Dezza

Canadian DJ and producer Derek Silvester makes shimmering, sophisticated progressive house under the name Dezza. Active since the late 2000s, he’s received support from Tiësto, Above & Beyond, Pete Tong, and other major players of the genre. Following a decade’s worth of singles on labels such including Black Hole, Anjunabeats, and Perfecto, he released his debut album, Cosmos, in 2019. His more vocal-heavy second LP, 44° North, 63° West, followed in 2021.
Silvester was born in Halifax in 1984, and he started making music at the age of 14. Initially producing hip-hop, he gradually shifted to dance music, blending elements of house and trance. He began his prolific run of releases in 2009, after his track “Celebrate” won Pete Tong’s Bedroom Bedlam contest, and labels such as Silk Royal and Solarscape began releasing his tracks. In 2010, Dezza was invited to be a guest DJ on Tiësto’s Club Life Radio. He also started his own digital imprint, Dezire Records, and issued additional tunes on labels such as Cool Vibes and Mango Alley.
Dezza signed to Colorize, the progressive house imprint of Enhanced Music, in 2011, additionally releasing tracks on Spinnin’ Records sublabel Oxygen Recordings. Receiving steady support from DJs like Paul van Dyk and Sander van Doorn, he continued releasing singles such as “Meekix” (2014) and “Need U” (2016). In 2018 alone, Dezza issued over 15 tracks, many of which became hits with progressive house DJs, including “Sunburn” (with Rolo Green) and “In Tents.” His 19-track debut album, Cosmos, was released in 2019, featuring the singles “Sweet Dream” and “Cold Outside.” Inspired by the beauty of his surroundings in the Novia Scotia wilderness, Dezza’s second album, 44° North, 63° West, appeared in 2021, with guests including Lauren L'aimant, EMME, and Dan Soleil. ~ Paul Simpson