After discovering house and techno in the early nineties, Dan immersed himself in the Paris rave scene. His love affair with music was solidified when he spent a year in San Diego, California in his early twenties, soaking up West Coast house and psychedelia through his key inspiration – Mark E Quark. After 12 months Dan returned to Paris and opened his own store Traffic Records. This allowed him to import and showcase the sound he discovered in California and he was soon DJing at various spots around the French capital, quickly making a name for himself.
He picked up a residency at a party called ‘Kwality’ and so began the next chapter with the after parties at Batofar becoming the stuff of legend and the party’s official mix catapulting Dan on to the international stage. It was at Batofar where he refined his distinctive groovy sound. The infamous parties, together with Dan’s radio show, inspired a new generation of DJs including two young men who would later become Dan’s lifelong friends and partners in crime; Dyed Soundorom and Shonky.
In 2002 he took things international and began playing at DC10 in Ibiza, becoming a resident in 2004. Up until today he remains one of the club’s key residents, playing all through the summer season, with solo appearances and b2b2b Apollonia sets. Dan also lives in Ibiza throughout the summer, which has led to him building a deep relationship with the mystical island and the launch of his GoDEEP parties.
Away from DJing his next big step was the launch of his cult label Freak N’Chic, which he ran for seven years from 2003 to 2010. One of the key platform during a pivotal era in the French underground, Freak N’Chic showcased the sound that Dan has become synonymous with and introduced a new generation of French artists to the world.
Two years after Freak N Chic came to an end Dan, Dyed and Shonky introduced their Apollonia concept to the world. They have since recorded an album (‘Tour à Tour’), gone on a world tour, and played countless marathon sets at many of the world’s most influential club spaces and festivals as well as setting up a label with the same name. The Apollonia record label is a home for their own music and releases from their favourite artists and reissues of stone cold classics from the vaults.
Outside of his work with Apollonia Dan still travels solo, and has a renewed zest for making music. New EPs have dropped via Music For Freaks, Adult Only and Apollonia with remixes on Hot Creations, Cuttin Headz and his brother Stephane’s Highpath label among others. Plus, he’s been running his own GoDEEP Events for the last couple of years, curating hot lineups and promoting parties in Ibiza, Paris and Lisbon.
GoDEEP offers one last opportunity to enjoy the weekend and take advantage of that loose, unbridled feeling that only a Sunday party can provide… A magical combination of new energy, from those who have saved themselves all weekend, mixed with the diehards who bring a woozy, uninhibited after party vibe with them. It’s a party that starts with a brunch and culminates in an all-out rave.
From tours around the world, to A&Ring for his label and encouraging his friends, new and old, Dan Ghenacia is a highly respected, influential figure who continues to work tirelessly to support the music he loves so dearly.