Dennis Kane

By: Salvatore Principato

The following interview was conducted on January 24, 2025

Dennis Kane I like showing up early when the music is just starting, I like getting to rehearsals and just hearing notes, the raw elegance of sound, beginnings have an innocence, a mood can form, you anticipate and appreciate unfolding possibilities. In Ibiza it is that beautiful transition from a saturated sunset to the stars emerging in the Mediterranean night. When I go to hear Dennis at Salinas, I usually go early and more often than not stay till near the end. It's a lovely spot, with excellent food, a proper bar, a warm sound system, and the right vibe, White Isle goodness in Manhattan.

Its inspiring and instructive to experience the way Mr. Kane takes his time to build a set, he plays across a broad spectrum, it's woven, there is a lyricism, and the momentum builds. I often don't know the songs, perhaps I recognize some, but they all feel like ones I need to know. Once you are immersed in the tide of the music you float on the eddies and the time flies, you can daydream with the rhythms, you notice your body moving, genuine delight.

I've been telling him for some time to record a night and to all our advantage he finally agreed! Having it come out on Dream Chimney is a natural fit, Dennis and Ryan have worked together over the years, and way back in the pre-Covid era I hung out when Dennis did a live set from A1 records that made its way to the site. On the occasion of this mix we got together for some tacos and a chat. Check it below, and enjoy this informed, extended and simply stunning set.
- Salvatore Principato

SP: Im glad you finally listened to me and recorded a set!

DK: Yes! (Laughter) after your last visit, we had so much fun I thought why not. A live set is a document of a moment in time as opposed to a composed mix.

SP: How did you end up at Salinas?

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DK: Willie Graff called me, Nicolas (Matar), who I had played for at both Cielo and Output was adding DJ's coming out of Covid. I did a night and had a great time, Donald and Mary Catherine run a smooth operation and are really into the music.

SP: In the age of the smartphone and social media's ubiquity how does a DJ find a connect to the audience?

DK: It's funny when people first started holding up their phones I knew it was Shazam, now it's more like their IG, Tik-Tok existence. (Laughter) Stop staring at the DJ and get down! In a more low key spot like this, it's not an issue, the goal is to create a mood and then shift it in new ways as the night progresses. In clubs though yes it's odd to get tagged in peoples videos while the night is ongoing - just be here now! Clubs should ask people to check their phones I think, I played a few parties at a spot in Bushwick that did that, and it really made a difference.

I mean that intimacy of being on the floor dancing with proper sound, the dark, some minimal lighting, it let's you engage without talking, when done well it's an excellent recipe for transformation - the Aquarian dream! (Laughter) Don't you feel that way?

SP: For sure, being part of an audience should be a performative act, participation without distraction or distance, selflessly absorbing what the DJ or musical ensemble has to offer, having passion, knowing you are part of the night, it's truly a gift to engage.

DK: The night Liquid Liquid played at Lincoln Center you electrified that crowd, there were so many police to try and keep people in their seats! (Laughter) people were in revival mode! The Santos Party House gig you guys did will stay with me always, the energy, the connection with the audience, it all became one magic thing, much better than a social media post! The listless Boiler Room videos of people standing behind the DJ like some tranquillized Bandstand horde are not aging well and unintentionally are a proper metaphor for a lot that's off in this time.

SP: I see you have been doing some vinyl only gigs, are you enjoying that?

DK: Lugging bags of records around? Are you serious? (Laughter) I think a spot like Rich's in Miami (Dante's Hi-Fi) gets that right and there is a nice warmth to the experience, obviously I love records, (some would say too much!) but CDJs are great tools, and each iteration of them gets better. The "vinyl only" listening bar is sort of some odd lifestyle trend, like Tiki Bars were in the early 60's. I want nights to be special, I want people soaked from dancing and sexed up, the formal apparatus are really secondary to that. Anton Newcombe said he really enjoys a spot in Berlin where he goes and has a glass of wine and listens to a whole LP on an audiophile system, and that sounds fine to me, it is just a different experience. I played a vinyl only set at Moondog HiFi recently, and the speakers there were incredible, especially in the midrange, 70's studio productions sparkle on them.

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I'll always dig for records, I found a 45 the other day on the street for $3 that made my week, so the thrill of looking will never go away. Right now NY has some great shops, Human Head, Superior Elevation and Ergot, there is a cool place out in Redhook as well...

SP: What was the 45 you found?

DK: Whats with the questions counsellor? (Laughter)

SP: I liked the recent LESDK release, what's next?

DK: I was very happy that came together, great work by Roger Dickies on the original and then excellent remix work from Rheinzand and brother Richard Sen (who has been killing it), the response was great both from other DJs and the dance floor. On to the next, sending you some stuff soon to look at for some collaboration, a couple of remixes in the pipeline, a few edits getting done blah blah, just trying to get better, more than ever we need music to bring us someplace special.

SP: Yes we so need the music and the social strength of dancing and the power and community of it, on all levels - great LPs being listened to, hearing live acts in smaller spots, new stuff coming through, away from algorithms, I love the residency I'm doing with 178 product in Brooklyn, I love hearing the bands that play with us, somehow it all restores some faith I have in people, a way to get somewhere better.

DK: As Burroughs said “out of the barnyard and into the sky..”

SP: Amen to that, ok I'm hangry lets eat!

DK: Si Senior!



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4 hour set from Dennis Kane recorded live at Salinas




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