Diva Divo - Dance Magazine-= DubFire

Don’t worry, Deep Dish devotees: there’s no Yoko in sight, no Ginger Spice in the ranks, and no question that your favorite famed DJ/production team is simply on a temporary hiatus. “Our plan has been to spend most of 2007 doing the solo stuff, and then to reconvene for a new artist album,” explains Ali “Dubfire” Shirazania, one half of the collaborative, House music juggernaut. That “stuff’ includes the release of his first solo album, GU31: Taipeii, his contribution to the popular Global Underground series. While it follows closely after his musical partner Sharam’s effort, GU29: Dubai, the comparisons end there. “I actually haven’t listened to Sharam’s CD!” he laughs. Though he’s quick to point out that circumstance, not avoidance, is the culprit. “I just haven’t gotten a copy!”

Intentional or not, it only further guarantees that Dubfire will have complete and uninfluenced creative freedom on his effort. “We have completely different approaches to making music and to listening to music,” he explains. “The reason that Deep Dish is regarded by many to be a successful entity, with a unique sound, is because we come from polar opposites. It’s where we meet in the middle, where we mesh in the middle, the tugs and battles we have in pushing our vision to the forefront that, ultimately, is the magic of Deep Dish.”

That magic has earned the production partnership a slew of notches on the belt: a Grammy award, several nominations, high-profile remixing credit (names like Madonna, Justin Timberlake and Kristine W might ring a bell), international acclaim and a legion of devout fans. Still, when it comes to flying solo, Dubfire’s like a virgin… an eager one, that is. “It’s a bit of breathing room,” he says of Taipei . “We’ve been doing stuff together for 15 years now [the Deep Dish collaboration], and you get to a point where you want to express yourself differently.”

If Taipei is any indication, personal expression comes quite easily to Dubfire. The double-disc album blazes an impressive, eclectic trail through realms of house, electro, techno and industrial music. “It’s influenced a lot by what’s going on in Germany right now,” he describes. “The techno, the minimal and the stuff that Digitalism are doing. It’s also influenced by the French guys, Justice and Simian.” In short, it’s eclectic, international and little bit underground. “It’s a bit more left of center,” he explains of the departure his usual collaborative music. “Much less commercial than what people typically expect from Deep Dish.”

But Dubfire has a history of defying expectations: Growing up in Washington, DC, he was a self-described “introvert. I hung out with a lot of artsy fartsy people.” And unlike the many DJs who cite electronic music as their first artistic influence, he was first introduced to the era’s thriving punk/new wave scene: “Punk led into new wave, and new wave led into industrial,” he explains. “That led into Kraftwerk, and eventually the music that was coming out of Chicago – the dance music, of course. And here I am today. When I look back, it seems like a very natural, logical musical evolution.”

The latest stage in Dubfire’s evolution, Taipei is a brave step into new frontier. It allows Dubfire to indulge himself fully in artistic individualism: “Being in a group environment, you had to have a collective vision. What’s cool about us branching out and doing separate stuff, is that we’re able to express our individual identities. There’s no checking with other people… you sort of get out of each other’s way and you’re able to do whatever it is you’ve wanted to do for a long time.”

For that reason, the album provides several “firsts” for the artist: “It was the first project in my new home studio,” he says. It debuted some new technological elements, too: “I think this is the first time where we used Ableton Live to mix all the tracks together. It saved a lot of time and allowed me to be more creative.” And it’s the first time the producer has loaned his own vocals to his work.

Wait… it is, isn’t it?

“It’s actually the second time,” Dubfire corrects me, pointing out “In Love with a Friend,” a quiet moment from Deep Dish’ 2005 release George is On. But Taipei’s “I Feel Speed” is a bolder step in exploring his range… no pun intended. “This was an experiment. It’s something I always wanted to do. I’d play it for friends and they couldn’t even believe it was my voice. I think I’m on to a good thing with that!”

And while he’s not looking for validation on this first solo effort, he’s excited to hear the reaction of other artists he admires. “I guess the recognition of my work, by people whose work I respect, is the ultimate payoff to me,” he says. “I’ve got a lot of DJs in my AOL window, and we tend to sit there and swap music all day long. To hear Chris Lee in Germany, or Axwell in Sweden, or Danny Howells - all those guys! - talk about the work I’m doing… it’s really, really gratifying.”

And when you talk, guys, be gentle.

It’s his first time.