In the world of dance music, some artists set musical agendas - others follow. Dubfire has stood firmly in the first camp for his entire career. As one half of electronic music legends, Deep Dish, with studio partner, Sharam Tayebi, Ali ‘Dubfire’ Shirazinia has won Grammys, released a brace of hit singles, remixed music’s biggest names, and rocked the most respected clubs the world over.
While taking a creative break from Deep Dish (as he and Sharam both pursue individual projects), Dubfire has moved onto a different trajectory, but one that’s very much in keeping with a music obsessive whose record collection spans punk, industrial/new wave, jazz, dub, hip-hop, house, and techno.
The aforementioned mix of influences is no more evident than on his single ‘I Feel Speed’ -- a cover of an overlooked Love & Rockets song -- with Dubfire on vocal duty. A substantial nod to his musical beginnings, ‘I Feel Speed’ is further proof that artistically, Dubfire isn’t afraid to push boundaries, something for which he’s been increasingly heralded in 2007.
Accolades for Dubfire’s productions have flowed thick and fast – from Mixmag (including being asked to mix the magazine’s prestigious covermount CD), DJ Mag and Raveline (featured on the cover of both), to IDJ, Groove, Beatportal, Resident Advisor, and many more. And that’s just the press. His DJ and producer peers have afforded tracks such as ‘Roadkill’ and ‘RibCage’ burgeoning acclaim, in both chart reactions and interviews.
Such critically (and commercially) successful productions have served asmonumental openers for Dubfire’s new digital-release-only label, Science + Technology Digital Audio (SCI + TEC). Initially formed as the exclusive outlet for Dubfire's solo productions, it will grow to incorporate releases from some of his favourite emerging and recognized artists from around the globe.
With distribution and download partners including Beatport, iTunes, and Zebralution, SCI+TEC has quickly established an international reputation as a label that no discerning electronic fan should miss.
2007 also saw the release of his first solo Global Underground mix album, ‘Taipei’. If ever a mix compilation exemplified an artist riding the zeitgeist, then ‘Taipei’ is it. Like a Dubfire live set, the albums deft mix of underground techno and electronica struck a chord with media and music fans alike, and was met with a chorus of approval, resulting in several ‘Album Of The Month’ reviews and features across a wide range of global media.
Asia, Europe, South America, the US, and the Southern Hemisphere – all continents have rocked to Dubfire’s superlative DJ skills in the past 12 months. But filling the finest international clubs is one thing, keeping a floor packed for over 9 hours takes only the very best (just ask those lucky clubbers who experienced this at Brazil’s Warung earlier this year). And with barely enough time to rest his headphones in January, Dubfire is off on the road again once more; with an ever-present hunger for touring flowing through his veins, 2008’s diary is proving to be the busiest yet.
On the remix front, re-workings of Nitzer Ebb, Robbie Rivera, Nic Fancuilli, and more, have brought him to the forefront of record boxes the world over. Recent remixes for the likes of Steve Hillage and Mirrette Giraudy’s System 7 project, UNKLE, and Smith & Selway, will no doubt further cement his current status as remixer du jour.
Dubfire’s change in direction has also spawned new creative partnerships, as well as resurrecting old ones: his reworking of Ritchie Hawtin’s percussive opus and (beyond) classic 90’s track, ‘Spastik’ (original recorded under Hawtin’s Plastikman guise) has been released on M-nus, along with a new production entitled ‘Emissions’, also featured on the label’s recent compilation, ‘Expansion-Contraction’.
With the success of original productions, his remixes, and extensive tour dates, one thing is abundantly clear: based on the current state of play, Dubfire is one of 2008’s most exciting musical visionaries.
Winner: International Dance Music Award 2005 for Best House/Garage Track "Say Hello", Best Progressive/Trance Track "Say Hello" and Ortofon Best American DJ Award
Nominee: Grammy Award 2005 "Best Dance Recording" for Deep Dish's "Say Hello"
Winner: Grammy Award 2002 "Best Remixed Recording" for Dido's "Thank You"
Nominee: Grammy Award 2001 "Remixer of The Year" (NonClassical)
Winner: International Dance Music Awards 2005 for Best Underground Dance Track for "Flashdance"
Winner: DanceStar USA Award 2004 for Best Compilation (US Releases) for Deep Dish - GU 025: Toronto (Global Underground) and Best DJ
Nominee: DanceStar USA Award 2004 for Best Remix (Worldwide DJ's) for P. Diddy's "Let's Get Ill" (Deep Dish Remix) (Bad Boy)
Winner: Ibiza DJ Award 2004 for Best Set of the Season
Winner: DanceStar USA Award 2002 Best Compilation for Deep Dish - GU 021: Moscow (Global Underground)
Nominee: DanceStar USA Award 2003 Party 93.1 FM Award for Best Remix for Justin Timberlake's "Like I Love You" (Deep Dish remix) (Jive)
"Hot Duo", Rolling Stone, August 2001
Winner: Muzik Magazine SAS Award 1998 "Best International DJ"
DEEP DISH ALSO RANKED
Number 1 in the "Best Progressive DJ" category of BPM Magazine's 2006 "America's Favorite DJ's" poll
Number 2 in the "Best Dance/DJ Artist" category by the critics of Rolling Stone for their music awards of 2001
Number 10 in DJ Magazine's World's Top 100 DJ's reader's poll for 2006, number 8 for 2005, number 10 for 2004, number 9 for 2003, number 16 in 2002, and number 10 in 2001
Number 5 out of 50 of "America's Favorite DJ's" in BPM in 2005, number 12 in 2004 and number 9 in 2003 and 2002
