Erol Alkan (born 30 May 1974) is an English DJ and producer of Turkish Cypriot descent. He grew up in Archway in North London.
Career
DJ and club promoter
In 1993, 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'.
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. 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.
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 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.
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.
In 2007 Alkan founded his own label, named Phantasy.
Alkan also worked as additional producer on The Killers' hit single "The Man", providing additional instrumentation.
Discography
Original releases
YearTitle2009"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" EP2015"Sub Conscious"2018"Spectrum / Silver Echoes"
Mix and compilation albums YearTitle2001Trash Companion #12003 One Louder (Muzik Magazine Covermount)2004A Bugged Out Mix2006Disco 2006 (Mixmag Magazine Covermount)2008Ark 1 (As Beyond The Wizard's Sleeve)2009Re-Animations Volume 1 (As Beyond The Wizard's Sleeve)2012Another "Bugged Out" Mix & "Bugged In" Selection2014FabricLive.77
Remixes as Erol Alkan YearArtistTrackTitle2004Mylo"Drop the Pressure"Erol Alkan's Extended Re-EditAlter Ego"Rocker"Erol Alkan's Death Disco Re-VisedDeath from Above 1979"Romantic Rights"Erol Alkan's Love From Below Re-Edit2005The Chemical Brothers"Believe"Erol Alkan's Feel Me ReworkBloc Party"She's Hearing Voices"Erol Alkan's Calling Your Name Dub & Vocal Re-WorksMystery Jets"Zoo Time"Erol Alkan Re-WorkFranz Ferdinand"Do You Want To"Erol Alkan's Glam Racket2006Daft Punk"The Brainwasher"Erol Alkan's Horrorhouse DubJustice"Waters of Nazareth"Erol Alkan's Durrr Durrr Durrrrrr Re-EditHot Chip"Boy From School"Erol Alkan's Extended ReworkScissor Sisters"I Don't Feel Like Dancin"Erol Alkan's Carnival Of Light Rework2007Klaxons"Golden Skans" Erol Alkan's Ekstra Spektral ReworkDigitalism"Jupiter Room"Erol Alkan's Simple, Yet Effective Re-EditInterpol"Mammoth"Erol Alkan ReworkLa Priest"Engine"Erol Alkan's Transonic Re-Edit2008Fan Death "Veronica's Veil"Erol Alkan's Extended ReworkSebastian"Momy"Erol Alkan's Murrr/O/Durrr Re-EditZZT"The Worm"Erol Alkan's Extended Rework2009Yeah Yeah Yeahs"Zero"Erol Alkan Rework2010Chilly Gonzales"Never Stop"Erol Alkan's Piano PellaChilly Gonzales"Never Stop"Erol Alkan ReworkMGMT"Congratulations"Erol Alkan ReworkEurythmics"Sweet Dreams"Erol Alkan Re-Edit #12011Tame Impala"Why Won't You Make Up Your Mind?"Erol Alkan ReworkErol Alkan & Boys Noize"Death Suite"Erol Alkan EditConnan Mockasin"Forever Dolphin Love"Erol Alkan ReworkMetronomy"The Bay"Erol Alkan's Extended ReworkLadytron"Flicking Your Switch"Erol Alkan Remix2012Justice"Canon"Erol Alkan's Extended ReworkSaint Etienne"Last Days of Disco"Erol Alkan's Extended Rework Kindness"Gee Up"Erol Alkan's Extended ReworkConnan Mockasin"Forever Dolphin Love"Erol Alkan's Extended Rework Version 2Spandex"The Bull"Erol Alkan Rework2013Night Works"Long Forgotten Boy"Erol Alkan's Extended ReworkTame Impala"Be Above It"Erol Alkan Rework2014Manic Street Preachers"Europa Geht Durch Mich"Erol Alkan's Mesmerise Eins/Zwei ReworkThe Emperor Machine"RMI Is All I Want"Erol Alkan's Extended ReworkKlaxons"Love Frequency"Erol Alkan's Mild Pitch RemixMargot"Waldorf"Erol Alkan Rework2015Emil Nikolaisen, Hans-Peter Lindstrøm, and Todd Rundgren"Runddans"Erol Alkan ReworkNew Order"Singularity"Erol Alkan Rework2016Beyond The Wizards Sleeve"White Crow"Erol Alkan Rework2017Todd Terje & Det Glyne Triangel"Maskindanse"Erol Alkan ReworkDepeche Mode"Cover Me"Erol Alkan White Light ReworkDepeche Mode"Cover Me"Erol Alkan Black Out Rework2018Tuff City Kids ft Joe Goddard"Reach Out"Erol Alkan Rework
Remixes as Beyond the Wizards Sleeve YearArtistTitle2006Peter 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"Late of the Pier "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 YearArtistTitle2006The Long Blondes"Weekend Without Makeup" (B-sides)Mystery Jets"Diamonds in the Dark" EPThe 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)2011 Kindness"Cyan"2012Daniel Avery"Need Electric" EPDaniel Avery"Water Jump" EP2013Daniel 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 lives in London, and has been teetotal since 2012.
References
External links
Phantasy Sounds official website Erol Alkan on Spotify Erol Alkan on Resident Advisor
Audio links
Erol Alkan on Souncloud