Daniel Uhl

Biography

Dirty Dan’s blood’s been bitten by the beat bug ever since he’s been a boy. He landed his first job at a local record store in Queens, N.Y., at age 11. It was ‘89, and his after-school gig included learning how to mix records. He’d soon find himself spending all night listening to electronic music mixes. By ’91, Dan had made the acquaintance of every promoter and dj in the neighborhood from working in that shop, and also somehow managed to slip himself into an underground party in a Brooklyn warehouse. His heroes were Danny Teneglia -- Danny started twisting his mind in the Tunnel nightclub in the early ‘90s By the time he hit high school, Dan had snuck out of the house so often to hit dance parties, his parents literally put bars on the windows to keep him from escaping. By ’94 Dan became involved in promoting venues that included the legendary Limelight, Disco 2000, The Palladium, and The Shelter. Then in ’97, he broke new ground by appearing in the critically acclaimed film “Modulations the History of Electronic Music” ( HYPERLINK "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cveYosINMQM" \t "_blank" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cveYosINMQM) a documentary on the rave scene that quotes him saying,“I’m not here for drugs; I’m here to watch people jump up and down in unison!” This was the driving urge that got into his blood and pulsed through his mixes. He always strove to avoid genres and classifications like “dj”; wanting instead to create a renaissance of a new sound; a new era of dance culture. Dan soon moved into intelligent lighting at The Soundfactory and The World on 43rd St. in the early 2000's in order to get a closer look at his hero’s live in the booth. He worked alongside the likes of Danny Teneglia, Jonathan Peters, Junior Vasques, Carl Cox and all the greats. He collected their records and watched them closely week by week. In ’06 he moved to Anchorage, Alaska to study broadcasting, and soon set up a residency at a local lounge called "Sub Zero". It was at this time he began calling himself Dirty Dan. He started an after-hours club called "The Kodiak Bar”, bringing NY house, hip-hop and techno flavor to the far northwest. In 2007 he started "In the Mix" a radio show online ( HYPERLINK "http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/krua" \t "_blank" www.uaa.alaska.edu/krua) following up on the same station with “Rhythmic Alchemy" and a weekly show called “Electro Lunch”. Dan’s had hundreds of radio mix releases since 2006, including guest mixes on XM/Sirius, Clear Channel, NNB, and countless internet radio broadcasts. He’s graced the stage alongside Nigel Richards, Dj Shortee, Dj Dan, Boy George, Marc Romboy, Showtech, DB & Dara, Miss Jennifer, Peter Bailey, Eric Harary, Audio Injection, Tom Hades, Evil Eddie Richards, Venom, and KDrew. He’s played clubs such as Pacha NYC, and The Cigar Bar in Detroit. Dan loves to use his vast vinyl and digital collection (100,000 records; hundreds of thousands of digital tracks) to mix up genres. He’s evolved right along with the dance culture and the beat he brings to it, forging his own path. Right now he’s Music Choice’s techno and electro maestro, heard every week by millions across the country on their Dance/Electronica and Mixtape Channels. And his amazing remixes are available on Beatport, and have been supported by Green Velvet, Santiago and Bushido, The Bulgarian, Bit Crushers, Larry Tee, Armin Van Buuren, D-Phrag, Dj Funk & Derek Howell. Dirty Dan’s podcast is one of the most listened to on iTunes and he’s rocked the globe from England to Mexico and all over the U.S. Sharing the stage with many of his childhood heroes has been a true honor for him, and he’s only begun. He loves the niche he’s built in his hometown, but what he loves most is how he wields the eternal beat to make those dancers jump and scream.