From Vinyl to Village - Dan Paine
In his early teenage years, Dan frequented Truetone Records in Newmarket, amassing a collection of cassettes that would profoundly shape his musical tastes. The eclectic mix of titles he acquired, featuring artists like Public Enemy, Happy Mondays, De La Soul, The Cure, A Tribe Called Quest, and The Smiths, are still among his favourites.
Around the late ‘90s, Jonny Pujol, also known as DJ Dozer, recognised Dan's passion for music and encouraged him to start playing records. With Jonny’s already impressive collection and technical talent, Dan dove into the world of DJing with him, frequenting favourite spots like Real Groovy Records and DJ Sir-Vere’s Beat Merchants on Victoria Street West to expand their collection.
After these early years of DJing, Dan was brought on board at Base FM by Manuel Bundy, where he began hosting his Wednesday night show, OFF THE RECORD (OTR), in May 2006.
Still proud of the show, Dan reflects, ”it was unique by being a melting-pot mix of many different styles of music, in keeping with my own personal taste and open musical philosophy, rather than sticking to one or two genres.”
Still grateful for the passion and management of then-owner, Jazz Zieden, Dan felt it was the right time to move on from Base FM when a change of ownership came about in October 2022.
After a mammoth 17-year run on air, he estimates he did around 500 shows and played over 15,000 songs!
Over the years, Dan has amassed a wealth of DJing experiences that span the globe. In 2004 he spent a year living in Kitakyushu, Japan, where he regularly played at Grassroots Bar. Back in Auckland, he ran the Low End Theory club nights at the legendary Rakinos Bar on High Street with Dylan C and Manuel Bundy. The summer of 2015 saw him opening for Joey Bada$$ and Run the Jewels at a packed studio on K'Road. The following summer, he supported Dam Funk at the Auckland City Art Gallery alongside Frank Booker. Dan has also graced the stage at Splore Festival at the Crystal Palace and, more recently, played at Shipwrecked Festival in Te Arai.
Locally, Dan was a regular at the Leigh Sawmill Café throughout the 2000s and 2010s. Among his career highlights are the Summertime Rolls gigs, which he ran for a couple of summers.
These events featured Electric Wire Hustle, Kolab, Dylan C, Manuel Bundy, and himself, creating unforgettable parties that have become a cherished part of his DJing journey. And while he'll be the first to tell you that he's not a DJ who gravitates towards playing 'the hits,' making him an unconventional choice for weddings, one of his most recent highlights was DJing at Wendy and Brett’s "Brendyfest" wedding, featured in the May issue of Junction.
Working in a creative environment at the cinema, Dan is surrounded by smiling people enjoying themselves daily, creating the positive energy that he thrives on. He also finds joy in occasional bar gigs with DJ friends and house parties, where the atmosphere is intimate and energetic.
Crediting DJ Dozer for introducing him to DJing and teaching him the basics, DJ Jellyfish for the joy of playing music in tandem, Cian for his impeccable musical taste and tips, Dylan C for his seamless mixing and mind-blowing sets, and Manuel Bundy for his standout music selection and immaculate technique. Dan considers himself lucky to count these talented individuals as friends and remains true to his guiding principle as a DJ, “to just play music that I love.”