The Leeds-born house DJ Dave Seaman, is by now, is a worldwide household name in electronic music, with countless mix albums and original releases, a record label (Audio Therapy), and a constant international touring schedule calibrated with military precision. But in the mid- to late-Nineties, he was still relatively unknown on these shores, until he hit Miami. In fact, he arguably owes a great deal of his U.S. breakthrough to his residency at the Bliss party at Groove Jet, where he was invited to play by DJ/promoter Jonathan Cowan.
And while Cowan and friends helped introduce Seaman to the United States, to the United States, Seaman introduced the burgeoning sounds of progressive house. "A lot of what was going on in town when I first came was based on that R&B-based house music like Little Louie Vega and Masters at Work," he told New Times last year. "But in the UK it wasn't like that. In the Eighties and Nineties there was this big Italian thing going on with dance music, and then our house music became very much electronic-based."
That sound would later take over South Beach, and then the dance music
world, before its mainstream popularity eventually waned. Since then,
Seaman has embraced a broader style. "I get labeled by the press as a
progressive house DJ, but I play records that Danny Tenaglia would
play, or even Richie Hawtin or Sven Vath. It's everything from deep
house to techno in a set," he said.
Now that Cowan helps run his family's Shelborne Beach Resort, including its slick, smartly curated club Shine, Seaman's become a more frequently spotted face in Miami. This Saturday, he takes the decks with Dennis Ferrer, a soulful house technician from Union City, New Jersey.
Dave Seaman, with Dennis Ferrer. Friday, January 30. Shine, 1801 Collins Ave., Miami Beach. Doors open at 11 p.m. Ladies free before midnight. Free admission with Florida ID before midnight. Tickets cost $15 in advance from www.wantickets.com/shelborne. Ages 21+ with ID. 305-327-8757; shinesouthbeach.com
