Dubfire

From: Iran/US

DJ style: Techno, House

From his pioneering commercial success as part of Deep Dish to achieving equal global acclaim in the underground scene, Dubfire stands as a top-tier artist in electronic music for three decades. Celebrating the tenth anniversary of his groundbreaking solo career and his renowned SCI+TEC imprint in 2017, Dubfire is recognized as a future-forward visionary, poised to tackle the next decade with the same relentless work ethic and innovation. His solo performances at influential clubs and festivals worldwide, his journey documented in the "Above Ground Level" film, managing the iconic SCI+TEC label, the release of his recent EVOLV album, and his exploration of audio-visual technology through his HYBRID and EVOLV shows, all place him in a league of his own.

Born in Iran and raised in the U.S. from the age of seven, Ali ‘Dubfire’ Shirazinia honed his skills playing in bands and local clubs around Washington, D.C. In 1990, he met Sharam Tayebi through a childhood friend, and together they formed Deep Dish. This production and DJ duo achieved global success in electronic music, winning a Grammy in 2001 among other accolades, and contributing significantly to the current electronic music boom. At the peak of their success, both opted for solo careers, allowing Ali to channel his deep passion for underground house and techno through the Dubfire alias. Quickly establishing himself in the minimalist scene, he released influential tracks like 'RibCage' (2007), 'Emissions' (2007), 'Roadkill' (2007), and iconic remixes such as Plastikman’s 'Spastik' (2007) and Radio Slave and Danton Eeprom’s 'Grindhouse' (2008), which is now considered a classic.

Dubfire's extensive remix work for artists like Nitzer Ebb, UNKLE, System 7, Paperclip People, Joseph Capriati, Stephen Bodzin, Audion, and Tiga showcases his versatility. He also co-produced tracks on Underworld’s "Barking" album (2010) and collaborated with Miss Kittin on acclaimed singles 'Exit' (2014) and 'Ride' (2016). Never content with the status quo, Dubfire reinvented the concert experience with his HYBRID show in 2015, which led to the retrospective album, "HYBRID – A Decade of Dubfire" (2017). This period also saw the release of "Retrospectivo 2008 – 2016" with Oliver Huntemann and the "SCI+TEC ’10’" album (2017), marking the label's decade-long journey and sparking a collaborative alliance with the imaginative DubLab team from Portugal.

Dubfire’s recent collaborations with Carl Craig, Flug, Kölsch, and Luke Slater, along with remixes for Chris Liebing, Kazuya Nagaya, Kevin de Vries, Moscoman, Stephan Bodzin, and Slater’s Planetary Assault Systems project, demonstrate his mastery in multiple genres. His experimental work with VOLVOX Labs for the MetLiveArts project at The Met Cloisters in New York further highlights his refusal to be boxed in.

Dubfire’s remarkable story is captured in the documentary "Above Ground Level" (2017), chronicling his journey from the 1979 revolution in Iran to becoming one of dance music’s biggest stars. The film reveals the human side of an immigrant pursuing the American dream, providing an in-depth look at the hard work and sacrifice required for success in the electronic music scene. For Ali, "Above Ground Level" marked the end of a dazzling decade and the beginning of the next 20+ years of creative exploration, where he will continue to push the boundaries and elevate the electronic music genre.