WITH the release of 2007’s ‘Roadkill’, Ali ‘Dubfire’ Shirazinia essentially declared Deep Dish done and dusted. The soulful progressive house sound of the Grammy Award-winning duo’s classic releases, on labels like Tribal and Yoshitoshi Records, had immediately become a part of dance music’s past as Dubfire reinvented himself, embracing a sleek, aggressive sound.
Menacing tracks like ‘Ribcage’ and ‘Rabid’, as well as punishing remixes for Radio Slave and Plastikman soon followed and Dubfire’s evolution into a full-on techno juggernaut was complete. Dubfire’s explosive new single, ‘OCTVS’, will be released on his SCI+TEC Digital Audio label on July 5 and is the result of some extensive studio time earlier this year. “I actually devoted the first half of 2012 towards finishing everything that I had started over the past few years,” Ali tells DJ Mag. “Relentless gigging, while fun, can take its toll on your health, time and creative process… ideas need time to evolve. Besides the new single, I’ve got a number of other projects and collaborations in the finishing stages with Oliver Huntemann, Daniel Stefanik and others, so I’m looking forward to a productive year with my musical output.”
Can you believe it’s been five years since ‘Roadkill’? “Wow, has it really been five years? Ha ha! I guess the thought that makes me feel that this whole journey has been worthwhile is that so many great new artists have been discovered or developed with the label’s efforts and support. Artists such as Rocha & Lewinger, The Dolphins, Simi, Ascion, Mutant Clan, Shin Nishimura, Marascia, Reset Robot, Delete, Steve Parker, MiniCoolBoyz, Marco Effe, SHDWPLAY, Alberto Pascual, Francesco Bergomi, Schubert, Macromism and Xordo to name a few.”
Carlo Lio’s ‘Past, Present, Future Volume 2’ mix compilation has just been released on your SCI+TEC label. What sets him apart for you? “Carlo has developed over the course of many years a signature sound, not only with his productions but also with his DJ sets. It’s something that I’ve quite enjoyed watching happen — and helped nurture — over time. We were acquaintances for many years before I noticed a radical change in the demos he was giving me and when that happened, I decided to really get behind him. People who’ve had my kind of long-spanning career owe it to those who are younger. Time, hard work and persistence is a lesson lost amongst the overnight success stories who have flooded our industry and who lack any history or substance for a long-term career plan.”
During Sonar 2012 you presented an exhibit featuring the artwork of SCI+TEC at the Blow Gallery in Barcelona. In the digital age that we live in, why is the visual presentation of the label’s music so important to you? “My gallery event wasn’t actually affiliated with the official Sonar program, but as with countless other labels and artists we used this opportunity to draw attention to Humanstudio’s work for not only the label but the Dubfire brand as well. It takes considerable time and resources to put something like this together, but it’s vital to me in the sense that I want to highlight the importance of the visual identity of what we do. The Human team’s work takes its cues from the music first and foremost. Then with my guidance, and the
creative input of the individual artists, it defines the look and sound of the label, from the cover art, to flyer templates, video loops, etc. “What we do at the gallery events is to remind people that there are creative minds at work continuing to develop the visual style of the label. Human have also played a huge role in defining the look and feel of my own Dubfire brand to the point where I couldn’t imagine having released that music or played those gigs without their design as the backdrop. Anyone with a passing interest in this should check our free Art of SCI+TEC iPad/iPhone app available on iTunes.”
Looking ahead to Ibiza, you’ll be kicking off Richie Hawtin’s ENTER residency at Space. You and Richie have developed a real synergy over the years. What are you looking forward to most about this event?
“Sake! Ha ha! But honestly, our ‘synergy’ aside, this is purely Riche’s baby and I’m happy to help bring that vision to the island. Everyone on his team has worked, and continues to work, incredibly hard to make this night a success. But yeah, sake will almost certainly play a huge part in that!”
Have you ever discussed a full-on collaboration? “We have on occasion sure, but with both of us, time, or lack thereof, is our common enemy. I think that we are also both into the idea of allowing or cultivating something like that organically. When the time is right, something will most surely materialize.”
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www.djmag.com
DUBFIRE
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