Gabriel & Dresden: No Reservations [Interview]

Josh Gabriel & Dave Dresden, known as their stage moniker, Gabriel & Dresden, have been one of the most legendary American electronic acts that the genre has seen. The duo’s fame in EDM goes far beyond the recent boom. In 2003, Gabriel & Dresden entered the DJ Mag’s Top 100 list at #43 and in 2004 their Madonna and Britney Spears collaboration became their seventh #1 Billboard dance chart hit. Before mainstream caught wind of electronic music, Josh and Dave had already won the WMC award for Best American DJ twice; in 2007 and 2008.

In 2008, Josh and Dave separated as a duo to focus on individual musical efforts. It wasn’t until December 31st, 2010 that they would reunite. For the first time in 2 years they played together at Hollywood’s Palladium New Years Eve Party. Ever since, they have been reunited; making music and touring. Their latest single, No Reservations, features Secret Panda Society and is shaping up to be one of the hottest tracks of the year thus-far. As Gabriel & Dresden hit the road for some pre-Miami touring, we caught up with them for an interview at Pacha New York City.

BDL & Gabriel & Dresden

It has been a long time coming. So what has been your favorite gig to play together?

“Nocturnal Wonderland was pretty amazing.”

Dave: Nocturnal Wonderland was pretty amazing. We have had so many great gigs over the last year. The ones that weren’t that good, there were few and far between. There has been loads of excitement everywhere we have gone. We are really happy with our touring.

Can you talk to me a little about that first moment when you fell in love with music and decided to take this route?

Josh: For me it was listening to Switched-On Bach, which is an electronic rendition of Bach. The sound was like no other sound.

In 2008 you went on a short hiatus from playing together only to come back and reunite at Hollywood’s Paladium 2011 New Years Eve. What was that night like coming back and linking up again?

Josh: It was exciting; we didn’t know what to expect. It turned out really good, so kept it going.

What difference do you see in the scene today compared to your earlier days and how have you adjusted?

“That is when we make our best music, when we are having fun.”

Josh: Today, people are a lot more open-minded because there are a lot more types of music out there. Electronic music is definitely bigger. Everyone is a lot more into the music and they follow it closely.

Your newest single with Secret Panda Society is huge; No Reservations, can you tell me a little about the history behind that track?

Dave: Josh knew these guys that were engineering a lot of stuff for him. They started a group last year and we liked the stuff that they were doing and we asked them to work with us. So we all happened to be in Amsterdam back in August; we got in the studio with no expectations or anything and just had fun. That is when we make our best music, when we are having fun. We really liked that track and decided to put it out as the first single.

You’ve got Miami Music Week around the corner, what events will you apart of and what events do you want to check out that you’re not involved in.

“We have had some awesome and memorable nights in Miami.”

Dave: We’re doing Shine on the 16^th with Dave Seaman. We are dong Nikki Beach on the 23^rd. Then we are doing Mansion on the 25^th. We always have a ticket to check things out but we don’t make any plans.

Josh:We will see where the nights take us. We have had some awesome and memorable nights in Miami. There is so much good stuff down there to see and do.