If you don’t already know all about Danny Tenaglia, we really wonder which planet are you on. I-S chats to the spinmeister before he kicks off an epic aural jamboree as part of Zouk’s 20th anniversary bash.
Hi Danny, how was the Winter Music Conference (WMC) 2011 for you?
WMC was a lot of fun! My events went really well. I spend a lot of time preparing for it so there is a lot of work involved during the months leading up to it. As always, it was really great to see people dancing and having a good time on the dance floor. I am so thankful that I can still be a part of the events at WMC after all these years. You’ve played a major role in the development of WMC in the last 26 years.
For those who haven’t had the WMC experience, what is it like?
Well, I must say that it has evolved quite a bit during those 26 years. When it first started it was such a small scene that the attendance at the events was a fraction of what it is now, and the people in the crowd were almost all in the music industry. Now it is huge, drawing people from all over the world, fans and industry alike. These days there are so many events going on around WMC that it is hard to keep up! It has truly been amazing to watch the dance music scene grow and reach this point where it is being embraced by so many people. WMC serves as a reminder of how global dance music has become.
It has been almost 30 years since you first started deejaying, how do you think you have evolved as an artist?
That’s tough to say. I feel like as a DJ I have always embraced new sounds while still maintaining a deep connection to the roots of dance music. At the beginning my sets consisted of mostly disco tracks, cause it was what we danced to in those days, whereas now my sets are a mixture of varying genres with generous nods to the music that has inspired me throughout the years. I also spend less time in the studio these days. After dedicating so many years to my productions and remixes it was necessary for me to step back and take some time for myself.
Do you remember your first time on the decks?
Of course! It was nerve wracking and exhilarating all at once. I remember being so nervous and focused on the music that I could hardly look up at the crowd. My friends were there to support me and I hardly looked up at them! As the set progressed I became more confident and would glance up to see people dancing and reacting positively to my selections. It was a feeling unlike anything that I had ever felt before. I knew right after that first gig that expressing myself through music and making people feel what I felt when I heard music is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I was hooked after that…
What’s your current sound like?
My sets can go from techno to house and everywhere in between, along with a good dose of the classics that have inspired me. As always, I do not like to stick too much to one sound or genre. It’s all about the element of surprise… How do you think technology has shaped the face of dance music? There are good things and bad things about technology’s effect on dance music. The computer software available today and the technological advances in music hardware have given musicians a lot of ways to bring their ideas to life, which is wonderful. The multitude of sounds and production methods now available has given birth to many exciting new styles. However, with less live instrumentation and trained musicians being recorded it has become harder to come across the kind of musicianship that you hear on classic records, and that is not good. Another big factor is the internet. Illegal downloads have made it a lot harder to make a living as a musician. At the same time the internet has made it easier for artists to promote their work and expand their audience.
It has been awhile since you came out with a new release. Anything in the works?
In the last couple of years I have worked on several projects, some on my own and also some collaborations with other artists including DJ Vibe, as well as the VERY talented up and coming DJ/Producer Nicole Moudaber. I hope to put the finishing touches on them soon but at this time I do not have a release date. There are a couple of remixes that I recently made solely for the purpose of using during my DJ sets which you can look out for at one of my events. 😉
What’s a Danny Tenaglia experience?
Fun, free of boundaries, inclusive, emotional, dark, bright, hard, soulful… There’s really no knowing what direction I will take my sets in cause at the end of the day it is about the crowd, the vibe and the energy in the room. I feed off what I am feeling from the dance floor. The best way I can describe it is, expect the unexpected.
You’ll be playing at Zouk soon. What can we expect?
I love playing at Zouk! There is something really special about Zouk and the crowd there. I am so excited to be coming back and can’t wait to give all that I can give to make sure that my next experience there will be as memorable and dear to my heart as the last ones have been. I have some tricks up my sleeve that I have a feeling you guys are gonna really like. It’s going to be magic!
Famous last words?
I’m not ready for last words yet. I still have a lot more living to do!
Don’t miss Danny Tenaglia at Zouk on Apr 16, 10pm. Zouk, 17 Jiak Kim St., 6738-2988. $23-33 includes one drink.
