Only a few producers in Dance music get the opportunity to remix artists such as New Order, Jewel, Groove Armada, and Crystal Method. Dave Dresden is one such artist, a producer whose original works and remixes are consistently reaching higher and higher standards. Dave has struck a great partnership in the studio with Josh Gabriel, and has also worked with a host of other quality artists such as Ryeland Allison, Pete Lorimer and Pablo la Rosa just to name a few.
Apart from producing duties, Dave has worked as a Journalist, Radio Presenter and A&R for many Record Labels. So it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Dave Dresden is a veteran of the dance music industry, and is quickly becoming a veteran at producing top quality records. Dave recently took time off the many duties he has to answer a few questions regarding his musical life.

For those who are unaware of your music, how would you describe the records you make?

I've always been the one who was like "damn...if the record only did THIS...it would be the shit!" so now I have the opportunity to do that, and luckily people are taking to it. I like records that have a memorable quality to them. I want to make THAT record in a DJ's set.

You are well known for the work you do with partner in crime, Josh Gabriel. Can you describe why your partnership works so well?

Both Josh and I have diverse backgrounds that if you put the two together, equals more than enough to make great electronic dance music. From his creation of the Mixman program (www.mixman.com) and working on mastering albums he has a full understanding of the machine and how it operates. In addition to the fact that he has a very good ear for sound. It helps when two producers working together have a similar appreciation for music and we both listened to a lot of the same music growing up. For me, I’ve been DJ’ing since the late 80's and have always listened to and played all kinds of music. Over the years you start to pick up things from the producers you're most influenced by. I never imagined that I’d be any good at making music, but when Josh and I get together in a studio, things just WORK. I guess they call that chemistry. By working with Josh, I have gotten a lot of self confidence about my ideas, which helps a lot when working with other people on music.

Your latest release on SAW, ‘Lament’, has received airplay from the biggest DJ’s in the world. Would you rate this as one of your finest works or can you name other records you are extremely proud of?

I can't speak for Josh, but a record isn't done until you love it 100%. We made "Lament" under pressure to write an original song after all the remixes we had already done. While we were working on the track we had quite a few great things occur to us and I think that good vibe spread into the music. At first, labels were sceptical of the tune because they thought it was weird and almost every indie dance label in the UK passed on the track. I went to Spundae here in LA in June and heard Satoshi Tomiie play a set and based on what I heard, knew he would be into the track. We're very proud of "Lament" and are elated that people are into it, but the second you start to believe your own hype I feel that you end up settling for that which you already have. I'm confident that our best work is still on its way.

Your productions have received praise from Trance and Progressive DJ’s alike. Do you intentionally target your tracks for certain genres or do you let the music do the work?

I look at music in two ways - good music and bad music. By saying "I’m a progressive DJ" you're seriously limiting what you can play and I cannot stand limits. DJ’ing is all about timing, and if you play the right trance record in a progressive set, the crowd will go apeshit. But since journalists and clubbers are so into naming things, I’d have to say I’m most interested in making house records with a trance feel. Trance was exciting because it was euphoric and melodic. It also became very formulaic in a lot of ways, but there aren't enough good melodic dance records at 125-135 bpm. That said I’m really into music that breaks rules but at the same time is memorable. No mean feat but I’m up to the challenge!

You have remixed some BIG artists over the years, such as New Order, Way Out West, DJ Tiesto, Groove Armada, Crystal Method and Jewel! Are there any other artists in particular that you would also like to remix?

Anyone who writes a good song that is both sexy, sad and euphoric I’m interested in working on. We just did a remix for the U.S. Pop singer Duncan Sheik called "On A High" that I think embodies everything I set out to do in the studio. I'm very proud of that remix because we really got underneath the skin of what the song is about while making it all our own at the same time. I'm expecting big things from this tune when it comes out on Atlantic records in Jan 2003.

What can you tell us about any upcoming remixes and productions?

Josh and I have been working with a singer named Jes Brieden on a project we're calling Motorcycle. Jes has an interesting voice that is both bluesy, raspy and sexy. At times she reminds me of Bjork and Tori Amos mixed together. We have five completed vocals with her and one song that we've been playing out called "When The Rush Comes" - protonradio.com seemed to dig it when I did a show for them a few weeks ago and put it on their homepage as one of the tracks of the week - not bad seeing that the tune isn't even done yet. We've also completed the follow-up to "Lament" which is still untitled for SAW, and of course, tons of remix work. Recently, we did a mix for Grayarea’s "One For the Road", Three Drives "Carerra 2", the Duncan Sheik I mentioned above and "Muzik" by Ils. With Ryeland Allison, whom we go by "Allison Dresden Duo" and "ADD" but both names are subject to change soon. We've got a song called "Use Only The Drugs" which has been getting a proper caning from Sasha, Zabiela and Pete Tong which we're presently sorting through three offers to sign it. Ryeland and I also just did a remix for the song "Welcome to my Head" by Thunderpuss, which is also getting a lot of attention. We're also in the process of working on another original song called "Touched" which samples a group I’ve been into for a while called Vast. Hopefully we can clear the sample! Every once in a while, Pete “29 palmns" Lorimar and myself get together and do some work as well. We've just completed an original tune called "Goddess" which has a vocal from Zoe Bonham, John Bonham from Led Zeppelin's daughter. I've been getting a great reaction to this tune, so time will tell if it sees the light of day.

You have worked as a Journalist, A & R, on Radio and of course as a producer over the last 2 decades. What do you do with your time these days?

I still consult for Pete Tong's radio show, for various record labels on compilations, I program issues for promo only, which is the original DJ subscription service on cd (www.promoonly.com), and I DJ around. But I don't feel complete unless I’m working on a track, so I spend a shitload of time doing that or brainstorming ideas.

What producers or DJ’s have been influential to you over the years?

Oh my. This list could be rather long. But instead of telling you how much I was moved by BT's first album, or appreciate Paul Oakenfold's contribution to the dance scene or how magical Sasha's DJ sets are, I’d like to focus on a guy named Jonathan Peters. He's not hugely known internationally, but what that guy does to records when he spins at his Saturday night residency at the sound factory in New York is unbelievable. When I started checking him out in 1997, I was in need of some inspiration professionally, and boy did he do it! I could go on about how he'd play a great track for 30-45 minutes and never make it sound boring, how he would ride sweet vocal acappellas over the toughest techno tracks, how one of his 15 hour sets were filled with almost every conceivable dance sound and how it all went together so well. I wish this guy would travel and play overseas. He's volumes better than any DJ on the circuit today. Check out his website at www.jonathanpeters.com

Outside your hectic music lifestyle, what do you like to get up in the little amounts of spare time you must have?

Drink coffee and take long drives and see places I’ve never seen.