The earth and sky becomes one when Ellen Allien is on the decks, as she aims to connect with her audience through her own original productions, which are stories of her soul. Music connects us, and there’s a vibration you can only experience in person on that dance floor, to fully understand. No photo or Instagram story can truly do it justice, to catch the vibe of the moment. Ellen Allien is a Berlin export and one of the first female pioneer DJ’s in techno music. Having a heavy influence on the Berlin underground scene, Ellen is a forward thinking creative mind, label owner of BPitch and newly founded UFO Inc., and continuously making new music to share with the world. Ellen’s last album ‘Alientronic’ dropped earlier this past May, and is about to drop the Remixes Part 2, end of October. This week, there’s an Allien invasion in North America with stops in NYC [Basement + Vinylism], Detroit [Marble Bar], and a grand finale at Piknic Électronik in Montreal this Sunday. We had the pleasure to speak with Allien, who is a very special extraterrestrial being.
WWD: On September 22nd, you are set to return to Montreal, Canada, to play at the popular outdoor festival known as Piknic Electronik. You previously performed at Piknic in September 2016. What are you looking forward to most, about going back to this event?
I like that Montreal has a very wild crowd and I love to play in the park. To the end of the summer season, it is great. Open airs are refreshing for the soul and the dancing legs. I’m excited and looking forward to my ufo set in Montreal. Montreal always feels free and always stays in my head and heart.
WWD: This November marks the 30th anniversary of the destruction of the Berlin Wall, which united East and West Berlin, changing the city forever. You were present during this monumental time in history, can you tell us a little bit more about what was going through your head at this time?
It was unbelievable and tears ran over my face. I suffered a lot from this wall around Berlin and the military in the city. After the wall came down, I discovered the neighbouring streets and got to know the people growing up behind the wall. The clubs brought us together, and my circle of friends has changed a lot with the time. I have met through the club life many new people. Many bars and clubs were opening up, and new meeting points and I felt very liberated. The fall of the wall gave me a lot of strength, courage and clarity, that tomorrow everything can be completely different. My life became more exciting after the fall of the wall and I feel much more free than before. The wall locked me in. Berlin became more international with time and has more movement, which I like.
‘The fall of the wall gave me a lot of strength, courage and clarity, that tomorrow everything can be completely different.’
WWD: How do you believe the demolition of the Berlin Wall affected the underground music scene in Berlin?
After the fall of the wall many houses stood empty, there were events, the nightlife and artists have found spaces to be active, art and nightlife flourished. The city came into motion and many curious people moved to Berlin to participate in the new Berlin…
WWD: Tell us about your ‘Vinylism’ series? what prompted you to start this special pop-up? We see you have a ‘Vinylism’ confirmed in NYC coming up on September 19th, at the new Halcyon location at Etiquette. How do you decide on who to add to your lineup for each event?
Yes, the next one will be in New York at the new Halcyon Store in Brooklyn, and I’m looking forward too it so much. The line ups I decide with our event manager at BPitch. We choose DJ’s in which we know their DJ Sets and attitude, in the scene. The project is for music and record lovers. For people who like to go to record shops and dig for vinyls. We started it in 2016, in Reykjavic at Lucky Records. Till then, we did several around the world, Serendeepity in Milan, Spacehall in Berlin, Technique in Tokyo, Phonica in London, Clone in Amsterdam, Mind Records in Helsinki and many more.
‘My productions are experiments with gears and diaries of my soul. I share the music with others because I know that sound speaks for itself and communicates with the human ear and brain, feelings are tickled and activated.’
WWD: You released your eighth solo album ‘Alientronic’ this past May. You’re about to release the ‘Alientronic’ RMXS Part 2, this fall. How do you decide on the artists to choose, to remix your tracks?
The remixers I chose because I’m fan of their productions and I always find it very exciting how the remixes sounds. I’m very happy with the musical implementation of the remixer for ‘Alientronic.’ There will be 2 parts…that’s it. Then UFO Inc. 3 comes with an EP from me. It was mastered last Friday.
There are also remixes I did coming out this month. One for Loco Dice and two for Shlømo.
WWD: To most people, music is much more than hearing a melody or a set of lyrics, as it touches each individual on a deeper level. Music has the ability to heal the mind, body, and soul across all genres, which is what makes it universal, and so powerful. Tell us how music touches you in your day-to-day life? How do you hope to touch people through your music both during live performances, and through your productions?
Yes, music moves the senses in all directions. While DJ-ing, I try to generate the energy through my track selection and mixing, to hypnotize the space. That body, mind and soul are strongly felt. I am a very physical person, dancing frees me. I love to communicate with the crowd to share vibrations and transform it into a positive whimsical form, to fill the space with sound that gives more space to the mind. That earth and sky becomes one. My productions are experiments with gears and diaries of my soul. I share the music with others because I know that sound speaks for itself and communicates with the human ear and brain, feelings are tickled and activated. That’s why it’s important not to forget to actively feel it in the life of capitalism full of acquired fears etc…just put it aside and feel.