From a warehouse to your house, Dave from Dallas has been lighting up clubs across America. Dave received his influences from a house music radio show while cleaning his bedroom and soon grew tired of the lackluster commercials being broadcasted and interrupting the music; this lead Dave to making his own “mix” tapes. Shortly thereafter, Dave could be found at numerous house parties showcasing his own brand of music. Between having the police looking over fences at various house parties and working the door at a variety of clubs, Dave found himself on the decks jamming the dance floor full of his deep style of house music.

Keeping things balanced, Dave always had a piece of studio gear side by side with his turntable. Blending his live productions with the music coming off his turntables, he keeps a perfect ying and yang while he performed for his crowd.

Dave has produced work on fine labels such as Slanted Black, Yoshitoshi and YO!.
Let’s see what he’s been up to.

Let’s go back to when you were younger. What influenced you?

Well it was a radio show called “The Edge Club”. I was cleaning my room as a kid and flipping through some channels (I had never heard house before). It was a 2 hour show and I never missed it from that point on. After a while I was tired of them (the radio dj’s) talking over the music with all the commercials, so I would record it, then go back and edit all that trash out. I guess you could call it my first “mix” tape. I was doing that and recording songs on tapes and then CD’s, that I had or friends would give me, for quite some time. I was known as the guy with the music at house parties.

How long was it before you used tables?

Around 96-97.
Can you describe one of those house parties?
Well you know same old same old, kids doing stuff they are probably not supposed to so we will leave that part out. What I do remember is always having a “mix” tape in my pocket… and as soon as I got to the party a line would open up straight to the stereo for me to put it in. [laughing] very funny, now that I think of it.

Do you remember some of the songs that were on those tapes?

Oh God… you know… playing with knives… anything Moby.

So you’re going to the house parties, doing the tapes, what happens next?

Well I don’t know how your house parties went Jon….
But mine usually ended up with people naked and jumping into the pool from the roof of the house. One time we had the cops called on us, I remember climbing up the ladder and an officer poked her head over the fence … shook her head… then got back into the car and drove off. I guess she couldn’t even think of how to write that one up.

How did you start playing out at the clubs?

I was working odd jobs at a hot spot in Dallas, promotions, and coat check, the door?whatever.
One day on the biggest party [night] the club had, “The Sex Party”, the side room DJ didn’t show.
The manager looked me and said “do you have your records?” I shit my pants and said yes.
So there I was just in the mix just like that. All the industry people at the party had worked there way into my tiny side room banging away till after the club closed. I solidified my position as one of the Sex Party DJs that night.

What happened next? Did you hit the main room? Or move from club to club?

Well that was a weird time, yes I hit the main room Disco house was what was being played.
No one [the DJs] traveled just a handful. I had just gotten back from New York so my sound was a dark harder sound than what was being played. The crowds had not heard that and wanted more as soon as they did. Ecstasy was hitting the clubs pretty hard then and I guess “Disco” wasn’t scratching that itch, and the darker stuff was. I was worked into a guest spot then eventually had my own night. A lot of people were pissed that some kid could come up the ranks so fast… virtually overnight. I was unknown as I wasn’t even old enough to get into the clubs to hang with the other DJs.

How old were you?

18-19, most of the clubs were over 21. I had my fake ID like most.

When did you start to venture out of Spy and DJ at other clubs?

Gosh, it must have been 3-4 years, even when I played other places it was for the same management. I mean a rave here and there within that time but nothing on a regular basis
I guess coming up so fast no one knows who you are you are, you know? Good and bad I guess.

How did you get involved with Yoshi? ? ?Sharam from Deep Dish was in town playing at one of the local clubs. I had just finished a couple of songs I wanted to give him so burned them to CD and went up to the club. I was hanging out in the booth with the resident DJ (Redeye) and handed my CD to Sharam. Redeye asked, ?Is that a Demo? You better tell him!? I had just handed him the CD for him to play as the tracks were pretty hard and didn?t fit Yoshi?s sound. I let Sharam know there were several tracks on the CD, all original productions of mine. Two days later I received a voicemail from Sharam saying he really liked the tracks and he started asking about the hardest tribal song on the CD and that he wanted it for Yoshi. I was very honored but replied that I thought it would stick out like a sore thumb on the label. He said he would take care of that, leading to the birth of the YO! label. The track took off and did amazingly well. ? ?When did you make the big jump from the local clubs to the nations best? ? ?I was traveling quite a bit on my own to hear what was being played in Miami and New York. I became a regular face on Danny, Junior, and Victors dance floor. All the industry guys began to recognize me as well. This made it a bit easier to hand out demos and have them make it into the right hands. My first gig out side Texas was in the old Liquid on South Beach for the Winter Party, one of the largest week long parties in Miami next to the Winter Music Conference. It was the DJ Showcase on a Monday night consisting of all local DJs and then me (the only out of towner). It was the wrap-up party so all the DJs were playing kind of down tempo/low energy stuff. I had drawn the perfect slot of the evening so I decided to let them have it! I blew the roof off the place. The next week I was getting reviews of the party emailed to me only the party was barely mentioned the focus was on me and the energy I brought. This led to thirteen more trips to Miami within a year. I was playing some of the biggest parties in the gay and straight communities such as Winter Music Conference events, White Party and Winter Party events. Playing along side Peter Rauhofer*69, Robbie Rivera, DJ Vibe, John Creamer, Stephen K, The Scumfrog, Rodger Sanchez, Low End Specialists and Clive Henry (of Peace Division). This led to my relocation to Miami Beach and my Residency and Club Maze.

Out of all the clubs you have played, can you name a favorite?

My favorite? Back then it would be this little (20,000 SF) warehouse that we had the most underground parties and I could play the sickest weirdest underground house. It was underground, no name, with just some Kinko’s fliers we would print the night before. If you were there you know what I’m taking about. If you weren’t then you don’t. The name would make no difference. Now it would be Club Rise in Boston. Everything there is about the scene and positive attitude.

Let’s move from the decks to the studio. How did you make the jump?

Mmmm….
I don’t know. I think I bought my studio stuff along side my first turntable. I have a TON of analog crap!!!!! Now everything is digital, moving all that stuff is a pain. If I want something really weird I go to the analog but mainly stick with my digital. I guess I have always been doing stuff in the studio. Every chance I get and nothing has been overnight! It has only been from the help of others that have been willing.

What do you like to use for a main program?

I have become really familiar with Sonar, it is very easy and can control Reason, Live, whatever. So I can link whatever is new and just use what I know.

How do you like to lay your tracks down? Beats first, vocal?

Depends… I guess the best way is find my sample I’m building around then find the pattern, midi sync the pattern/ beats for instance, add and subtract parts so that they are not in the way of each other, loop it make it sound so/so, cut parts in and out, then lay everything out.
For vocals, I guess it depends on what kind of vocal, for the remix I just did called “Desire” on Slanted Black, I did it like that [built around the sample] as the vocal is very powerful. But for the more spoken word, the “Innerfreak” on Lajja for example, I wanted the focus on Craig’s vocal so most of the break is where you will find his vocal. It changes is what I’m getting at. You can hear it every song I have coming out is different for each other, definitely.

What projects do you have that are soon to be coming out?

“Music Mix” – LAJJA (TBA), “Innerfreak” – LAJJA (TBA), “Desire” – SLANTED BLACK
(TBA), “Affliction” MOOMBA (TBA) and 2 more remixes on the table that I have not yet received.
Where can your fans find you online?
You can talk to me directly at http://www.myspace.com/davefromdallas . Also there are live mix links and new music up on there all the time.

Is there anything you want to share with your fans?
I’m doing what I love so “fan” is a weird word for me … more like “friends”. I love to see your happy shinny faces on the dance floor and any chance you get to shout out or give a little wave please do! I wouldn’t be doing this if you didn’t!”

Dave concludes the interview speaking about all of his friends and support he has received. A genuine person, he speaks of himself in a modest tone. Keep your eyes open for this DJ and producer as big things are on the way.

Interview By – Jon Viera Bettencourt