
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.