Erol Alkan Explained

Erol Alkan should not be confused with Erol Erdal Alkan.

Erol Alkan
Background:non_vocal_instrumentalist
Alias:Kurtis Rush
Mustapha 3000
Beyond The Wizards Sleeve
Disco 3000
Birth Place:London, England
Instrument:Turntables, synthesiser, sequencer, guitar, bass, drums, voice, CDJ-2000
Genre:Alternative rock, electronic[1]
Occupation:DJ, producer, musician, artist
Years Active:1993–present
Label:Phantasy

Erol Alkan[2] is an English DJ and producer of Turkish Cypriot descent.[3] He grew up in Archway in North London.[4]

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[5] in Leicester Square.

In 1995, he was a resident DJ of club night 'Going Underground'[6]

In 1997, Erol re-launched the club under a new name: Trash.[7] [6] 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.[8]

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.[9] Erol also used the alias Mustapha 3000,[10] [11] and is half of the psychedelic dance-rock act Beyond the Wizard's Sleeve, along with Richard Norris.[12] In 2016, Beyond The Wizard's Sleeve released the album The Soft Bounce, featuring collaborations with artists such as Hannah Peel, Jane Weaver, Euros Childs and 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.[13]

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.[14]

In 2007 Alkan founded his own label, named Phantasy.[15]

Alkan also worked as additional producer on The Killers' hit single "The Man", providing additional instrumentation.[16]

Discography

Original releases

YearTitle
2009"Waves / Death Suite" (with Boys Noize)
"Waves" (Chilly Gonzales Piano Rework)
2010"Lemonade / Avalanche" (with Boys Noize)[17]
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

YearTitle
2001Trash Companion #1
2003 One Louder (Muzik Magazine Covermount)
2004A Bugged Out Mix
2006Disco 2006 (Mixmag Magazine Covermount)[18]
2008Ark 1 (As Beyond The Wizard's Sleeve)
2009Re-Animations Volume 1 (As Beyond The Wizard's Sleeve)
2012Another "Bugged Out" Mix & "Bugged In" Selection
2014FabricLive.77

Remixes as Erol Alkan

YearArtistTrackTitle
2004Mylo"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
2005The 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
2006Daft Punk"The Brainwasher"Erol Alkan's Horrorhouse Dub[19]
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
2007Klaxons"Golden Skans" [20] 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"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
2009Yeah Yeah Yeahs"Zero"Erol Alkan Rework
2010Chilly 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
2011Tame 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
2012Justice"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
2013Night Works"Long Forgotten Boy"Erol Alkan's Extended Rework
Tame Impala"Be Above It"Erol Alkan Rework
2014Manic 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
2015Emil Nikolaisen, Hans-Peter Lindstrøm, and Todd Rundgren"Runddans"Erol Alkan Rework
New Order"Singularity"Erol Alkan Rework
2016Beyond The Wizards Sleeve"White Crow"Erol Alkan Rework[21]
2017Todd Terje & Det Glyne Triangel"Maskindanse"Erol Alkan Rework[22]
Depeche Mode"Cover Me"Erol Alkan White Light Rework
Depeche Mode"Cover Me"Erol Alkan Black Out Rework
2018Tuff City Kids ft Joe Goddard"Reach Out"Erol Alkan Rework

Remixes as Beyond the Wizards Sleeve

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

Producer / mixer

YearArtistTitle
2006The 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"
2007The 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"
2008Late 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"
2009Late of the Pier"Blueberry"
2010Late of the Pier"Best in the Class"
Late of the Pier"Best in the Class" (Remixes EP)
2011Kindness"Cyan"
2012Daniel Avery"Need Electric" EP
Daniel Avery"Water Jump" EP
2013Daniel Avery"Drone Logic"
2014Ghost Culture"Ghost Culture"
2016Beyond The Wizards Sleeve"The Soft Bounce"
2017Ride"Weather Diaries"
2017The Killers"The Man"
2018Teeth Of The Sea"I'd Rather, Jack"
2018Daniel Avery"Song For Alpha"
2018Gabe Gurnsey"Physical"
2019Ride"This Is Not a Safe Place"
2021Duran Duran"Future Past"

Personal life

Alkan is married, lives in London,[23] and has been teetotal since 2012.[24]

External links

Audio links

Notes and References

  1. Erol Alkan Tackles 'Forever Dolphin Love' . Robin . Murray . . 6 September 2012 . 28 September 2014.
  2. Web site: Trash regular Leonie Cooper looks back on the decade's hippest rave up. Leonie. Cooper. 6 January 2007. 2 January 2018. Theguardian.com.
  3. Web site: BBC. T in the Park: Erol Alkan. 27 August 2010.
  4. Web site: Diary at the Centre of the Earth » erol alkan. 2021-03-12.
  5. Web site: 2021-02-19. Erol Alkan Delivers Phantasy's 100th Release, "Automatic". 2021-03-12. Selector. en-US.
  6. Web site: Erol Alkan Contact Info Booking Agent, Manager, Publicist. 2021-03-12. Booking Agent Info. en-US.
  7. News: Hutchinson. Kate. 17 Jan 2017. "Remembering Trash: the London club night that defined the rock'n'rave era.". The Guardian. 12 Mar 2021.
  8. Web site: Erol Alkan: "Running a club or a label was never a dream of mine". 2021-03-12. Mixmag.
  9. Web site: 2011-06-14. Kylie mashes up Can't Get You Out of My Head with Blue Monday at the Brits. 2021-03-12. the Guardian. en.
  10. Web site: Erol Alkan - Samples, Covers and Remixes. 2021-03-12. WhoSampled. en.
  11. Web site: Mustapha 3000. 2021-03-12. Discogs. en.
  12. Web site: 2016-03-01. Beyond The Wizards Sleeve Unveil 'Diagram Girl'. 2021-03-12. Data Transmission. en-GB.
  13. Web site: 2016-11-16. Rough Trade announce their top 100 best albums of 2016. 2021-03-12. NME. en-GB.
  14. Web site: Erol Alkan – the man who changed the face of indie clubbing – still refuses to welcome celebrity over his compulsion to create. 2021-03-12. Loud And Quiet. en-US.
  15. News: Christian . 13 Aug 2019 . "Erol Alkan talks three decades of London club culture" . https://web.archive.org/web/20190824061129/https://www.fabriclondon.com/blog/view/in-depth-erol-alkan-talks-three-decades-of-london-club-culture . August 24, 2019 . 12 Mar 2021 . Fabric London.
  16. Web site: The Killers: The Man. 12 Mar 2021. Genius.com.
  17. Web site: 2016-01-26. Boys Noize Gives Away 'Lemonade' Edit. 2021-03-12. Data Transmission. en-GB.
  18. Web site: Mixcloud. 2021-03-12. Mixcloud.
  19. Web site: Keeping Kids Dancing: 10 of the best Erol Alkan reworks. 2021-03-12. Mixmag.
  20. Web site: Klaxons : Music . 28 June 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120831013319/http://www.klaxons.net/music.php . 31 August 2012 . dead.
  21. Web site: 2016-10-08. Beyond The Wizards Sleeve release 'Black Crow'. 2021-03-12. Data Transmission. en-GB.
  22. Web site: 2017-06-05. Todd Terje shares new single 'Maskindans', teasing second album. 2021-03-12. Data Transmission. en-GB.
  23. Web site: 2009-03-08 . How We Met: Richard Norris & Erol Alkan . Corner. Lena . 2023-06-01 . The Independent . en.
  24. erolalkan . 1544402638493687810 . 10 years no booze… not a single drop… love and strength to those who are on the same path.. stay on in… I can assure you it leads to somewhere better. E x.