The day I dyed my hair from sorority blonde to kick-ass brunette, my fabulous tattooed hairdresser Jessi told me that I must “fan” her DJ friend Erol Alkan on Facebook. I checked him out and dug it, yet it was his performance at this weekend’s Electric Zoo that solidified my appreciation for Erol Alkan.
“That’s the thing about Erol Alkan – hearing is believing. Until you’ve borne witness to one of his legendary live sets, poured headily over one of his meticulously crafted productions, or been catapulted to a sudden sonic nirvana by the dropping of one of his remixes, you might be justified for dismissing his existence as an extremely elaborate myth of the musical underground,” reads the cocky bio on Erol’s website.
Erol began playing indie clubs in London, before he opened up his own club, Trash, which allowed him to play whatever the fuck he wanted, since he owned the place. His concentration shifted from indie to dance, although both are still used in his sets. His performances flow seamlessly from genre to genre, sewn together brilliantly.
Erol’s older creations include mixing George Michael and Missy Elliot, and remixing the Chemical Brothers and Bloc Party. His fame magnified with his remix of Franz Ferdinand’s “Do You Want To,” which Franz Ferdinand enjoyed so much they began using it in their live performances.
For your listening pleasure, below is one of my favorites. Also turn on his remix of the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s “Zero.” Warning: If you were at Electric Zoo this weekend, this song may make you once again start dancing like a raving lunatic.
Tags: Electric Zoo, Erol Alkan
