Erol Alkan interview by Bugged Out!
Johnno chatted to Erol about curating Bugged Out! for the night
Bugged Out! invited Erol Alkan, a long time Bugged Out! resident, to curate their lineup for their party in July '06. Erol Alkan regularly plays notorius DJ sets in the lounge at Bugged Out! - frequently causing a riot with what seems like all of the club trying to get in there. But for this night, well as choosing the guests, Erol Alkan also made a rare main-room appearance. Johnno from Bugged Out! got together with Erol before the night to talk about his choices.
Bugged Out!: You have only played the main room for Bugged Out twice before. How does it differ to playing in the lounge where you usually reside?
Erol Alkan: The fact I'm a resident at Bugged Out means that I've got a slightly different duty to being a hired guest. I've always made sure that I haven't repeated myself in the lounge sets, hence recording the sets and immediately putting them up as podcasts. I suppose playing a main room set needs a different approach - I have to abandon the fact I'm a resident and concentrate on blowing peoples minds.
Anything special up your sleeve for your set on July 15th?
Ummm, I've just remixed the Scissor Sisters next single, which I reckon is my best mix yet, so I'm keen on hearing it on the End's system; it's sounded great in other places but knowing every detail of the set up of the venue so well makes it much more exciting. I may pull out a couple of classics from the last 5 years. I may do hand stands on the decks. Not sure, to be honest, I never really make plans...
You've been busy remixing this year: Hot Chip, Justice, Daft Punk...have you done anything else recently we may hear on the night?
See above - Scissor Sisters!
Will Mustapha 3000 be making an appearance on July 15th?
He is always with me, in some capacity.
Tell us about your choices playing alongside you in the main room on Saturday?
Boys Noize is one of the most exciting producers of the year - his records have been thrilling people around the world. Switch is without a doubt the man of 2006 so far. His productions have been a staple in my sets for years now. A fine example of one man and his laptop revitalising dance music and Arveene warmed up for me in Dublin a couple of times, and did exactly what a great warm up dj should do; kept me looking over to find out what certain records were and built the room perfectly. One for the future.
What's has been your favourite moment at Bugged Out, London over the last year?
I would say the launch night for Tiga's album at The End in February. I got to play the warm up slot in the main room, which was greatly odd as I haven't played a warm up slot for about five years and watching the room build as it did and then explode at various intervals was something special. Also having the MC from Altern 8 spit some lines over my Franz mix was quite something.
And your single most enduring memory from your five years as London resident?
It would have to be one of the nights at Heaven; the Gigolo party in December 2001. It's the night I pinpoint when everything was beginning to get really exciting - and the actual gig was great. I've never seen a room as packed and as animated as i did that night.
Published: 15/07/2006
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