Rhythmism.comQ&A with Ellen Allien @ BlkMarket Membership - Sunday, September 5th
by rhythmism
Friday, Sep 3rd 2010, 05:54 PM
Ellen Allien is one of the most widely respected names in techno. Be it for her decade-plus heading BPitch Control, one of the most successful electronic labels in Berlin, her incredibly prolific production, remixing, and DJ work, her fashion line, or any of the other innumerable projects on which she has had a positive effect, her work is widely enjoyed by both laymen and connoisseurs for its ingenuity and inspiration. Ellen's sound helped define the minimal trend that took hold of techno during a large part of the past decade, sometimes assuming a more emotional feel, sometimes leaning towards electro-pop, but always of a high quality and roundly respected by many.
This year has so far seen Ellen touring the world, with dates in over a dozen countries, releasing her fifth artist album Dust plus two DJ mixes, 'The Best of BPitch Control' and Watergate Club Vol. 5, in addition to showing her fashion line in Europe and Asia.
Recently, she took some time to talk with us in an email interview, which we are happy to share with you now.
This weekend in New York, Ellen, along with label mates Sascha Funke, Kiki, Alexi Delano (also of Drumcode & ReSolute), Nicolas Jaar live (also of Wolf + Lamb), plus Taimur & Fahad (BLK Market), and Steven Letigre (Esthetik), will be playing at a special BPitch Control Showcase, presented by ReSolute, Blk Market Membership, and Esthetik. For more info on that surefire party, click here.
How did you first become involved with music professionally?
I did a radio show at Kiss FM berlin + I worked in a record shop for a few years.
Why did you originally become attracted to techno?
Dancing in clubs to hip hop was stressy for a girl. The boys react strangely… not very smart… in techno clubs I met amazing people, later I liked the music, I learned to dance to it…
I loved the people… the social aspect… modern free form lifestyle… gay meets straight.
Do those things still hold true as a label owner and artist today?
Since years I am a music addict… I love dancing… djing… working with the BPC (BPitch) team and artists… it's great tying to find new solutions every day… clubbing is fun… I really love what I am doing 100%.
When did the idea to start BPitch Control come about?
1997. I started doing big events, named BPitch Control / 1999. I started the label channel because there weren't any labels I felt like working with… Berlin wasn't a label city at this time… only a few labels were around. I have to say I did the right thing :-) To work with so many talented artists is great - trying to find the mega artwork, the bomb track, the best team is what I am searching for… it doesn't always work but I am trying.
What do you look for in an artist before signing then to the label?
When the music connects with me.
Since the inception of the label has the outlook or musical direction of the label changed?
The musical direction has always been electronic.
What are the 3 quintessential BPitch tracks?
3? There are so many…
Kiki "Good Voodoo"
Moderat "Rusty Nails"
Sacha Funke + Nina Kravitz "Moses"
Telefon Tel Aviv "You Are The Worst Thing In The World"
Ellen Allien + Apparat "Way Out"
Which producers do you see as pushing the boundaries of techno right now?
Shed / Mosses / wonderchild Seth Troxler
Which DJs are playing the most interesting techno-house sets to your ears?
Sascha Funke / James Holden / Seth Troxler / Magda / Miss Kittin / Jamie Jones
You’ve been quite prolific with your fifth album Dust released this past spring. What was your creative state of mind when producing it?
Writing lyrics… playing with the keys… i wanna have fun in the studio
You just launched “Effects” in Japan: the first showroom presented and hosted by yourself. How did this come about?
I felt like presenting the beauty of our house… music meets fashion and art… it was a bomb… we will do it in the future in other cities… next city Berlin…
How is the Ellen Allien fashion line doing? Who do you imagine you are designing for?
We just did the photos for the next collection… the ideas are coming from moments after clubbing, touring, traveling…
What are your favorite pastimes and destinations in NYC when you’re not DJing?
I love the museums in NYC, and of course the shopping. I also try to go to yoga classes.
What’s exciting for BPitch this fall?
The We Love album, a new band from Italy. It's being released in 2 weeks (13.09.2010, BPC225). Johnny D and myself did remixes which will be released on the first single coming in October.
www.ellenallien.de
twitter.com/ellenalliendj
www.facebook.com/EllenAllien
www.myspace.com/ellenallien
This year has so far seen Ellen touring the world, with dates in over a dozen countries, releasing her fifth artist album Dust plus two DJ mixes, 'The Best of BPitch Control' and Watergate Club Vol. 5, in addition to showing her fashion line in Europe and Asia.
Recently, she took some time to talk with us in an email interview, which we are happy to share with you now.
This weekend in New York, Ellen, along with label mates Sascha Funke, Kiki, Alexi Delano (also of Drumcode & ReSolute), Nicolas Jaar live (also of Wolf + Lamb), plus Taimur & Fahad (BLK Market), and Steven Letigre (Esthetik), will be playing at a special BPitch Control Showcase, presented by ReSolute, Blk Market Membership, and Esthetik. For more info on that surefire party, click here.
How did you first become involved with music professionally?
I did a radio show at Kiss FM berlin + I worked in a record shop for a few years.
Why did you originally become attracted to techno?
Dancing in clubs to hip hop was stressy for a girl. The boys react strangely… not very smart… in techno clubs I met amazing people, later I liked the music, I learned to dance to it…
I loved the people… the social aspect… modern free form lifestyle… gay meets straight.
Do those things still hold true as a label owner and artist today?
Since years I am a music addict… I love dancing… djing… working with the BPC (BPitch) team and artists… it's great tying to find new solutions every day… clubbing is fun… I really love what I am doing 100%.
When did the idea to start BPitch Control come about?
1997. I started doing big events, named BPitch Control / 1999. I started the label channel because there weren't any labels I felt like working with… Berlin wasn't a label city at this time… only a few labels were around. I have to say I did the right thing :-) To work with so many talented artists is great - trying to find the mega artwork, the bomb track, the best team is what I am searching for… it doesn't always work but I am trying.
What do you look for in an artist before signing then to the label?
When the music connects with me.
Since the inception of the label has the outlook or musical direction of the label changed?
The musical direction has always been electronic.
What are the 3 quintessential BPitch tracks?
3? There are so many…
Kiki "Good Voodoo"
Moderat "Rusty Nails"
Sacha Funke + Nina Kravitz "Moses"
Telefon Tel Aviv "You Are The Worst Thing In The World"
Ellen Allien + Apparat "Way Out"
Which producers do you see as pushing the boundaries of techno right now?
Shed / Mosses / wonderchild Seth Troxler
Which DJs are playing the most interesting techno-house sets to your ears?
Sascha Funke / James Holden / Seth Troxler / Magda / Miss Kittin / Jamie Jones
You’ve been quite prolific with your fifth album Dust released this past spring. What was your creative state of mind when producing it?
Writing lyrics… playing with the keys… i wanna have fun in the studio
You just launched “Effects” in Japan: the first showroom presented and hosted by yourself. How did this come about?
I felt like presenting the beauty of our house… music meets fashion and art… it was a bomb… we will do it in the future in other cities… next city Berlin…
How is the Ellen Allien fashion line doing? Who do you imagine you are designing for?
We just did the photos for the next collection… the ideas are coming from moments after clubbing, touring, traveling…
What are your favorite pastimes and destinations in NYC when you’re not DJing?
I love the museums in NYC, and of course the shopping. I also try to go to yoga classes.
What’s exciting for BPitch this fall?
The We Love album, a new band from Italy. It's being released in 2 weeks (13.09.2010, BPC225). Johnny D and myself did remixes which will be released on the first single coming in October.
www.ellenallien.de
twitter.com/ellenalliendj
www.facebook.com/EllenAllien
www.myspace.com/ellenallien
