| Sounds Like |
01 Telefon Tel Aviv - The Birds (Edit)
02 Ladytron - Soft Power (Loz & Brendan Long Mix) (Edit)
03 Rudy B & Pacco - Space Walk
04 Andrew K - The Coriolis Effect (Robytek Remix)
05 Distant Fragment - Full Of Color (Dan Alcala Remix)
06 Modeselektor - 200007 (Paul Kalkbrenner Remix)
07 Motiivi:Tuntematon - 1939
08 Kevin Saunderson - World Of Deep (Carl Craig Mix)
09 King Unique - Sugarhigh (Alcala's Sweet Stuff Remix)
10 Budai & Vic - Play Again
11 16 Bit Lolitas - Murder Weapon w/ M83 - Kim & Jesse
12 AFX - Every Day (Alcala Re-edit)
13 Bloc Party - Where is Home? (Burial Remix)
14 Applescal - Immensely Beautiful Laugh
Born and raised outside of Boston, Dan Alcala got into music at a late age but that hasn’t stopped him from becoming one of the most promising up-and-coming DJ/Producers in the last few years.
Alcala has proven himself to be a true contemporary DJ bringing together an array of past and present sounds with no regard to genre. Never content to stick with a typical script, he encompasses a variety of styles from techno, progressive, electro to house, trance, minimal and even ambient. Always maintaining an organic feel even when delving into dark, robotic, left-field territory, Alcala shies away from monotonous, repetitive filler tracks that seem to dominate most clubs of late favoring rich melodies, moving basslines and records that aren’t just made for the club.
Growing up in the suburbs of Boston in the early nineties, Alcala did not take much notice of MTV or the radio’s musical choices. If it wasn’t for the ingenious little music-sharing program called Napster, Alcala may have never heard his calling to the music world. Through just a few clicks and downloads Alcala discovered electronic artists like BT, Sasha, Way Out West, and Daft Punk. The exploration continued in college where Dan began obsessively collecting CDs, vinyl and eventually a cheap mixer and decks.
With the expansion of his music library and determined persistence, Alcala landed a weekly slot on an internet radio show providing him with his first opportunity to showcase his mixing skills to the world. Through one of his professors, Alcala befriended fellow Boston DJ Andres Escallon who asked Alcala to guest on his Proton Radio Show and shortly after helped book him at the longtime running “Analog Lounge” night at Club Vertigo.
In 2004, Alcala won a mix contest sponsored by the mega-club Avalon and Satellite Records Shop, placing him at a distinct level from the many local DJs looking to break through the scene. This recognition, along with networking connections, began to forge a rising DJ career for Alcala in Boston. He put together a second mix for Avalon later that year and was again awarded the top title (handpicked by Dave Ralph) providing him with the opportunity to open for local favorite (and one half of Agent 001) Eli Wilkie at the world famous club.
In the years that followed, Alcala continued to gain recognition from playing at other top Boston clubs including Rise, Venu, The Phoenix Landing, Middlesex Lounge, Aria, 360 Ultra Lounge and Water Club. He was also played alongside other well-known DJs like Matt Darey, DJ Sneak, Joe Faria (Nightriders, Island 9), Mark Lewis and Jay West.
After working stints at Satellite Records and Tower Records, Alcala relocated to New York City in 2007. He played local clubs like Element and Moomia but quickly became more focused on production. His Dark Knight sampled track “Why So Serious?” received great message-board buzz and support from the DJs like Micah, Distant Fragment, Kosmas Epsilon and Stel. Distant Fragment (Nick Tsitlakidis) was so impressed in fact, he requested Alcala to remix one of the tracks off his new EP, “The Last Star.” This first official remix of “Full of Color” was released on Andrew K’s Vise Versa Music.
Alcala is currently working with fellow Boston to NYC transplants, Daniel Borkan and Alex Chassin (as Rich Uncle Skeleton), focusing on creating electro party tracks. So far they’ve remixed the likes of Mötley Crüe, MC Hammer, Basement Jaxx and AC Slater. More R.U.S. remixes are on the way as well as their ever-popular NYC loft parties currently being re-organized.
Dan Alcala is primed to burst onto the music scene with full force with his upcoming EP. Keep your eyes peeled and your ears perked for the new sound to hit dance floors and radio waves by later this year.
|