The Hamburg Superstar
Hi Alex. DMC have interviewed some DJs that started at a real young age, you kicked in when you were only 14, how did it all begin?
“Hi Dan. Well I was 14 and I have to say my older brother was a huge influence back then. I was always into his music so he got me hooked on it all. Unfortunately his apartment got broken into one time and his entire record collection was stolen – so many amazing records. Over time I tried to replace his cherished records, it made me get hooked on basically buying every piece of vinyl I could get my hands on. He wasn’t really into the DJing side of things, it was me that got the turntables in the house.”
What did your parents think on your choice of career?
“Ha. The only thing that they were worried about was the money side of things. At the time I was doing two jobs earning 2000euros a month and spending the lot on records. My brother accompanied me to the clubs and my parent saw I was being ‘a good boy’ – so it was all cool.”
Last weekend, DMC hosted our World DJ Finals at The O2, never been interested in getting into our scene?
“I tried to get into it, tunes like Rob Base ‘It Takes Two’ mixing it up, but I was into the more straight side of DJing rather than scratching and Turntablism. I wasn’t so good so I headed off in another direction, I just enjoyed reading a crowd, the more technical side of things, that ONE MOMENT during a set when you know you just have the floor, the crazy part of what we do.”
Following on from that, your album ‘Oi Oi Oi’ back in 2007 had tracks such as ‘Wu Tang’ and ‘Don’t Believe The Hype’ – who is the best Hip Hop Band of all time in your opinion?
“I was a massive fan of Run DMC and also Stetsasonic, the boys…”
What did your friends at school think of someone in their Maths class at such a young age all of a sudden playing US and French House in a nightclub at the weekend when they were at home with their parents watching TV? As I remember, Jens Moelle from Digitalism went to your school and you got him a job in record store…?
“Well to be honest, I was the only guy really at school into DJing, tuning into the cool radio stations, making mix tapes. I tried getting my friends into it gradually. I started DJing so young it wasn’t until I hit the local press when the School Director approached me and said, “well Alex, that’s why you look so tired every day and fall asleep in class.” I was DJing at a really great gay club every Sunday night and in the end I just had to change school, it was getting ridiculous. I worked in the record store between the age of 15 and 19, got some cool records along the way.”
What did it feel like as a kid, who obviously has an amazing talent, making people dance – but watching them take loads of drugs?
“Crazy, I saw people doing everything and it completely turned me off that part off clubbing. My parents saw that I was coming home fine and knew I wasn’t into going down that route.”
How would you describe your sound?
“It’s difficult to define your sound today. For the first years House. Now I play a lot of Techno, no vocals with bits of Old Skool and I play a lot of my own production.”
Why did you move to Berlin?
“I fell in love with a girl.”
A colossal world ‘Power Tour’, where where you haven’t been so far you most looking to hit?
“Las Vegas, I have heard so much about. Also, New Years Year in San Juan will be rocking.”
You have a big night on Saturday October 3rd at what most people think is the best club in the UK – The Warehouse Project in Manchester where you are playing alongside the Simian Mobile Disco crew – have you played at the club before?
“What a massive club. What really appeals to me is how open minded the clubbers are. It’s crazy.”
Best club you have ever played at worldwide…?
‘Lux’ in Lisbon, Portugal – what a sound system, by the sea, 800 capacity – perfect. I love small, fucked up clubs.”
What are the biggest tunes you are playing at the moment?
“prob most selector remis myself of my tune jeffa catches good audion techno sound good to have house real djs play”
Best thing about living in Berlin?
“Playing all the clubs, it’s cheap compared to maybe Paris or London. And my love is here.”
Why is Berlin so trendy at the moment?
“Well, all of our cool DJs have decided to move here. David Bowie kicked it all off and then Iggy Pop – living off Bowie’s money. It’s such a trendy city now, Europe rocks everywhere.”
A famous quote from you, “fuck of Nu-Rave and bring back the party Techno” – what was behind that – is it that you just wanna put fun back into music?
“Absolutely. I have never been a fan of naming music as a genre. It’s a journalist thing. And sad to see, a completely bandwagon thing. I don’t like hype, I don’t like my music getting abused, most of the time when I see my name mentioned I just tell them to fuck off.”
Your discography is immense, absolutely fantastic. Obvious question, but what is your best ever piece of vinyl you have made personally?
“Very proud of ‘Transmission’ – but I think I am like every artist, the next is the best…”
You have remixed some brilliant chart topping acts, the Kaisers, Depeche Mode, Bloc Party, Marilyn Manson – what one track did you really re-work that completely changed the tune, for the better?
“My Depeche Mode was such a great moment and The Kaisers was pretty cool!”
What is coming next from your Boys Noize label?
“The tune with Erol Alkan, a Gonzales piano remake with an actual interview in the B side – Erol’s idea. And watch out for Strip Steve…five tracks booming your way from Berlin. November dateline…”
Waves/Death Suite 12″ – Out Now (www.erolalkan.co.uk/?p=2536)
“Waves/Death Suite” by Erol and Boys Noize is now available to buy on 12″ from Phonica, Puregroove, Beatport and Juno.
Also expect a rather special piano cover of “Waves” by the one and only Chilly Gonzales
Boys Noize on tour:
25.09.09 @ Thekla, BRISTOL
26.09.09 @ Bugged Out!, LONDON
01.10.09 @ UCD, DUBLIN
02.10.09 @ Academy, DUBLIN
03.10.09 @ Warehouse Project, MANCHESTER
The Warehouse Project, Manchester.
Check this shit out.
Friday September 25th
Goldie, DJ Markie and Dynamite MC.
Saturday September 26th
Steve Angello and Sebastian Ingrosso.
Friday October 2nd
Aphex Twin and Luke Vibert.
Saturday October 3rd
Boys Noise and the Simian Mobile Disco.
Friday October 9th
Deadmau5.
Saturday October 10th
Roni Size and Beardyman.
Friday October 16th
Erol Alkan, The Idjut Boys and Zombie Nation.
Saturday October 17th
Richie Hawtin and Magda.
Sunday October 18th
Groove Armada.
Friday October 23rd
Jack Penate, Mikke Snow and Rob Da Bank.
Saturday October 24th
Modeselektor and Mary Anne Hobbs.
Friday October 30th
Tiga and Grum.
Saturday October 31st
Eric Prydz and Funk D’Void.
Friday November 6th
Andy C, Shy FX, Krafty Kuts, DJ Derek and Nicky Blackmarket – that do you so far? That’s without Fatboy Slim and Zane Lowe swinging in late November and then The Scratch Perverts, The Plumps, Sasha, Digweed, David Guetta, James Zabiela, Luciano (best DJ of the year? – I think so!), Tongy and Calvin Harris making it a very merry Christmas.
Rave the fuck on Madchester.
