Erol Alkan

Erol Alkan (born 30 May 1974)[2] is an English DJ and producer of Turkish Cypriot descent.[3]

Erol Alkan
Erol Alkan Live
Background information
Birth nameErol Alkan
Also known asKurtis Rush
Mustapha 3000
Beyond The Wizards Sleeve
Disco 3000
Born (1974-05-30) 30 May 1974
London, England
GenresAlternative rock, electronic[1]
Occupation(s)DJ, producer, musician, artist
InstrumentsTurntables, synthesiser, sequencer, guitar, bass, drums, voice, CDJ-2000
Years active1993–present
LabelsPhantasy
Websiteerolalkan.co.uk

Career

DJ and club promoter

In 1993, Erol Alkan started DJing in various indie nightclubs in London. His first ever public Dj set was at The Gass Club in Leicester Square.

In 1995, he was a resident DJ of club night 'Going Underground' co-founded by Glyn Peppiatt and James Dickie. It was held weekly on Mondays at the Plastic People venue which was situated at its original Oxford Street location in Central London.

In 1997, Erol re-launched the club under a new name: Trash. Over the next few years, Trash became one of the most influential clubs of its time.[2] Until its closure in 2007, Trash saw performances by Peaches, LCD Soundsystem, Klaxons, Bloc Party, 2manydjs, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Scissor Sisters, Phoenix, Metronomy, Electric Six and many more up and coming bands.

From 2001 onwards, Erol Alkan became one of the most in demand Djs of the time, playing regular DJ sets outside Trash, focusing primarily on dance music influenced by his sets at Bugged Out. Bugged Out are credited as launching Erol's dance music career after offering him a residency halfway through his debut set for them at Fabric, when Erol filled in for David Holmes who had missed a flight into London. His profile increased considerably during 2003 when he was voted 'Best Breakthrough DJ' by Muzik magazine, and in 2006, when he earned the Mixmag 2006 "DJ of the Year" award. Erol has also been voted Datatransmissions 'DJ Of The Year' in both 2008 and 2009, which is seen as an alternative to the DJ Mag Top 100 awards but consists only of British DJs.

Since 2008, Alkan has also hosted a regular radio shows, as a former resident of BBC 6Music's 6Mix until 2015, moving onto a residency for online streaming platform Boiler Room in 2016. He returned to 6Music to for various shows during 2018, filling in for Nemone and Giles Peterson, as well as hosting both 2017 and 2018's New Year's Eve live specials.

In the summer of 2017, Erol programmed a 13-week residency at London's XOYO club, playing weekly alongside live and DJ guests including Gerd Janson, Daniel Avery, Ellen Allien, Peggy Gou, 2ManyDJs, Francois K, Baris K, Peaches and Jimmy Edgar.

He has released multiple successful DJ mixes, including two editions of 'A Bugged Out/Bugged In' mix, a 2012 mix for revered Belgian festival I Love Techno and a 2014 contribution to the prestigious Fabriclive series that was later awarded 'Mix Of The Year 2014' by DJ Mag.

Remixer

Erol Alkan released a series of mash-ups using the alias Kurtis Rush in the early 2000s, including a mix of Kylie Minogue's "Can't Get You Out of My Head" and New Order's "Blue Monday", which was performed by Minogue at the Brit Awards. Erol also used the alias Mustapha 3000, and is half of the psychedelic dance-rock act Beyond the Wizard's Sleeve, along with Richard Norris. In 2016, Beyond The Wizard's Sleeve released a long-anticipated debut album, The Soft Bounce, featuring collaborations with artists such as Hannah Peel, Jane Weaver, Euros Childs and celebrated writer Jon Savage. In 2016, London record store Rough Trade featured The Soft Bounce as one of their top ten records of 2016 in their annual end of year list.

Erol Alkan has remixed tracks from artists including Klaxons, Alter Ego, Bloc Party, Daft Punk, The Chemical Brothers, Gonzales, Tame Impala, MGMT, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, ZZT, Fan Death, Digitalism, Scissor Sisters, Justice, Franz Ferdinand, LA Priest, Interpol, Hot Chip, Death From Above 1979, Metronomy, Mylo, Night Works, Margot, Todd Rundgren, Kindness, Connan Mockasin, Depeche Mode and New Order.

In 2017, Alkan's label, Phantasy, released 'Reworks Volume 1', encompassing twenty of his best-loved remixes, and available as both a double-CD and limited-edition vinyl format. It was nominated for 'Best Compilation' in the 2017 DJ Mag Awards.

Producer

Erol Alkan began producing bands in 2006. Originally cutting his teeth recording B-sides for The Long Blondes and Mystery Jets, he was asked back to work on their respective second albums. His first production credit is the entire Mystery Jets' much loved second album, Twenty One, which contained the 2 top 40 hit singles "Young Love" and "Two Doors Down", Late of the Pier's debut record, Fantasy Black Channel, and The Long Blondes' second album Couples

His third album production within that 18-month period was Late of the Pier's debut and only album Fantasy Black Channel, released 11 August 2008 on Parlophone Records. Cited as one of the greatest debut records of the 00's, it has reached cult classic status from both music fans and the media. It was awarded an alternative Album Of The Year accolade by Drowned In Sound, in which the public voted.

In 2007 Alkan founded his own label, named Phantasy, which has released music from Daniel Avery, Connan Mockasin, Ghost Culture, Tom Rowlands from The Chemical Brothers, Gabe Gurnsey, Cowboy Rhythmbox, Kamera, U and Alkan's own Beyond The Wizard's Sleeve Project, as well as his first EP of solo club tracks, 'Illumination' in 2013.

In 2017, Alkan produced the comeback LP from seminal British shoegaze band Ride titled 'Weather Diaries', and released to critical acclaim. He reunited with the band again for their 'Tomorrows Shore' EP and sixth album 'This Is Not A Safe Place', which was released in August 2019.

Alkan also worked as additional producer on The Killers' hit single "The Man", providing additional instrumentation. He is reportedly working with Duran Duran.[4]

Other work

He is also one half of psychedelic rock group Beyond the Wizard's Sleeve.[5] BTWS have remixed tracks (often listed as "Re-Animations") for Peter Bjorn and John, Midlake, Simian Mobile Disco, Franz Ferdinand, Badly Drawn Boy, The Chemical Brothers, Goldfrapp, Late of the Pier, Tracey Thorn, Dust Galaxy, The Real Ones, and Findlay Brown. They've also released an album called "Ark 1" in 2008, and four EPs - "Birth", "Spring", "George" & "West".

Erol compiled a 2xCD mix for the Bugged Out series. The second disc, "A Bugged In Selection with Erol Alkan", is a collection of downtempo tracks. Erol has also released mix compilations for Muzik Magazine and Mixmag. He continues to expand on the much loved 'Bugged In Selection' mixes via a curated Spotify playlist which continues to collect music of a similar vein.

Other productions: Whitey's "Do The Nothing", Franz Ferdinand's "All my Friends (LCD Soundsystem Cover)" and producing 'I'd Rather, Jack' for London noise band Teeth Of The Sea

Alkan was working on remixes for Björk and Interpol in summer 2007, but lost them due to a hard drive failure.[6]

Discography

Original releases

Year Title
2009 "Waves / Death Suite" (with Boys Noize)
"Waves" (Chilly Gonzales Piano Rework)
2010 "Lemonade / Avalanche" (with Boys Noize)
2011 "Avalanche (Terminal Velocity)" (with Boys Noize feat. Jarvis Cocker)
2012 "Roland Rat / Brainstorm" (with Boys Noize)
"A Sydney Jook" (with Switch)
2013 "Illumination" EP
2015 "Sub Conscious"
2018 "Spectrum / Silver Echoes"

Mix and compilation albums

Year Title
2001 Trash Companion #1
2003 One Louder (Muzik Magazine Covermount)
2004 A Bugged Out Mix
2006 Disco 2006 (Mixmag Magazine Covermount)
2008 Ark 1 (As Beyond The Wizard's Sleeve)
2009 Re-Animations Volume 1 (As Beyond The Wizard's Sleeve)
2012 Another "Bugged Out" Mix & "Bugged In" Selection
2014 FabricLive.77

Remixes as Erol Alkan

Year Artist Track Title
2004 Mylo "Drop the Pressure" Erol Alkan's Extended Re-Edit
Alter Ego "Rocker" Erol Alkan's Death Disco Re-Vised
Death from Above 1979 "Romantic Rights" Erol Alkan's Love From Below Re-Edit
2005 The Chemical Brothers "Believe" Erol Alkan's Feel Me Rework
Bloc Party "She's Hearing Voices" Erol Alkan's Calling Your Name Dub & Vocal Re-Works
Mystery Jets "Zoo Time" Erol Alkan Re-Work
Franz Ferdinand "Do You Want To" Erol Alkan's Glam Racket
2006 Daft Punk "The Brainwasher" Erol Alkan's Horrorhouse Dub
Justice "Waters of Nazareth" Erol Alkan's Durrr Durrr Durrrrrr Re-Edit
Hot Chip "Boy From School" Erol Alkan's Extended Rework
Scissor Sisters "I Don't Feel Like Dancin'" Erol Alkan's Carnival Of Light Rework
2007 Klaxons "Golden Skans" [7] Erol Alkan's Ekstra Spektral Rework
Digitalism "Jupiter Room" Erol Alkan's Simple, Yet Effective Re-Edit
Interpol "Mammoth" Erol Alkan Rework
La Priest "Engine" Erol Alkan's Transonic Re-Edit
2008 Fan Death "Veronica's Veil" Erol Alkan's Extended Rework
Sebastian "Momy" Erol Alkan’s Murrr/O/Durrr Re-Edit
ZZT "The Worm" Erol Alkan's Extended Rework
2009 Yeah Yeah Yeahs "Zero" Erol Alkan Rework
2010 Chilly Gonzales "Never Stop" Erol Alkan's Piano Pella
Chilly Gonzales "Never Stop" Erol Alkan Rework
MGMT "Congratulations" Erol Alkan Rework
Eurythmics "Sweet Dreams" Erol Alkan Re-Edit #1
2011 Tame Impala "Why Won't You Make Up Your Mind?" Erol Alkan Rework
Erol Alkan & Boys Noize "Death Suite" Erol Alkan Edit
Connan Mockasin "Forever Dolphin Love" Erol Alkan Rework
Metronomy "The Bay" Erol Alkan's Extended Rework
Ladytron "Flicking Your Switch" Erol Alkan Remix
2012 Justice "Canon" Erol Alkan's Extended Rework
Saint Etienne "Last Days of Disco" Erol Alkan's Extended Rework
Kindness "Gee Up" Erol Alkan's Extended Rework
Connan Mockasin "Forever Dolphin Love" Erol Alkan's Extended Rework Version 2
Spandex "The Bull" Erol Alkan Rework
2013 Night Works "Long Forgotten Boy" Erol Alkan's Extended Rework
Tame Impala "Be Above It" Erol Alkan Rework
2014 Manic Street Preachers "Europa Geht Durch Mich" Erol Alkan's Mesmerise Eins/Zwei Rework
The Emperor Machine "RMI Is All I Want" Erol Alkan's Extended Rework
Klaxons "Love Frequency" Erol Alkan's Mild Pitch Remix
Margot "Waldorf" Erol Alkan Rework
2015 Emil Nikolaisen, Hans-Peter Lindstrøm, and Todd Rundgren "Runddans" Erol Alkan Rework
New Order "Singularity" Erol Alkan Rework
2016 Beyond The Wizards Sleeve "White Crow" Erol Alkan Rework
2017 Todd Terje & Det Glyne Triangel "Maskindanse" Erol Alkan Rework
Depeche Mode "Cover Me" Erol Alkan White Light Rework
Depeche Mode "Cover Me" Erol Alkan Black Out Rework
2018 Tuff City Kids ft Joe Goddard "Reach Out" Erol Alkan Rework

Remixes as Beyond the Wizards Sleeve

Year Artist Title
2006 Peter Bjorn and John "Young Folks"
Dust Galaxy "Come Hear the Trumpets"
Midlake "Roscoe"
2007 Findlay Brown "Losing the Will to Survive"
Tracey Thorn "Raise the Roof"
Badly Drawn Boy "Promises"
The Chemical Brothers "Battle Scars"
2008 The Real Ones "Outlaw"
Late of the Pier "The Bears Are Coming"
Goldfrapp "Happiness"
Simian Mobile Disco "Love"
2009 Franz Ferdinand "Ulysses"
2010 De De Mouse "Station to Stars"
2014 Temples "Sun Structures"
Daniel Avery "New Energy"
2015 Noel Gallagher "Ballad Of The Mighty I"
Noel Gallagher "Riverman"
2016 Shock Machine "The Shock Machine"
M Craft "Chemical Trails"
Doom Squad "Pyramids"

Producer / mixer

Year Artist Title
2006 The Long Blondes "Weekend Without Makeup" (B-sides)
Mystery Jets "Diamonds in the Dark" EP
The Long Blondes "Once and Never Again" (B-sides)
Mystery Jets "Half in Love with the Radio" b/w "Umbrellahead"
2007 The Long Blondes "Giddy Stratospheres" (B-sides)
Klaxons "Electrickery"
Mystery Jets "Zootime" (American LP)
Franz Ferdinand "All My Friends" (LCD Soundsystem cover)
Klaxons "The Night"
Late of the Pier "Bathroom Gurgle"
2008 Late of the Pier "The Bears Are Coming"
Mystery Jets "Twenty One"
The Long Blondes "Century"
The Long Blondes "Couples"
Late of the Pier "Space and the Woods" b/w "Focker"
Mystery Jets "Two Doors Down"
Late of the Pier "Heartbeat"
Late of the Pier "Fantasy Black Channel"
Whitey "Do the Nothing"
2009 Late of the Pier "Blueberry"
2010 Late of the Pier "Best in the Class"
Late of the Pier "Best in the Class" (Remixes EP)
2011 Kindness "Cyan"
2012 Daniel Avery "Need Electric" EP
Daniel Avery "Water Jump" EP
2013 Daniel Avery "Drone Logic"
2014 Ghost Culture "Ghost Culture"
2016 Beyond The Wizards Sleeve "The Soft Bounce"
2017 Ride "Weather Diaries"
2017 The Killers "The Man"
2018 Teeth Of The Sea "I'd Rather, Jack"
2018 Daniel Avery "Song For Alpha"
2018 Gabe Gurnsey "Physical"
2019 Ride "This Is Not a Safe Place"

References

  1. Murray, Robin (6 September 2012). "Erol Alkan Tackles 'Forever Dolphin Love'". Clash. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  2. Cooper, Leonie (6 January 2007). "Trash regular Leonie Cooper looks back on the decade's hippest rave up". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  3. "T in the Park: Erol Alkan". BBC. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
  4. Dean Del Rey – "Let There Be Talk" podcast #495: John Taylor / Duran Duran,The Power Station, Neurotic Outsiders
  5. "Erol Alkan's Beyond The Wizard's Sleeve project returns with a new single". Fact. 4 May 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  6. "Erol Alkan". Erolalkan.co.uk. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 31 August 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Paul van Dyk
Mixmag Number 1 DJ
2006
Succeeded by
Armin van Buuren
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