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Interview with Gabriel and Dresden on tranceUNITED
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Ever since „As the rush comes“ was heard in the clubs, the duo Gabriel & Dresden have become household names in the trance music scene. This Track undoubtly was one of the most played tracks in 2003 and can already be defined as a trance classic...
Two Americans are behind this project, Josh Gabriel from the west coast from San Francisco and Dave Dresden from the East coast from Connecticut.
They formed the project Gabriel & Dresden in 2001, and in three years, they have collected a very impressive resume with productions and remixes. They have cracked just about every dance chart there is, most impressively the American Billboard charts where they have scored #1 songs, as well as remixes. In only a short time, they have remixed renown acts like New Order, Tiesto, Way out west, David Gahan, Paul Oakinfold, Evenesence, Anne Lennox, just to name a few. Gabriel & Dresden already have established the label as being one of the top remix teams in the business. They recently released a double Album called “Bloom” featuring some own material with Tracks like “Arcadia,” “Serendipity,”or “Lament,” as well as remixes. Josh Gabriel also just released a solo track called “Alive” that has recieved much DJ support from the top jocks.tranceUNITED.com had the opportunity to Interview them.
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tranceUNITED:
Hi Josh and Dave, you had reached nearly everything in your career? What are your goals for 2005?
Josh & Dave:
2005 for us is about starting our new label, Organized Nature the first release is called “Arcadia”, producing and co-writing a Motorcycle album, Djing and getting our website in order.
tranceUNITED:
You guys debuted at # 41 in the DJ Magazine Top 10 ranking. Were you surprised at coming in so high and how can you top this ranking in the next year?
Josh & Dave:
We love making music and Djing it for people, we were more honored than surprised.
tranceUNITED:
You guys seem to be popular with alot of DJs and producers around the world. Above & Beyond think highly of you as does German DJ ATB who had nice things to say aboutyou as I recently interviewed him. What makes Gabriel & Dresden so unique?
Josh & Dave:
Our approach to music making music is focused around the song, whether it’s an original or a remix. We listen to the voice and the lyrics and tailor each track to maximize the song’s potential. Also, there is and emotional, warm and hopeful feeling to our music, at least that’s what people tell us 
tranceUNITED:
What were your early musical inspirations?
Josh & Dave:
Depeche Mode, Jean Michelle Jarre, Cure, Duran Duran, New Order, Yaz, Kraftwerk, etc…
tranceUNITED:
When did you know that you wanted to become producers/DJS?
Josh:
I’ve been making music with computers since 1984, so I never really decided, nature just took it’s course.
Dave:
I’ve been Djing since 1987 because I loved the music, I guess I’ve never stopped.
tranceUNITED:
Were you guys always Musicians or did you also have other jobs?
Josh:
I worked in Hollywood as a sound engineer/editor and also started a music software company called Mixman.com
Dave:
I worked in A&R at various record labels and radio programmer.
tranceUNITED:
You guys formed in 2001, how did you meet and how did you guys know that having a working relationship was going to work?
Josh:
We met at the Winter Music Conference 2001. I was giving away white labels of my track “Wave 3” and Dave said he was looking for music for Pete Tong.
Dave:
I liked his track and gave it to Pete Tong . He played it two weeks later on his show. Later Pete asked me to do a spec mix for New Order and I asked Josh to produce it with me. The band loved it and we’ve never stopped making music.
tranceUNITED:
You guys have different charachters? How would you describe yourselves?
Dave:
Josh is the serious and logical one.
Josh:
Dave is the funny and crazy one.
tranceUNITED:
You guys live on different coasts. How does that work with producing tracks? Do guys like send each other sound files back and forth or how do you work together productively?
Josh & Dave:
We now both live in San Francisco so things are easier.
tranceUNITED:
Was it difficult finding contacts in the music world? Who helped you guys?
Josh & Dave:
Dave had a lot of contacts from his A&R and radio days. That helped, but in the end the music has to do your talking.
tranceUNITED:
Some may say you guys make trance, others say you guys are progressive. How do you define your sound?
Josh & Dave:
Pop music for the e-generation.
tranceUNITED:
Honestly did you know right away that “As the rush comes” would become as big as would?
Josh & Dave:
No idea, It was just another song that we worked on that we loved.
tranceUNITED:
Does “As the rush comes” have a particular meaning? Did you write it about a certain experience you had in your lives?
Josh & Dave:
Yes, the song draws from personal experience, but was written in a way to apply to more things. Lyrics are best left a little abstract.
tranceUNITED:
You recently released your debut album “Bloom”, it is an Album with Gabriel & Dresden Tracks as well as remixes. Why did you do this direction? Is there a specific reason why?
Josh & Dave:
We wanted to represent what we sound like when we DJ and when we DJ we play a lot of our own music and remixes.
tranceUNITED.
Do you guys keep “Motorcycle” separate from Gabriel & Dresden” or why was this monster Track not on the Album?
Josh & Dave:
Well, because it was not a track that we were playing as Djs at that point and we really wanted to be true to our DJ sets.
tranceUNITED:
You guys are known as one of the best remix teams now, does that put much pressure on you when you guys are putting together a remix? Do you spend lots of time on a remix or do you some times bang out remixes quickly?
Josh & Dave:
We never bang them out quickly. They are all our children and are treated with respect and love. We do feel the pressure sometimes.
tranceUNITED:
What is your favorite Remix you guys have done so far?
Josh: Lilly Hayden Dub
Dave: Beber & Tamra “Travelling On”
tranceUNITED:
How would you describe the trance scene in USA? Will it ever really take off? Many DJs like Paul Oakenfold, Paul Van Dyk, and Tiesto have spread trance and are seen as Gods there, but it is not as established as in Europe. How would you compare the European trance scene to the trance scene in USA?
Josh & Dave:
Dance music in the US suffers from the fact that the radio does not reflect the clubs. Hopefully we can change that.
tranceUNITED:
This Interview is for tranceUNITED.com a big website for trance fanatics from Germany. What do you think of our site? What in general do you think about German DJs/Producers?
Josh & Dave:
We play a lot of Tiefschwarz and Oliver Lieb. We have a world of respect for Paul Van Dyke as a DJ and what he has done to build the scene worldwide.
tranceUNITED:
Frankfurt has a rich tradition of amazing Techno Producers like, Sven Väth, Oliver Lieb, Jam & Spoon, DJ Dag, Talla 2xlc, Tom Wax, Taucher, Pascal Feos, Tillmann Uhrmacher etc. Did any of these guys impact you?
Josh & Dave:
Everyone of these guys has had a huge influence on us. They might be responsible for some of the more techno elements of our music.
tranceUNITED:
What is in store for Gabriel & Dresden for the future? What are your long term goals?
Josh & Dave:
To keep writing and producing music with artists we respect.
tranceUNITED:
With what artist would you like to do a collabaration? Or who would you like to produce?
Josh & Dave:
We would love to work with Annie Lennox, U2, the Cure, Serge Santiago, Jacques Lu Cont and Tiefschwarz if you’re reading this
tranceUNITED:
Could you ever imagine producing a total different style of music like breakbeat, Drum & Bass or House?
Dave:
Yes, we already produce a lot of house music.
Josh: I’d love to experiment with Hip-Hop
tranceUNITED:
What is the most important thing for you guys as DJs?
Josh & Dave:
To love the music we play and to connect with the audience.
tranceUNITED:
What was your most memoriable DJ gig?
Josh & Dave:
We recently had an amazing time playing Innercity in Amstrerdam.
tranceUNITED:
When can we see you live in Germany?
Josh & Dave:
We’re not currently booked anywhere, but would love to play there. It’s a matter of a promoter bringing us out there.
tranceUNITED:
What do you guys think about Final Scratch? Is it a direction you might go?
Josh & Dave:
We’ll be using Ablton Live so we believe in using technology to push Djing forward.
tranceUNITED:
What do you think about MP3s? Has it hurt or helped the scene more?
Josh & Dave:
It has changed the scene, time to adapt.
tranceUNITED:
Where do you see the direction of Trance going in the next 12 Months?
Josh & Dave:
To us, in our DJ sets, genre is meaningless and just serves to divide people.
tranceUNITED:
What american DJs do you respect and which international DJs do you respect?
Josh & Dave:
American: Markus Schulz, Sandra Collins and Deep Dish
International: Sander Klienenberg, James Holden and Sasha & Digweed
tranceUNITED:
What are your top 10 tracks at the moment that you play in your DJ sets?
Josh & Dave:
Gabriel & Dresden “Arcadia”
Perasma “Swing to Harmony” Gabriel & Dresden Club Mix
Rachel Starr “Till There was You” Gabriel & Dresden 12-Step Program
Pryda “Nile”
Odessi “Over Again” Cicada Dub
Buick Project “Chancer”
Big Top “Sub”
Kay D Smith & Mark Tall “Praise Worthy Tunes”
Remy vs Tom Mc Crae “Bootleg”
Reflect “Need to Feel Loved” Type Mix
tranceUNITED:
Besides “As the rush comes”If you had one last record to play what would you play?
Josh & Dave:
Big Top “Sub”
tranceUNITED:
What are your hobbys?
Josh: Cooking and inventing
Dave: Counting chickens before they hatch
tranceUNITED:
Where do you want to be musically in 10 years?
Josh & Dave:
Writing and producing music and in general, working on cool shit.
tranceUNITED:
Thanks Dave and Josh for this Interview.
Josh & Dave:
You are welcome.
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source: www.tranceunited.com
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