DJ Day

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DJ Day
DJ Day.jpg
DJ Day during the Across the Spider-Verse US Tour 2024
Background information
Birth nameDamien Beebe
Origin Palm Springs, California, U.S.
GenresHip hop, jazz, funk, soul, electronic
Occupation(s)DJ, producer, multi-instrumentalist
InstrumentsTurntables, sampler, keyboard, drums, vocals
Years active1995–present
LabelsPiecelock 70, Melting Pot Music
Website Official website

DJ Day (born Damien Beebe) is an American DJ, producer, and multi-instrumentalist from Palm Springs, California. Known for blending elements of hip hop, jazz, funk, soul, and electronic music, his style incorporates sampling, turntablism, and live instrumentation.

Contents

Early life and career

DJ Day began experimenting with music at age 13 using a homemade DJ setup built from hand-me-down equipment. [1]

In 1995, he co-founded the Innernational Crew with DJ Rip One, a collective of DJs, MCs, b-boys, and graffiti artists. The group contributed to Southern California’s underground hip hop scene, performing at venues such as Radiotron and gaining recognition in publications like URB Magazine . [1]

Musical style and influences

DJ Day’s music is rooted in hip hop and incorporates elements of jazz fusion, Brazilian music, early electronic music, funk, and soul music. His work features both sample-based production and live instrumentation. He cites Herbie Hancock and DJ Jazzy Jeff as major influences. [1]

Career

DJ Day has toured extensively throughout North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania, performing in countries including Brazil, Germany, Russia, France, Japan, China, Australia, and New Zealand. He has shared stages with Amy Winehouse, Eminem, Cortex, and Marcos Valle. [1]

In 2009, he toured the U.S. and Europe with producer Exile, using Akai MPC 2000XL drum machines live, including a performance at Dour Festival in Belgium. [1] [2]

From 2010 to 2016, he held a weekly DJ residency called Reunión at the Ace Hotel & Swim Club in Palm Springs. [1] [3]

In 2013, DJ Day was featured on Fuse TV's Crate Diggers, a series that delves into the vinyl collections of influential artists. During his appearance, he shared insights into his musical influences and the records that have shaped his career. [4]

In 2024, DJ Day served as the scratch DJ for the Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Live in Concert North American tour, performing alongside a full orchestra in 56 cities. The show received positive reviews for its integration of live DJing with orchestral scoring. [5] [6]

He has performed at events including The Do-Over and is a regular participant in DJ Jazzy Jeff’s Playlist Retreat . [1] [7] [8]

Discography

Studio albums

The Day Before (2007, Melting Pot Music) – Includes the track "Four Hills", featured in a DC Shoes campaign and nominated for "Track of the Year" on Gilles Peterson’s BBC Radio 1 show Worldwide . [1]

Land of 1000 Chances is the second studio album by DJ Day, released on February 12, 2013, via Piecelock 70. The album fuses hip hop, soul, jazz, and electronic music, combining live instrumentation with traditional production techniques.

The album was produced by DJ Day and mastered by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering, known for his work on iconic albums such as Steely Dan’s Aja , Prince’s Purple Rain , and Michael Jackson’s Thriller . Executive production, tracking, and mixing were handled by Thes One of People Under the Stairs. [9]

Session musicians featured on the album include keyboardist Kat Ouano (Crown City Rockers), guitarist Ken Belcher, and bassists Manny Quintero — who played on multiple tracks including the title track, “Adu,” and “Sushi in Fresno” — and Brenden Boerger, who played bass on “Daddy’s Home.” [10]

The album was issued as a limited edition on LP, CD, and digital formats. The LP featured an animal-friendly leather casebound sleeve produced by Dorado Packaging, foil-stamped in gold, and included a removable Polaroid photograph. The cover photograph depicts Hana Chan, a Shiba Inu dog from the now-closed Bar Black Sheep in Shibuya, Tokyo. The photo was taken by Robin Rastenberger. [11] [12]

A limited translucent teal pressing of the LP was released exclusively for Ace Hotel's Coachella pop-up in 2013. The first 100 hand-numbered copies were hand-colored by Thes One, making these editions highly sought after by collectors. [13]

Land of 1000 Chances received widespread critical acclaim. It debuted in the top 20 on iTunes’ Electronic/Downtempo charts in the U.S. and internationally, and was featured in KCRW’s Top 50 Most Played Albums for five consecutive weeks in early 2013. [14]

Gilles Peterson supported the album with an interview and exclusive mix on his BBC Radio show. [15]

Reviews from The Skinny , BBC Music, and Exclaim! praised the album’s production quality, emotive depth, and genre fusion. [16] [17] [18]

Life After You (2022, 7T5 Music) – Reached the Top 10 on KCRW’s Top 30 Albums chart and received positive reviews for its atmospheric production. [1]

Selected singles and EPs

DJ Day has also produced official remixes for artists including Quantic, People Under the Stairs, Incognito, Janko Nilovic, Alice Russell, and Aloe Blacc. [1]

Awards and recognition

Personal life

DJ Day resides in Palm Springs, California. He has cited the desert environment and local culture as influential to his music. [1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Best of Coachella Valley Legacy Award: Palm Springs Native DJ Day (aka Damien Beebe) Has Wowed Audiences Around the World". Coachella Valley Independent. November 21, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Exile and DJ Day Live at Dour Festival (Belgium)". YouTube . 18 August 2009.
  3. ↑ "So Long, ¡Reunion! After Six Years, DJ Day is Bringing to an End His Iconic Thursday Party at the Ace Hotel". 18 March 2016.
  4. ↑ https://fuse.tv/videos/2015/11/crate-diggers-dj-day
  5. ↑ "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse in Concert". South Florida Insider. 8 September 2024. Retrieved 2025-05-30.
  6. ↑ "'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Live in Concert' to visit Columbus' Palace Theatre Wednesday as part of US tour". 5 November 2024.
  7. ↑ https://playlistretreat.com/
  8. ↑ "Detroit, Mi".
  9. ↑ "DJ Day – Land of 1000 Chances". Discogs. 20 April 2013.
  10. ↑ "DJ Day – Land of 1000 Chances Credits". Discogs. 20 April 2013.
  11. ↑ "Dorado Packaging Vinyl Sleeve Info". Dorado Packaging.
  12. ↑ "Robin Rastenberger Photography". Robin Rastenberger.
  13. ↑ "DJ Day - Land of 1000 Chances Limited Teal Pressing". Discogs. 1963.
  14. ↑ "KCRW Top 50 Most Played Albums". KCRW. 29 January 2013.
  15. ↑ "Gilles Peterson Show Interview". BBC.
  16. ↑ "The Skinny Review". The Skinny.
  17. ↑ "BBC Music Review". BBC Music.
  18. ↑ "Exclaim! Review". Exclaim!.
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