David Penn

David Penn is a house and disco house producer, DJ, arranger and musician from Spain, based in Madrid. He begins releasing music from 1992 and works across several aliases and projects, including Deux, Montilla, Nuboy and Doblado. He also runs his own label, Zen Records, and later starts a separate division of the label called Urbana Recordings.

Background and style

Penn grows up influenced by funk, soul and jazz, and later by electronic music. He is known for trying to combine older harmonies with newer sounds and for working with a range of technologies in his production. His sets move within house music, from underground styles to more energetic and melodic forms, and he often draws on classic tracks.

Collaborations and remixes

In 1994 he meets DJ Chus, and the two work together on several projects, remixes and live dates. He also works with Ceballos, Toni Bass, Halo, DJ Jabato, Sebastián Gamboa, Camilo Franco and Olav Basoski. His remix credits include work for Jay-J, Junior Jack, Chus & Ceballos, Vibe Residents, Milk & Sugar, Dave Storm, Wackside, Lenny Fontana, Ron Hall, Jason Hates Jazz, Cam and The Thief.

Releases and labels

Penn releases records internationally on labels including Defected, Black Vinyl, Purple Music, Azuli, Bluem, Maya and Rise. His productions are played by DJs such as Roger Sanchez, David Morales, Bob Sinclar and DJ Chus. One of his best-known early successes is “The Night train” by Kadoc, which sells more than two million copies across singles and compilations and reaches number 12 in the UK and number 1 in Holland.

DJ work and recognition

As a DJ, he plays in countries including Denmark, Germany, France, the UK, Holland, Russia, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Estonia, Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Croatia, Malta and Egypt, as well as at the Winter Music Conference in Miami. He also performs in Russia before an audience of 5,000. In 2005 he is nominated for Best Breakthrough Label at the House Music Awards in the UK and at Deejaymags in Spain. In 2007 he receives three Deejaymags awards: Best House DJ 2006, Best House production for Montilla’s “From The Stars” and Best Label for Urbana Recordings. In 2008 he receives the 2007 Best Club House DJ award from Deejaymags. He also presents a two-hour radio show every Thursday on Loca FM Spain.