HOLLYWOOD, CA- It’s a Thursday night in Hollywood and I find myself in Ritual, a cozy bar hidden behind the Pig N’ Whistle off of Hollywood Blvd. There are a few dark booths perfect for couples and small groups of co-workers looking for a place to share a drink and talk about the week. It’s around 11:30pm and a few locals wander in off of the rainy street and start to talk to an unassuming gentleman in an oversized T-shirt with the words “Original Groove” printed across his chest and a hat that proclaims, “You Are So Beautiful.” He’s friendly and welcoming and his name is DYRTI Dan.
He takes the stage behind a set of Pioneer tables and faders and dives right into a pounding house beat that’s part aggressive and part sublime. The sound is “deep and dirty,” as Dan puts it, and it energizes a few of the local ladies to groove on the dance floor in their heels and high rise skinny jeans.
I often find it difficult to appreciate house music and deep bass. It often lacks identity and structure. It’s often repetitious to the point of nausea and a lot of deejays hide behind that pounding monotony. It’s the kind of sound in which my ears can’t find the defining edges of the music.
However, after listening to Dan’s set, I realized that he is different. He wants melody and chorus to find their way into his mix. He wants the music to have presence and by the way he got the intimate crowd at Ritual on their feet, I can tell that people really like his particular brand and style. It’s almost as if he works more like a music engineer, finding that delicate balance between bass, beats, and bravado.
I had a chance to talk with DYRTI Dan recently and he reveals a few details about himself and his sound.
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Where are you from and when did you start to DJ?
I’m originally from Orlando, Florida, but have been in Los Angeles for over 20 years. I started collecting records in 1992 and my first gig was in 97.
What kind of music do you mix and why?
I’m definitely on the tech side of House. I would say tribal tech house with a slice of deep tech/house.
What makes you different from other DJs?
My style of mixing. I really like to ride out the mixes and let the tracks build up and peak together.
What’s the biggest performances you’ve had and what made them memorable?
I played at the 2018 Sunrise Festival in Tulum, Mexico. What made it memorable? It was my first international gig. I also played at Purple 33’s 2018 NYE party and 1000 people attended. What made it memorable was watching people having such a great time on New Years Eve because of my mixes and feeling the love from the dance floor.
If there is one thing you want fans to know about you, what is it?
I am very passionate about my music. I play for them. Not me.
Anything else you want to add?
I am the Resident DJ on Subliminal Radio’s Holly’s House every Saturday night between 6pm and 11pm. Subliminal Radio is an international internet radio station. Holly’s House focuses on underground House and Tech House music.
You can hear Dan live on Subliminal Radio right here: http://subliminalradio.net
Follow Dyrti Dan on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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