Josh Gabriel
Encyclopedia
Josh Gabriel is an electronic dance music
DJ and producer, formerly of Gabriel & Dresden
with Dave Dresden
.
, was living in The Hague
in The Netherlands and studying at the Institute of Sonology
. Josh Gabriel had already been working with digital music since his high-school days, achieving mastery of the DX7 and TX816 by the age of 17. With an Apple Macintosh Plus
, operating system 3, and the earliest of music applications like Mark of the Unicorn
’s “Composer” and “Performer”, Josh was already at the bleeding edge. In Holland, Gabriel’s inventor spirit took shape as he wrote a computer application to control samples on an Akai S900 in real-time with a joystick. And the inception for what later became Mixman had been born. Along with electronics whiz Jan Pannis, (Stockhausen’s tech-man) Gabriel and Pannis built an apparatus which converted beams of light coming up off the floor into a Midi Control device and the 20 year old Gabriel dressed in black, wearing white gloves performed his real-time beat-trigger device in the clubs of Amsterdam
.
By 1993 Gabriel was doing high-end digital sound editing, design and production in Los Angeles
, and finally found a business partner and the journey that was to become Mixman began. Mixman had always been conceived as a hardware device, the “Walkman
”, the “Discman
”, the “Mixman”… and several proto-types were built. The path to hardware was longer than software and in late 1995 early 1996 the first Mixman application was released to the public. Spin Control, included 8 songs from the San Francisco underground Dance Music scene, that were remixable with only a PC, enough RAM
and a proper sound card
.
Gabriel's patents for loop-based music remixing are the backbone of industry standard music making software applications used in virtually every producers studio today. By 1999, Mixman had evolved and grown and merged with a larger dot.com. Expanding briefly to the Mac platform and deepening it’s relationship with Record Labels and MTV
as well as starting work with Mattel
on a controller (eventually became the DM2) -- things looked good. But as happened with many dot.coms the ride got bumpy. In late 2000 Gabriel decided he had had his fill of the corporate life, and decided he wanted to return to “music”. In 2002 Mixman sprung free of the dot.com shackles and returned to independence.
and started experimenting with synthesizers and computers in the early 1980s. At the same time Dave Dresden
was a club deejay in a suburb of New York City
as well as a renowned US dance music journalist. He became the Music Director
of grooveradio.com and met Pete Tong
, who asked him to help find music for the Essential Selection
. They met at a party being hosted by grooveradio.com at the Miami Winter Music Conference
in March 2001. Josh gave Leon Alexander a record, the record was "Wave 3", which Dave then gave to Pete Tong, and he played it on the Essential Selection and also used it for his compilation that same year. Pete gave Dave the opportunity to do a spec mix of New Order
and Dave asked Josh to work on it with him. The two joined forces in 2001 and made a name for themselves by creating numerous remixes. In 2002 Gabriel & Dresden released their first single "Lament" (Saw Recordings) in the United States. The duo released numerous singles and number one Billboard
hits like "Tracking Treasure Down
" and "Dangerous Power
"; They also released one self-titled studio album together, Gabriel & Dresden
. Josh played the electric bass
on Armin van Buuren's single "Zocalo" in which both Dave & Josh produced the sounds.
The duo won the 2007 and 2008 IDMA award for "America's Best DJ". He has achieved 16 Billboard Dance Chart #1 hits as "Gabriel & Dresden", composed music that has appeared on Fox
, HBO, NBC
and CBS
TV shows. Gabriel & Dresden have their own record label, Organized Nature. Gabriel has also invented a new pro-audio web application that will be available to the public in Winter 2009.
"Summit
", released in 2007, is the first single from his debut solo album "Eight". Other tracks, "Crosstalk" was originally found in the Toolroom Knights, Vol. 2
compilation mixed by Gabriel & Dresden
as well as "Azora" which was found in Renaissance The Master Series Vol. 10 compilation mixed by Dave Seaman. The follow-up single called "Tone Program" was released on September 4, 2008 on Josh Gabriel's new label, "Different Pieces" with a remix by Style of Eye.
Josh Gabriel's debut album is called "Eight" and was released on October 8, 2008 through "Different Pieces". "Eight" refers to the eight different analog synths he used on the album. The title also refers to the date August 8, 2008 (08-08-08), when he finished mastering the album.
Josh is currently finishing up Andain's new album and is also working with vocalist/song writer Meredith Call on a project called "Winter Kills" with the first single "Deep Down" due out in early 2009. Both albums are set for release in 2010. Also his music production will feature on Copywrite (rapper) new album "The Life And Times Of Peter Nelson" in the track known as "Serotonin".
On December 31, 2010, Dave Dresden announced via a photo post on his Facebook page showing himself at a table preparing set lists with Josh that the duo are back together and performing their first reunited set on NYE 2010 in Los Angeles. Fan response was eccentric with "welcome back!". After that the pair proceeded with a reunion tour with their first show in San Francisco, CA on March 4, 2011.
, see Gabriel & Dresden discography.
, see Gabriel & Dresden Awards / Nominations.
Electronic dance music
Electronic dance music is electronic music produced primarily for the purposes of use within a nightclub setting, or in an environment that is centered upon dance-based entertainment...
DJ and producer, formerly of Gabriel & Dresden
Gabriel & Dresden
Gabriel & Dresden is the project name of the DJs and producers Josh Gabriel and Dave Dresden from San Francisco. Their popularity and activities were centered in the United States. They won the WMC award as Best American DJ twice in 2007 and 2008, the same day the group split-up...
with Dave Dresden
Dave Dresden
Dave Dresden is an electronic dance music DJ and producer, co-founder of the collaborative acts Gabriel & Dresden with Josh Gabriel, and Dresden and Johnston with Mikael Johnston of Mephisto Odyssey fame.-1990-2000: Early years:...
.
Early Years (1988-2000)
In 1988-89, a 20 year old exchange student from California Institute of the ArtsCalifornia Institute of the Arts
The California Institute of the Arts, commonly referred to as CalArts, is located in Valencia, in Los Angeles County, California. It was incorporated in 1961 as the first degree-granting institution of higher learning in the United States created specifically for students of both the visual and the...
, was living in The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
in The Netherlands and studying at the Institute of Sonology
Institute of Sonology
The Institute of Sonology is an education and research center for electronic music and computer music based at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague in the Netherlands.-Background:...
. Josh Gabriel had already been working with digital music since his high-school days, achieving mastery of the DX7 and TX816 by the age of 17. With an Apple Macintosh Plus
Macintosh Plus
The Macintosh Plus computer was the third model in the Macintosh line, introduced on January 16, 1986, two years after the original Macintosh and a little more than a year after the Macintosh 512K, with a price tag of US$2599...
, operating system 3, and the earliest of music applications like Mark of the Unicorn
Mark of the Unicorn
Mark of the Unicorn is a music-related computer software and hardware supplier. It is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts and has created music software since 1984.Products by MOTU include:*Digital Performer*AudioDesk*BPM*MachFive*MX4*Unisyn...
’s “Composer” and “Performer”, Josh was already at the bleeding edge. In Holland, Gabriel’s inventor spirit took shape as he wrote a computer application to control samples on an Akai S900 in real-time with a joystick. And the inception for what later became Mixman had been born. Along with electronics whiz Jan Pannis, (Stockhausen’s tech-man) Gabriel and Pannis built an apparatus which converted beams of light coming up off the floor into a Midi Control device and the 20 year old Gabriel dressed in black, wearing white gloves performed his real-time beat-trigger device in the clubs of Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
.
By 1993 Gabriel was doing high-end digital sound editing, design and production in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, and finally found a business partner and the journey that was to become Mixman began. Mixman had always been conceived as a hardware device, the “Walkman
Walkman
Walkman is a Sony brand tradename originally used for portable audio cassette, and now used to market Sony's portable audio and video players as well as a line of Sony Ericsson mobile phones...
”, the “Discman
Discman
Discman was the product name given to Sony's first portable CD player, the D-50, which was the first on the market in 1984, and adopted for Sony's entire portable CD player line...
”, the “Mixman”… and several proto-types were built. The path to hardware was longer than software and in late 1995 early 1996 the first Mixman application was released to the public. Spin Control, included 8 songs from the San Francisco underground Dance Music scene, that were remixable with only a PC, enough RAM
Ram
-Animals:*Ram, an uncastrated male sheep*Ram cichlid, a species of freshwater fish endemic to Colombia and Venezuela-Military:*Battering ram*Ramming, a military tactic in which one vehicle runs into another...
and a proper sound card
Sound card
A sound card is an internal computer expansion card that facilitates the input and output of audio signals to and from a computer under control of computer programs. The term sound card is also applied to external audio interfaces that use software to generate sound, as opposed to using hardware...
.
Gabriel's patents for loop-based music remixing are the backbone of industry standard music making software applications used in virtually every producers studio today. By 1999, Mixman had evolved and grown and merged with a larger dot.com. Expanding briefly to the Mac platform and deepening it’s relationship with Record Labels and MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
as well as starting work with Mattel
Mattel
Mattel, Inc. is the world's largest toy company based on revenue. The products it produces include Fisher Price, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys, Masters of the Universe, American Girl dolls, board games, and, in the early 1980s, video game consoles. The company's name is derived from...
on a controller (eventually became the DM2) -- things looked good. But as happened with many dot.coms the ride got bumpy. In late 2000 Gabriel decided he had had his fill of the corporate life, and decided he wanted to return to “music”. In 2002 Mixman sprung free of the dot.com shackles and returned to independence.
Gabriel & Dresden (2001-2008)
Before he attended music school in Holland and Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and started experimenting with synthesizers and computers in the early 1980s. At the same time Dave Dresden
Dave Dresden
Dave Dresden is an electronic dance music DJ and producer, co-founder of the collaborative acts Gabriel & Dresden with Josh Gabriel, and Dresden and Johnston with Mikael Johnston of Mephisto Odyssey fame.-1990-2000: Early years:...
was a club deejay in a suburb of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
as well as a renowned US dance music journalist. He became the Music Director
Music director
A music director may be the director of an orchestra, the director of music for a film, the director of music at a radio station, the head of the music department in a school, the co-ordinator of the musical ensembles in a university or college , the head bandmaster of a military band, the head...
of grooveradio.com and met Pete Tong
Pete Tong
Peter "Pete" Tong is an English DJ who works for BBC Radio 1. He is known worldwide by fans of electronic music for hosting programmes such as Essential Mix and Essential Selection on the radio service, which can be heard through Internet radio streams, for his record label FFRR Records, and for...
, who asked him to help find music for the Essential Selection
Essential Selection
The Essential Selection was a radio show on Friday evenings on BBC Radio 1, hosted by Pete Tong. It started in early 1991 and showcased the latest electronic dance music, with an emphasis on house...
. They met at a party being hosted by grooveradio.com at the Miami Winter Music Conference
Winter Music Conference
The Winter Music Conference is a weeklong electronic music conference, held every March since the mid-1980s in Miami, Florida, United States. Venues are hosted primarily in Downtown Miami and Miami's South Beach...
in March 2001. Josh gave Leon Alexander a record, the record was "Wave 3", which Dave then gave to Pete Tong, and he played it on the Essential Selection and also used it for his compilation that same year. Pete gave Dave the opportunity to do a spec mix of New Order
New Order
New Order are an English rock band formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris...
and Dave asked Josh to work on it with him. The two joined forces in 2001 and made a name for themselves by creating numerous remixes. In 2002 Gabriel & Dresden released their first single "Lament" (Saw Recordings) in the United States. The duo released numerous singles and number one Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
hits like "Tracking Treasure Down
Tracking Treasure Down
"Tracking Treasure Down" is a song recorded by dance music DJs and producers Gabriel & Dresden. Molly Bancroft collaborated with Josh Gabriel and Dave Dresden on "Tracking Treasure Down", which was a U.S. Hot Dance Club Play number-one single...
" and "Dangerous Power
Dangerous Power
"Dangerous Power" is an award-winning musical track from Gabriel & Dresden and Jan Burton. Under the label Organized Nature, the track won the "Best Alternative/Rock Dance Track" in the IDMA in 2007. The song was written by Dave Dresden, Josh Gabriel, Jes Brieden and Jan Burton...
"; They also released one self-titled studio album together, Gabriel & Dresden
Gabriel & Dresden (album)
-Production:It is Gabriel & Dresden's first and last self-titled artist album, on their new label Organized Nature. The duo is usually seen remixing songs from rock, pop and alternative bands but Dave Dresden and Josh Gabriel decided to build their own work with Apple's Logic Pro software and music...
. Josh played the electric bass
Electric Bass
Electric bass can mean:*Electric upright bass, the electric version of a double bass*Electric bass guitar*Bass synthesizer*Big Mouth Billy Bass, a battery-powered singing fish...
on Armin van Buuren's single "Zocalo" in which both Dave & Josh produced the sounds.
The duo won the 2007 and 2008 IDMA award for "America's Best DJ". He has achieved 16 Billboard Dance Chart #1 hits as "Gabriel & Dresden", composed music that has appeared on Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
, HBO, NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
and CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
TV shows. Gabriel & Dresden have their own record label, Organized Nature. Gabriel has also invented a new pro-audio web application that will be available to the public in Winter 2009.
Post-Dresden Period (2008-Present)
The duo finished their last tour with two appearances at the WMC in Miami. They played an incredible 5+ hour set at the Pawn Shop on March 28, 2008 and a closing 1 hour set at the Beatport/Remix Hotel Pool Party at the National Hotel on March 30, 2008 (with visuals provided by VJ Psyberpixie). Josh Gabriel will now be touring solo and focusing more on his solo album due out later in 2008."Summit
Summit (song)
"Summit" is a song by Josh Gabriel, released as a single/EP in 2007 and reaching number 2 in the buzz chart. It includes remixes by Gabriel himself, Christopher Norman and Dusty Kid. It was exclusively released on Beatport on November 15, and was available on iTunes Store from November 29...
", released in 2007, is the first single from his debut solo album "Eight". Other tracks, "Crosstalk" was originally found in the Toolroom Knights, Vol. 2
Toolroom Knights, Vol. 2
Toolroom Knights, Vol. 2 is the second release of Toolroom Records mixed by Gabriel & Dresden.This compilation includes the collaboration of many artists. It includes the Remix of The Killers Read My Mind and the hit by D. Ramirez & Mark Knight Colombian Soul.-Toolroom Knights, Vol...
compilation mixed by Gabriel & Dresden
Gabriel & Dresden
Gabriel & Dresden is the project name of the DJs and producers Josh Gabriel and Dave Dresden from San Francisco. Their popularity and activities were centered in the United States. They won the WMC award as Best American DJ twice in 2007 and 2008, the same day the group split-up...
as well as "Azora" which was found in Renaissance The Master Series Vol. 10 compilation mixed by Dave Seaman. The follow-up single called "Tone Program" was released on September 4, 2008 on Josh Gabriel's new label, "Different Pieces" with a remix by Style of Eye.
Josh Gabriel's debut album is called "Eight" and was released on October 8, 2008 through "Different Pieces". "Eight" refers to the eight different analog synths he used on the album. The title also refers to the date August 8, 2008 (08-08-08), when he finished mastering the album.
Josh is currently finishing up Andain's new album and is also working with vocalist/song writer Meredith Call on a project called "Winter Kills" with the first single "Deep Down" due out in early 2009. Both albums are set for release in 2010. Also his music production will feature on Copywrite (rapper) new album "The Life And Times Of Peter Nelson" in the track known as "Serotonin".
On December 31, 2010, Dave Dresden announced via a photo post on his Facebook page showing himself at a table preparing set lists with Josh that the duo are back together and performing their first reunited set on NYE 2010 in Los Angeles. Fan response was eccentric with "welcome back!". After that the pair proceeded with a reunion tour with their first show in San Francisco, CA on March 4, 2011.
Discography
For discography as Gabriel & DresdenGabriel & Dresden
Gabriel & Dresden is the project name of the DJs and producers Josh Gabriel and Dave Dresden from San Francisco. Their popularity and activities were centered in the United States. They won the WMC award as Best American DJ twice in 2007 and 2008, the same day the group split-up...
, see Gabriel & Dresden discography.
Albums
- 1996 Mixman: Remixable Hip-Hop · House · Acid Jazz · Underground (Compilation album)
- 2008 Eight (Studio album)
- 2011 Winter Kills
Singles/EPs
- 2002 Wave 3
- 2005 Alive
- 2006 Tracking Treasure Down
- 2007 SummitSummit (song)"Summit" is a song by Josh Gabriel, released as a single/EP in 2007 and reaching number 2 in the buzz chart. It includes remixes by Gabriel himself, Christopher Norman and Dusty Kid. It was exclusively released on Beatport on November 15, and was available on iTunes Store from November 29...
- 2008 Tone Program
- 2009 Rubber
- 2009 Wood
- 2009 Winter Kills - Deep Down
- 2009 Entropy
- 2010 Winter Kills - My Friend
Remixes
- 2002 Andain - Summer Calling (Josh Gabriel Mix)
- 2003 Andain - Beautiful Things (Josh Gabriel Mix)
- 2004 RND - Nova Santori (Josh Gabriel Mix)
- Layo & Bushwacka!Layo & Bushwacka!Layo & Bushwacka! is the pseudonym of DJs Layo Paskin and Matthew Benjamin.Along with Mr. C, Paskin was the co-owner of The End nightclub in London, where Benjamin was the resident DJ. Labelled variously as tech house, house or breakbeat, the pair usually record and DJ together.Benjamin's best...
- Let The Good Times Roll (Josh Gabriel Unauthorized Dub) - 2008 Francis Preve - Caboose (Josh Gabriel Remix)
- 2008 Stel - New Life (Josh Gabriel Remix)
- 2009 Andain - Promises (Josh Gabriel Remix)
- 2009 Winter kills - Deep down
- 2010 BT - Every Other Way (Josh Gabriel Remix)
Co-productions
- Andain - Summer Calling
- Andain - Beautiful Things
- TiëstoTiëstoTijs Michiel Verwest, , known as Tiësto , is a Dutch musician, DJ and record producer of electronic dance music. Although he has used many aliases in the past, he is best known for his work as DJ Tiësto...
- Walking On Clouds - Armin van Buuren - Zocalo
- Markus SchulzMarkus SchulzMarkus Schulz, born , is a German trance music DJ and producer who resides in Miami, Florida, USA. He is best-known for his weekly radio show titled Global DJ Broadcast that airs on Digitally Imported radio, After Hours FM and other online stations...
- Without You Near - (As Winter Kills (with Meredith Call)) Armin Van Buuren - Take a Moment
Awards and nominations
For awards as Gabriel & DresdenGabriel & Dresden
Gabriel & Dresden is the project name of the DJs and producers Josh Gabriel and Dave Dresden from San Francisco. Their popularity and activities were centered in the United States. They won the WMC award as Best American DJ twice in 2007 and 2008, the same day the group split-up...
, see Gabriel & Dresden Awards / Nominations.
- Nominated WMCWinter Music ConferenceThe Winter Music Conference is a weeklong electronic music conference, held every March since the mid-1980s in Miami, Florida, United States. Venues are hosted primarily in Downtown Miami and Miami's South Beach...
Best Progressive / Trance - Beautiful Things - AndainAndainAndain is a San Francisco-based electronic music duo. Their style incorporates a blend of acoustic instrumentation, blissful vocals, and introspective lyrics, companioned by dark electronic elements and sound design. Band members initially included producer Josh Gabriel, singer and songwriter Mavie...