Dubfire

Dubfire is one of the few American DJs who built two careers: first as half of the Grammy-winning duo Deep Dish, then as a solo techno and tech house artist with his own label and his own audiovisual live show. His solo work and the SCI+TEC label, which he still runs, are the reason he sits in the underground rather than only in pop remix history.

Early Life and Path Into Music

Dubfire's real name is Ali Shirazinia. According to Wikipedia, he was born on 19 April 1971 in Mashhad, Iran, and moved to the United States at the age of seven with his parents and brother so that his father could attend an American university. He grew up in the Washington, D.C., area, the city where he and Sharam Tayebi formed Deep Dish in the early 1990s. The birth date and place match the entry on MusicBrainz.

Deep Dish and the Move to Solo Work

The duo's first notable release, per Wikipedia's Deep Dish article, was a 1995 remix of De'Lacy's "Hideaway," and they founded Deep Dish Records. Their remix of Dido's "Thank You" won a Grammy for Best Remixed Recording, and their studio album George Is On followed in 2005. The same article says the pair disbanded in 2006 to pursue solo careers, reunited briefly in 2014 for the single "Quincy" and an Ultra performance, and announced a permanent return in 2024. Dubfire's own site lists recent Deep Dish dates alongside his solo bookings.

Solo Sound and SCI+TEC

As Dubfire, he is filed under techno, tech house and minimal. Wikipedia credits his solo work from 2007 with "Roadkill" and says "RibCage" was the first release on Loco Dice's Desolat label, "Emissions" appeared on Richie Hawtin's Minus, and he covered Love and Rockets' "I Feel Speed" with vocals. It also lists two top 10 tracks in Resident Advisor's 2007 chart and International DJ Magazine's Player of the Year award in 2008, plus the compilations Global Underground: Taipei (2007), Dubfire's Digital Dreams (2009) and Transmission (2013).

SCI+TEC, announced in 2007 according to Wikipedia, is the label he built around the solo project. His official site describes it as the label he runs, recently signing the Iranian producer Amirali, and also promotes the live show dubfire:live HYBRID and his interest in audio and visual technology. It also records that he has attended Miami Music Week since 1991 and played Coachella's Quazar stage on the festival's first weekend.

Career Highlights

Our Cocoon timeline places him on Compilation H in 2008 alongside Cassy, Joris Voorn, Len Faki, Oliver Huntemann and Gui Boratto, and on the 2009 double disc Ten Years Cocoon Ibiza, which he mixed with Loco Dice to mark a decade of Cocoon's Amnesia residency. When Drumcode artist Harvey McKay died in May 2026, Dubfire was one of the artists who paid public tribute, as noted in our remembrance of Harvey McKay.

FAQ

Who is Dubfire?

Dubfire is the stage name of Ali Shirazinia, an Iranian-American DJ and producer from the Washington, D.C., area who co-founded Deep Dish and runs the SCI+TEC label.

What is Dubfire's real name?

Dubfire's real name is Ali Shirazinia, according to Wikipedia.

How old is Dubfire?

Dubfire was born on 19 April 1971, which makes him 55 (age 55 as of October 2026).

Where is Dubfire from?

Dubfire was born in Mashhad, Iran, moved to the United States at age seven and grew up in the Washington, D.C., area.

What genre does Dubfire play?

Dubfire plays techno, tech house and minimal techno.

What was Deep Dish?

Deep Dish was the DJ and production duo of Dubfire and Sharam Tayebi. They remixed Dido's "Thank You" to a Grammy win, released the album George Is On in 2005, split in 2006 and announced a permanent return in 2024.

What is SCI+TEC?

SCI+TEC is Dubfire's record label, announced in 2007, which releases his solo music and work by artists he signs.

festivals

• MovementDetroit, 29-31 MAY 2027→

Past appearances and announced lineups only, each checked against the festival's own records.

related on rts.fm

• The Full History of Cocoon Recordings, 2000 to 2026→
• Remembering Harvey McKay of Drumcode and Soma→