Erol Alkan

Erol Alkan is a London-based DJ, remixer, label founder, club promoter and radio host. Born in 1974, he works across electronic music, including house, techno, disco and electronica, and is known for a broad approach to alternative and pop records.

Career

Alkan spends much of his career as a DJ, moving from small West End nightclubs to international club sets. His selections often focus on underground and experimental house, techno and disco. He also becomes widely known as a remixer, with work that pushes artists such as Tame Impala, Connan Mockasin and Metronomy towards dancefloor-oriented versions of their songs.

Alongside DJing and remix work, he releases solo material under his own name. His EP Illumination appears in late 2013 and includes “Bang”, “Check Out Your Mind” and the opening track “A Hold On Love”. He also releases the Fabriclive 77 mix, created for Fabric’s main room and including his track “Sub Conscious” alongside music from labels such as LIES, Running Back and Optimo Trax.

Alkan also presents radio on BBC Radio 6Music, where he appears as part of the station’s 6Mix resident DJ rota. He begins his radio work there in 2008 and uses the show to play a wider range of new records than he might use in clubs.

Phantasy Sound

He founds Phantasy Sound in London in 2007. The label begins as a singles outlet for friends and develops into a community-focused imprint. It releases music by Daniel Avery, Connan Mockasin, Ghost Culture, Babe Terror, Tom Rowlands of the Chemical Brothers and Alkan himself. He also works on releases for the label as a co-producer and mixer, including Ghost Culture’s self-titled album and Daniel Avery’s Drone Logic.

Beyond the Wizards Sleeve

Alkan is a member of Beyond the Wizards Sleeve, a long-running collaboration with Richard Norris. The project applies a psychedelic and groove-based approach to reinterpretations and remixes for artists including Interpol, Tracey Thorn and Midlake. It also reworks Daniel Avery’s “New Energy” and re-animates Temples’ debut album Sun Structures as Sun Restructured.

Collaborations and club culture

He frequently collaborates with Daniel Avery as a DJ partner, with back-to-back sets at festivals including Field Day, Parklife and I Love Techno. He also co-produces and mixes recordings for other artists, continuing a career that links club performance, studio work and label activity.

Alkan is also associated with the London club night Trash, which he runs weekly before closing it at the height of its popularity.