In The Club With Dave Seaman

Dubai - DJ, record producer and former editor Dave Seaman knows his music. City Times got his thoughts on Dubai, what it takes to be a good DJ and the upcoming trends in the clubbing scene ahead of his performance in the city tomorrow.

There are pioneers in dance music and then there is Dave Seaman. The British dance music DJ, record producer and former member of DMC Publishing where he was the editor of music magazine Mixmag was there at the birth of dance music. Not only does he under-stand its beginnings, its trends, the major players and influencers, he himself, more than two decades on is still leading its development. Having played at the world's most recognised festivals and clubs in more than 80 countries throughout his career, it's hard to believe that the Leeds-born DJ knew from the young age of 8 that he wanted to get into music. And wow, hasn't he just? 
Dave has been part of both the club and pop scenes creating music for Kylie Minogue (Confide In Me that he wrote, produced and remixed is a cult classic), Pet Shop Boys; along with everyone from David Bowie to New Order and U2 to Michael Jackson have received the Seaman treatment. He was also the editor at Mixmag, a position he'd held for three years where he shaped the magazine into being the undisputed 'it' magazine for clubbers.
And this is where Dave stands apart from other DJs in our opinion. Not only does he have an ear for music and the talent to create and produce amazing hits, but he also has the know how and understanding not only of the history of dance music but of the trends and happenings and the theory of influence when it comes to this musical genre. This would explain why 30 years on from when it all started Dave is still busy as ever. His recent releases include Suara, Noir Music, Sudbeat & Hive Audio which have received both critical and chart success. 
City Times caught up with him before his upcoming show at Pure Sky lounge night to discuss his music journey, influences and upcoming trends in the clubbing scene.
What are your thoughts on Dubai as a city?
I've been several times to DJ and also a few times on holiday with my family and always had a great time. It very much feels like a city of the future. You've performed all over the world and have experienced the energies of different audiences.
How do you find the Dubai audience compared to every other place you've performed?
I get asked this question a lot and it's a curious one. I really don't see much difference in audiences of different countries these days. Clubbers across the world generally go out with the same purpose and since the ad-vent of the Internet, we all have access to the same information, music, and trends so are generally on the same page. Although I will say, Dubai is the only place in the world where I've had cash thrown at me to play requests though! 
Other than Dubai then, which is your favourite place to perform in the world and why?
Argentina is still number one for me. They have retained such a strong underground scene over the last decade in the face of the domination of the EDM genre. 
When did you first know that you wanted to get into music production and creation?
It was when I got a job at DMC as a teenager back in the late 80s that I was first exposed to working in studios and quickly got the bug for music making. Things were so different back then of course, but it gave me a peek behind the magician's curtain and there was no going back.
Who were your musical influences growing up?
My mum and dad played a lot of Beatles, Barry White & The Carpenters when I was really young but I suppose my first real music obsession was around the time of 2 Tone and the Mod revival of the late 70s. I was a huge Jam fan, I then got into New Order and early Electro, which were really my gateway to club music. The rest is history. 
How important are awards and recognition from institutions such as the Grammys as an artist?
I suppose they're nice when you're receiving them and will open certain doors for you. In the grand scheme of things awards don't really mean that much. Only the insecure crave such validation. You've been in the music industry for a fair amount of time and have seen trends come and go. 
What do you see coming up on the horizon in terms of new sounds or trends in music?
It's the circular nature of fashion that means 'what goes around comes around' so certainly from a dance music viewpoint, we are now entering a mid to late 90s revival. Progressive House is back after over a decade in the wilderness. Of course, it's a 2018 version-of rather than being retro. Everything is repackaged for a new generation with a modern twist. But I always say you'll never find another blue, yellow or red again but the way you mix those primary ideas together can create something entirely unique. 
There are so many misconceptions about being a DJ. What percentage of being a successful DJ or artist goes beyond music and more into the business/marketing side of things? A huge percentage. Unfortunately these days, I think if you're a great DJ that is lacking in marketing and social skills you'll never make it, whereas if you're an average DJ with a great business acumen and online presence, you are destined for big things. Sad but true.
How important is social media in what you do? How have you utilised this platform?
It's pretty much an absolute necessity these days. Your fan base expects to have a certain level of access that was unheard of 20 years ago. So yes, I have Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Soundcloud, Mixcloud, You-Tube, you name it! It's a never-ending game that takes up so much time, that I wonder how much creativity we miss out on because of these distractions. 
These days it seems that anyone who thinks they can turn tables, or download a few programs to mix a few songs are calling themselves a DJ. What do you think makes a "real" DJ? Great music selection and programming plus the ability to connect with a crowd and leave them entertained and hopefully, musically and sometimes, even spiritually, enriched. Do you have a ritual before you jump on stage and perform? Not really. I like to get to the club at least 30 minutes before I start my set, to try to gauge the crowd but other than that, it's just a case of getting on the decks and doing my thing.

• Dubai