://www.capitolrecords.com/home/lilyallen/ecard/. Retrieved 2009-02-12.
- ^ "Beatportal Interview With Dave Dresden". beatportal.com. http://www.beatportal.com/feed/item/dave-dresden-reveals-new-partnership/. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
- ^ "Beatportal Interview With Dave Dresden". residentadvisor.com. http://www.residentadvisor.net/forum-read.aspx?id=56273. Retrieved 2009-02-13.
- ^ "Dave Dresden Blog News March 2009". houseplanet.dj. http://www.houseplanet.dj/index.php/March-2009/Dave-Dresden-Blog-News-March-2009.html. Retrieved 2009-03-12.
- ^ "DJ Dave Dresden can see the future. Want to peek?". Las Vegas Weekly. http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/blogs/nocturnal-admissions/2009/apr/12/dj-dave-dresden-can-see-future-want-peek/. Retrieved 2009-04-13.
External links
Categories:- American record producers
- Remixers
- 1969 births
- Living people
- American trance musicians
- American DJs
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