Catching Up With... Ellen Allien

Smitten with the swelling atmosphere of London’s old-school acid house phenomenon, it wasn’t long before Ellen Allien set up her own dance empire in her hometown of Berlin. Dedicating her time working non-stop between underground radio, record stores and rising techno labels, working against every convention of those around her, her label BPitch Control was born. Home to a tight-knit crew of artists including Kiki, Moderat, Thomas Muller and WYS! resident Cormac, the colourful musical expression and pulsing energy of BPitch, which is now over a decade old, is still impossible to match. Ellen’s powerful music vision and flair behind the decks really does send our jaws to the floor every time and it gives us great pleasure to have back in the hallowed walls of our main room, with her close friends WYS! this Sunday. Chatting sunshine, dreams, peace and music all day long, we leave you in the company of BPtich Controls leading lady and her lush ‘On The Road’ mix... Tell us what’s going on in your world at the moment… I’m very good… I am on the couch searching for music… I am playing tonight with Kiki back to back, in Berlin, my hometown. It’s so good to be home. OK the weather this year is very bad, there’s lots of rainy days. I’m missing the sun but the sun I feel is in my heart. You’re no stranger to WetYourSelf! Parties; can you share any memories or favourite times you’ve had with us? Every time is special because you are all sweet, sexy guys, from the first time I played I loved it a lot… There seems to be no limit to your creativity, what do you envisage yourself doing in 20 years time? There are no limits. I am creative all day and even in my dreams. The business part takes my energy but to be creative is how my personality comes out and the best time I can have is when I create shirts or artwork or I’m thinking about my next record. What animal are you? A fox. Where did the name ellen allien come from? why did you choose it? A bar keeper gave it to me… he said my music sounds like the first Alien movie. Name one thing you’ve always wanted to do but haven’t done yet… India to Nepal to Africa to Mars. You started a label and an empire in a time in Berlin when there was not so much going on, what advice do you have to young people now, dreaming to do the same thing? Follow your dreams, ask people when you need information and work it out in peace. The club world is precious, but intense also. What do you do outside of work to stay balanced happy and inspired? The love of my friends and my sister are very important for me to feel human. Peace, I wanna give the world in a freaky moment to share with music... And I like to kiss…Good food veggies and many fruits + music all day and some yoga in-between. Catch Ellen in Room One this Sunday night. Interview: WYS! and Julian Brown