DJ Onlee

DJ Onlee is the DJ alias of Boris Romanov, who grows up in communist Russia and listens to a wide range of music, including Russian, French and Italian pop, as well as classical composers such as Chaikovsky, Rachmaninov, Verdi, Prokofiev and Shostakovitch. His first vinyl is a borrowed copy of The Beatles’ For Sale, and he later saves his lunch money to buy records by acts including Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and Slade.

Early work and record shop

Romanov tries several careers, working as an aeronautical engineer, a courier and in the army, and also begins training as a doctor before deciding after four years that it is not the right path. After the collapse of communism brings new opportunities, he opens a record shop in 1994. In 1995 he discovers Harthouse and Global Communication’s 76:14, which leads him to expand the stock of his shop as electronic music becomes more established in Moscow. His shop, Boris Romanov’s Only Records, is one of very few in Moscow selling electronic music at the time.

Only Records and radio work

He also launches the Only Records label, issuing mix compilations from Glasgow Underground and 20:20 Vision, along with albums by Tetris, a Moscow band he helps to release on Pork Recordings, and Karl Uhan Street Spring, who are favoured by Dougee Dimensional of The Gentle People and Michael Reinboth of Compost Records.

Romanov begins DJing in his forties and presents Pin Tweaks on Hope Radio, a station described as Moscow women’s radio. The show features electronica, downtempo and uptempo music from artists including Plaid, Future Sound Of London, Heights Of Abraham, Underworld, Bjork, Funki Porcini, Brian Eno, DJ Cam, Fila Brazillia and Hector Zazou. The programme is later taken off air after the station manager hears him play Aphex Twin’s Selected Ambient Works Vol. 2.

DJ career

He makes his club DJ debut in 1997 at Club Luch. In 1997 he also DJs extensively on Radio Substance, a subdivision of the Radio Station later known as Station 2000. In 1998 he plays on Radio ROKS, a mainstream rock station, while continuing to focus on underground electronic music.

After the closure of his shop during the Russian economic crash of 1998, he starts Thursdays at Propaganda, a weekly night that becomes closely associated with quality music and attracts international DJs including Steve Bug, Booka Shade, Guido Schneider, Roy Davis Jr, Derrick Carter, Derrick May, Joe Claussell, John Tejada, Jori Hulkkonen, Damien Lazarus, Martin Landsky, M.A.N.D.Y., Richard Dorfmeister, Mixmaster Morris and Baby Mammoth. He later holds a two-year Friday residency at Propaganda in Moscow from 2002 with Alison Marks, playing underground electronic music.

Events and international dates

In 2005 he organises a Saturday night event at Club Shanti in Moscow to present live acts including Touane, Pantha du Prince, Max Mohr, Tigerskin, Duplex 100 and Mike Shannon. He also plays at venues and events in Moscow and abroad, including The Social Bar in London, Friends & Family at Roadhouse in Manchester, Pork at The Lamp in Hull, Skansen and Unity at Rockfeler in Oslo, Fabrik in Corintia, Sequence Network Festival at Meierei Club in Vienna, Dubdelight at Paradise Garage in Lisbon, Mecca in Setubal, Moog in Barcelona, House Cafe in La Coruna, Cafe D’Anvers in Antwerp, Tropical House in Los Angeles, Soul Sessions in Eugene, Finish First at Robert Johnson in Frankfurt, Q Club in Zurich, Passage in Vienna, Muna in Germany, Stern Radio in Berlin, Velvet in Leipzig, Kadok in the Algarve, Weekend in Berlin and Madrid, and the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao.