Dresden's zeal for dance music and culture developed early in high school where he frequented local Connecticut dance clubs and befriended The Café's DJ Moby, a local disc jockey. His early experiences at the Café fueled his passion to immerse himself in the culture that would become his career and lifelong obsession. From there, he purchased a pair of Technics SP-1300 pitch controlled CD players and got to work.[1] Dresden quickly cultivated a following due to his simple but effective music policy; play the right track at the right time and only play great songs. His ambitions did not stop with spinning. While he continued to play in the clubs sometimes five nights a week, he became a dance music journalist by day. Dresden was named a reporter to the Billboard dance chart, and he began writing reviews and features for national magazines such as Dance Music Authority, DJ Times and Mixer. Dresden profiled Daft Punk, Paul Oakenfold, Moby, Masters at Work, Todd Terry, Sasha & Digweed, Puff Daddy, BT, Crystal Method, Keoki, Josh Wink, Chemical Brothers, Deep Dish amongst many others.[2] Many of these artists' first American press came through Dresden's journalism efforts.
Dresden's affiliation with respected publications gave him easier access to obscure and unreleased tunes upfront, giving him an edge. He regularly contributed his A&R skills to Promo Only CD's and its "Mainstream Club" "Import Club" and "Alternative Club" series. In addition, he scouted new music for Pete Tong's highly influential Essential Selection radio show on the BBC Radio 1. Through his efforts there, Dresden hipped Pete to some rather large records, many of which became "Essential New Tunes", Tong's method of gauging a guaranteed hit. Dresden's wide knowledge of dance music led to the opportunity to help select songs for Nettwerk Records' popular "Plastic Compilation" series. Dresden has also had a hand in producing compilation CD's and single releases with other independent labels such as Strictly Rhythm, Strictly Hype, 4 Play and Max Music. In addition, he's accredited by his own releases for Strictly Hype's trance offshoot Sunrise; "Trancendence: The First Wave", and the hit packed "Transit". His radio career began with the long running, highly rated "Electro Circus," which aired on Hartford, Connecticut's modern rock station WMRQ-FM from 1996 until 2000.[3] Dresden's radio career continued as music director and on-air personality for grooveradio.com, an internet radio station during the year 2000.
The duo won the 2007 and 2008 IDMA award for "America's Best DJ". He has achieved 21 Billboard Dance Chart #1 tracks (remixes and originals) 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 which is distributed by Armada Music.
On December 31, 2010, Gabriel & Dresden reunited for special one off New Year's Eve celebration alongside ATB and Francis Preve at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles.
Shortly afterward, the duo were booked on the Anjunabeats WMC Miami party at the Ice Palace as a special guest. Since this event, Gabriel & Dresden have officially announced themselves as reunited.
In 2011 they signed an artist deal with Armada Music which brought forth their mix compilation "Mixed for Feet, Volume 1" as well as numerous singles including 2012'a "Play it Back" featuring Betsie Larkin, "Tomorrow Comes" with Neil Ormandy (2013), "Shatter" (with D-Wayne) and a re-working of Tracking Treasure Down Revisited.[10]
On February 3, 2014, they restarted their monthly radio show "Gabriel & Dresden present Organized Nature" on Digitally Imported's progressive channel. Since this show was already on the air in the past, it began this time around with Episode 30.[11]
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, Dave Dresden has hosted livestream performances via Gabriel & Dresden's Twitch channel. The new show, Club Quarantine, includes weekly broadcasts such as Techno Tuesday, New Music Friday, and Classics Saturday.[12]
Personal life
Graduated in class of 88' from Westhill High School in Stamford, Connecticut.
Dresden got married in September 2012 to Holly Carrington. They have one daughter together, Charlotte Lily Dresden born on July 15, 2013. They filed for divorce in 2017 and the divorce was finalized in Austin, Texas on July 3, 2018.