Deep Dish

Deep Dish

Deep Dish is a dance and electronic music group based in Washington, D.C., United States. The duo consists of Ali Shirazinia and Sharam, and it is also known for the aliases Ali “Dubfire” Shirazinia and Sharam Tayebi. The act is active from 1992 to the present.

Background and sound

Deep Dish begins as club DJs before building a career around original productions and a large body of remixes. Their work sits across dance, electronic and electronica, and they are associated with progressive house, house and trance. They are an Iranian-American act, and their productions often combine dancefloor-focused programming with elements drawn from other styles.

Record labels and releases

The duo own and operate Yoshitoshi Recordings and are also associated with Deep Dish Recordings and Dish Deep Music. They release a number of mixed CDs and compilation-style sets, including Yoshiesque (1999), Renaissance Ibiza (2000), Yoshiesque Two (2001), Global Underground: Moscow (2001) and Global Underground: Toronto (2003). Their debut artist album is Junk Science, and later work includes George Is On.

Collaborations and vocalists

Deep Dish works extensively with vocalist Richard Morel, including on “No Stopping For Nicotine,” “Sacramento” and “Everybody’s Wearing My Head.” On George Is On, Anousheh Khalili sings on “Say Hello,” “Flashdance” and “Awake Enough.” Dubfire also contributes vocals on “In Love With A Friend.” The duo also collaborate with P. Diddy on “Let’s Get Ill.”

Remixes and notable tracks

The duo become known as major remixers, with credits including Madonna, Beth Orton, Depeche Mode, Dido, Janet Jackson, The Rolling Stones, ’N Sync, Justin Timberlake, Brother Brown, Morel and Danny Tenaglia. Their remix of Dido’s “Thank You” wins a Grammy Award, and their remixing also brings a nomination for Grammy Remixer of the Year. “Flashdance” becomes a major crossover track and is widely associated with the group’s “guitar-house” sound. A legally cleared mash-up remix by Sultan, combining the Deep Dish version of “Flashdance” with Dire Straits’ “Money For Nothing,” appears as a bonus track on the US edition of George Is On. The album also includes their version of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams,” with newly recorded vocals by Stevie Nicks.

Awards and recognition

Deep Dish wins the Grammy for Best Remixed Recording for “Thank You” and is nominated for Grammy Remixer of the Year. “Say Hello” receives a Grammy nomination for Best Dance Recording. “Flashdance” wins Best Underground Dance Track at the International Dance Music Awards and reaches number three on the UK pop chart, while also becoming a major selling dance track. The group also receives recognition from DanceStar USA, Ibiza DJ Awards, Muzik Magazine and DJ Magazine, including multiple year-end rankings and awards for best compilation, best remix, best set and best international DJ.

Performance career

The duo tours widely throughout the year and plays more than 100 DJ gigs around the world. Rolling Stone describes them as a highly regarded live DJ act, and the magazine also places them among its dance music artists.