There’s a certain kind of warmth that runs through his selections — not just in tone, but in spirit. Derek Duncan aka DJ D.DEE is a central figure in Vancouver’s ever-evolving house scene. As the founder of Pacific Rhythm, a record label and events platform grounded in community and care, he has spent the past decade quietly shaping a culture built on patience, flow, and connection. With releases from artists like D. Tiffany, Khotin, Ex-Terrestrial and Beverly Glenn-Copeland, the label has helped define a distinctly West Coast sound — introspective, uplifting, and globally admired.

In his debut at Club 77, DJ D.DEE brings that ethos to the booth — an affection for curatorial depth, dance floor joy, and scenes that grow slowly but with purpose. Paired with longtime resident Mike Who, the night creates a quiet dialogue between two coastlines, two communities, and one shared sensibility: music that feels good and brings people together.

We caught up with DJ D.DEE ahead of his set to chat about his approach to curation, what keeps him inspired, and a few records currently living in his bag.

First off, wishing you a warm welcome to Australia! We’d love to know your thoughts on the local sound. How might this influence your set?

Thank you! It's a pleasure to be back for the first time in many years. I was a fan of the music and DJs coming out of Australia before I ever visited, so I'm stoked to be able to get in the mix and feel the vibe with everyone.

I'm sure we'd love to know, as a DJ and label head - how do you source such exciting artists and tracks for the dance floor?

I feel like releasing music all happens relatively naturally these days. We only release a small handful of records every year, and they're almost always from friends or friends of friends. As for sourcing tunes for the dance floor, that's the never-ending cycle of keeping your ears and eyes peeled for music that resonates with me - and hopefully others.

What keeps you inspired to continue exploring and putting out House music? Has this genre always spoken to you?

I recently wrote a record with my good pal Patrick Holland that's coming out soon on the label, and that whole process really reignited my love for the genre. I've spent most of my career as a promoter, label owner, and DJ, so it's very exciting to explore production more. I've always listened to everything and like to keep things loose; good music is good music.

What are your three favourite tracks at the moment?

Here's 3 tracks I got on my recent trip to Tokyo that are in my bag.