Erol Alkan
Who: Erol Alkan
What: Prepare to take a journey through the entirety of the musical spectrum; house, disco, off beat electro, techno and alternative with one of London’s most iconic, diverse, shape shifting DJ’s performing exclusively for the fine people of Norwich!
When: Saturday 9th October 10:00pm-3:00am
Where: Gonzo’s Two Room
Tickets Available - £20 (Early Bird Sold Out)
Whilst dance floors were closed, what did you do to fill the void of playing live?
I focused on my label Phantasy, signed enough new artists and records to take us through 2021 and well into 2022. Even though everybody who works with me on the label were scattered across different cities or countries, and living under such difficult conditions, we found ourselves working together in a whole new way which I believe has helped the label move forward. We tried to make the best of being in such adverse conditions, I hope it's helped us. I think it has.
How has it been to be back DJing in person? How have audiences reacted?
It's been incredible. Truly. I've missed it so much and it made me realise how much I have to share with an audience, which is fundamentally a room of strangers. Some nights can create extraordinary connections, it's a strange experience to be part of – or perhaps – be in control of. I do not take it for granted in any way. I played in Manchester last weekend and it reminded me of why I fell in love with clubbing as a teenager.
You’ve both worked with and remixed lots of artists across your career. Which artists did you most enjoy collaborating with?
I enjoy the process equally, as I only tend to work with people I want to share the experience with, the difference between them all is the outcome, and I suppose there is the enjoyment you have with a piece of music once it's made. I find this is the only way to rate one collaboration above another.
How much collaboration is there when remixing someone else’s track or are you normally given free reign?
I always have free reign. My ambition is to make something better than what the artist has written, as I feel every potential remixer has the chance to do this. It's not arrogant, it should be the most basic drive behind agreeing to remix any track. The artist has done the hard work of writing the original already, so why not try to make something which can exist in parallel or perhaps outshine it? Whenever I ask an artist to remix me, I want them to make a record better than what I have given them, why would I want something less than that?
You recently produced some tracks for Duran Duran’s latest record - FUTURE PAST, how did this come about?
I believe Mark Ronson suggested me as a potential producer to the band, they were aware of the work I'd done with Ride and some other bands and we met up, got on really well, then went into the studio to see what would happen. It was all very fluid and natural.. I ended up producing a bulk of the album.
Your label, Phantasy, is going from strength to strength - congratulations on reaching 100 releases! Which upcoming releases / artists on the label should people be looking out for?
Thanks! Please give every release your time if you can, I believe in all of them and we are lucky to work with so many great artists.
Your 100th release Automatic came from music you had stored from back in 2008 - do you have a vast library of unreleased tracks you might be revisiting in the future?
I have bundles of unreleased music, I should go through it more and see what could sound good to release now.. with 'Automatic' I felt that it wasn't right to release around 2008, and just sat on it all that time. I'm glad I released it this year as it meant somebody like Palms Trax could remix it and turn it into the monster it is.
Does the city you’re playing in play a part in curating which records to the play?
Not really, it's based more on the room, I find what what links me and various cities together is the mindset and taste of the audiences who come to see me, I don't really see regions as part of this, I feel these connections are universal.
Your “To the Rhythm” tour this year will see you playing lots of places you’ve either never played or haven’t played in a long time? Have you ever been to Norwich before? If so, what was your first impression of our Fine City? If not, what are you expecting?
No, this will be my first time. Please be gentle.
Your all night long set at Gonzo’s Two Room will be a lot more intimate than the venues you usually play- is that something you have to keep in mind when preparing for this kind of set?
I love intimate shows, they bring the best out in me. And weirdly, it's out of my comfort zone, which for a long time was about turning rooms upside down. With these types of show, you try to be as cerebral as well as it being some type of celebration.
photo: Tom Medwell
