Being witness to the rise of the DJ is something that only a few can state. Imagine sitting in that driver’s seat looking down at those witnesses while showing them how it is and how it’s done. One of the most notable to come from that era is DJ Dan.

Starting off in the early nineties rave scene in LA, Dan discovered a hidden passion and soon after bought his first decks to refine his skills to play. He got his break early in a scene which would eventually blow up with his status rising to lead this new movement. He soon found himself travelling to cities such as San Francisco to play, which in turn lead to him dedicating more time to studio work and collaborations. Over the years Dan has released many memorable productions including 1995’s ‘Loose Caboose’ with Jim Hopkins under their Electroliners guise, 1998’s ‘That Zipper Track’ (DJ Dan present Needle Damage) and a host of remixes for artists such as Groove Armada, Keoki and A Tribe Called Quest.

Now in 2005 with millions of frequent flyer miles under his belt and a distinguished discography, we can truly see what Dan has accomplished in his career: Worldwide respect and an awesome fan base.

RA caught up with him to see what is making him tick after all these years in the limelight.

Firstly, how is the tour going for the new compilation?
The tour has been going really well. I toured outside America for a few months to keep the American territories fresh. I've been playing in some of my favorite cities like San Francisco, Washington DC, LA, and New York. The dates have been amazing so far.

For someone who doesn't know your style or hasn't heard the CD, can you talk through the compilation and how you went about putting it together?
I approached it as if I had a live crowd in front of me and rocked it out as if I was playing a full set in the club. Disc 1 starts out really funky with a few of my new collaborations and then goes really dirty and slightly anthemic towards the end to celebrate the close of the set. Disc 2 is a bit darker and techier. I used my remix of New Order "Krafty" and rocked it out just like I do in the ladder part of my set.

"I approached it as if I had a live crowd in front of me and rocked it out as if I was playing a full set in the club."

Also, what did you want to achieve?
I really wanted people to hear the way I play live and get a really honest feeling of the way I build a set live. I was not concerned as to how old tracks were, I just played the tunes that have inspired me and have rocked the floor over the last year.

With your career spanning over decade, it seems that your hitting the limelight with the commercial sector with remixes for Depeche Mode and Pussycat Dolls. How did this come about and do you like working with big names?
I have been remixing for years and have always wanted to remix Depeche Mode and New Order. It has been an amazing honor to remix these bands that have inspired me so much throughout the years. I feel very blessed to get these remix offers, it really feels like the ultimate validation as a dj/producer.

I see you worked on "Give Peace a Chance" by John Lennon for Yoko Ono. How did this come about and were you feeling anything special at the time?
It was insane to get the studio session for this track. You can hear John Lennon talking and rehearsing with his band and we really got the shivers in the studio when we were able to hear his solo vocal track and then manipulate it into a dance track. I love the way it came out, I think John would dig the track.

Are there any artists/groups that you would love to do work with?
I have always wanted to work with Missy Elliot, Outcast, Daft Punk, Prince, Basement Jaxx, just to name a few.

"I feel very blessed to get these remix offers, it really feels like the ultimate validation as a dj/producer."

Are you working on new productions or remixes that we should look out for?
Yes, I have 2 new collaborations with Hatiras.
Dj Dan & Hatiras "Love For The Weekend"
Dj Dan & Hatiras "Baked From Scratch"
Also:
Dj Dan "Bam"
Dj Dan "Illectrolingus"
All of which, except for "Bam", are all on my new cd.
I am also currently working on a new remix for Nine Inch Nails as well as releasing tracks from Bryan Cox, Hatiras, Mike Balance, Jon Pegnato,
Christian Alvarez, Robbie Rivera and High Caliber on my own label InStereo.

Your style of djing and productions are heavily directed at the dance floor with the main aim to get people moving. Do you dabble in styles other than the ones you're known for?
Yes, my rule is to always keep it funky but keep it fresh by dabbling in other current sounds of the moment. I like the Sebastian Ingrosso & Steve Angello sound as well as some of the funky mash ups that have been coming out. I think as long as I'm having fun with the crowd and they're hyped on what they're hearing, I've accomplished my goal. I just want to keep the music fun and exciting.

What drives you to DJ after many years behind the decks?
As long as I can continue to play the music that inspires me day after day, I'll never stop dj'ing. I still love it. It truly is my therapy.

"You can hear John Lennon talking and rehearsing with his band and we really got the shivers in the studio when we were able to hear his solo vocal track and then manipulate it into a dance track."

As a lot of DJs have embraced the digital era, is this something that excites you? If so, what hardware have you got into?
I still play 50% records and 50% cd's. I think some of the new programs like Cerrato and Final Scratch are cool but I am not ready to give up on my vinyl. I love the real hands on feel. I use Pro Tools at home to re-edit alot of my tracks that I play out and then just transfer them onto cd.

Any notable parties that you played/attended this year?
I played the Love Parade Festival in San Francisco this year and it was incredible. I believe they had 300,000 people this year and it was rocking. San Francisco has really come back to being one of the coolest crowds to play for. Zouk in Singapore was incredible this year as well.

I've read that you have a keen sense for design. Is this something that keeps you busy when not on the road?
If I was not dj'ing, I would want to design the men's line for Diesel. I love their denim and I still sketch on the road. I think eventually I will return to it but for now, music has kept me happy and content.