In yesterday’s special Miami 5pm Interview, we chatted to the guys responsible for 15 of the top parties going on in Miami during the Winter Music Conference week, Made Event. Today, however, we have a chat with one of the top DJs playing in Miami, dance music uber-legend Dave Seaman.

With his new Renaissance Masters mix out now, the conference couldn’t have come at a better time for Mr Seaman to fly out there and do a bit of shameless-self promotion whilst catching a few rays. Dave has had a strong association with the seminal Renaissance brand for some time, releasing no less than 10 albums with them since the mid-90s. Gavin Leversuch catches up with him to get the lowdown on his involvement in the conference and his new mix album.

 

Have you got any specific plans for your Miami trip this year, or are you just gonna soak up the atmosphere?

I’m going specifically to do a party with Nick Warren for Shine at The Shelbourne Hotel on the Saturday (29th). 16 Bit Lolitas, Hybrid, Stel and Jody Wisternoff are also on the bill so it should be a cracker, but I will be soaking up the atmosphere too. I’m only going to be there for the Friday and Saturday but I’m hoping to see Zabiela and Fanciulli at Studio A and Deep Dish and Sander at Space, as well as the Radio 1 pool party and Ultrafest.

What’s the deal with the new ‘Masters’ album and which has been your favourite to mix over the years?

 

It’s my tenth album for Renaissance, and my 24th mix compilation altogether. I’m starting to get the hang of it now, haha. I’m really pleased with how this one came out, although it was a bitch to do. Sometimes you just end up with a load a tracks that don’t fit together naturally so it takes blood, sweat and tears to make them work. The end result is all that matters though. My favourites over the years are probably Back To Mine, my last Therapy Sessions (Vol. 4) and the first mixed Renaissance comp I ever did - Renaissance 4, the one with the leaves on the front.

What other projects are you working on at the moment? What fingers are in what pies?

 

Well Audio Therapy, the label, continues to develop. We had a sticky moment or two as so many labels did at the end of last year when our distributor, Amato, went bust. But I’m pleased to say that we’ve weathered the storm and this year is more exciting than ever. We’re really starting to make progress with the digital side of things so the future looks bright.

Using your enormous back catalogue of previous experience, what direction do you think dance music is likely to take over the next few years?

Oh, I don’t bother thinking about such things anymore. Trying to predict the future is for clairvoyants or journalists. I just play whatever feels right and go where the music takes me. You guys are the ornithologists. I’m the bird! Haha

You’ve been involved in songwriting, production, remixing, broadcasting, publishing, performing and more. Is there anything left for Dave Seaman to do?

Professionally I’ve achieved almost everything that I set out to do but staying at the top of your game is a challenge in itself. But my priorities have also changed somewhat since I had my children. Being a good father is high in the pecking order these days. Being able to pass things on is one of the great pleasures in life.

(Interview: Gavin Leversuch)

Dave’s Current Top 5:

1. MOS - Emotional Distortion (Original Mix) Audio Therapy
2. Funkagenda - What The Fuck (Original Club Mix) Toolroom Trax
3. Guy J - Skin (Original) Turbo Recordings
4. Flip & Def Jaguar - This Sound (Joachim Speith mix) Brut! Records
5. Pig & Dan - Sly Detector (Cocoon Recordings)