DJ Dan

DJ Dan is the stage name of US techno DJ and producer Daniel Wherret, from Lacey, United States. Born in 1968, he is active in house-oriented electronic music and is associated with house, funky house, electro house and jungle.

Career

He starts DJing in 1989 and becomes part of the early rave scene in 1991, playing multiple parties across weekends and ending nights at his own afterhours club, No-Doz. In 1993, after moving to San Francisco, he forms Funky Tekno Tribe with two friends. He also helps develop the breakbeat sound by combining house, breakbeat dubs and techno into what becomes known as the “West Coast House Sound”.

Dan is also active as a producer. His 1995 single “Loose Caboose”, released by the Electroliners with Jim Hopkins, becomes one of the defining tracks of the breakbeat era. In 1998, “That Zipper Track”, credited to DJ Dan Presents Needle Damage, gives the genre a new angle. His 2003 Billboard Club Hit “That Phone Track” marks a further point in his studio work.

Collaborations and remixes

He builds a large remix catalogue, working on tracks by Depeche Mode, New Order, The Pussycat Dolls and A Tribe Called Quest. His remix of Orgy’s cover of “Blue Monday” earns him his first platinum record in 1999.

Dan also tours and performs internationally at clubs and festivals including Amnesia in Ibiza, Cream in Liverpool, Pacha in Buenos Aires, Ministry of Sound in London, Gatecrasher, Fabric, Coachella, the Love Parade, Virgin Fest, Mayday-Berlin, Creamfields, Ultra Music Festival and SAMC.

Touring and labels

Carl Cox invites him to join the 2000 Phuture tour across Africa and Europe. Moby later includes him on the Area2 tour alongside David Bowie, Busta Rhymes, Tiesto and John Digweed. In 2008, he tours North America to promote his label InStereo Recordings and performs a 2x4 DJ set with Donald Glaude.

Albums and later work

Dan plans an artist album called Future Retro, presented as a two-part project combining songs that influenced him with new original material. The record draws on his blend of funky, driving electro and reflects the Chicago, Detroit and San Francisco dance music lineage that informs his work.

Associated acts

He is associated with Gutter Bros., Electroliners, The Arrival and Needle Damage.