DJ Eren
A true innovator Eren Abdullah known as DJ Eren, is regarded as one of the pioneers of the early warehouse scene, playing clubs, parties and festivals around the world for over 30 years. Brought up in North London as a youth Eren discovered the burgeoning jazz funk scene with longtime friend and mentor, DJ Paul Trouble Anderson. They frequented Charlie Brown’s, Crackers and The Electric Ballroom where Paul became resident, long before they were legally permitted to gain entry into London’s clubland. You could say Eren’s education in dance music started here and to this day the bump, hustle, funk and boogie is synonymous with Eren’s sound, and style – “Instantly recognisable, his style of mixing is unique” Greg Wilson – DJ/Producer
As the scene transitioned, Eren championed the eclectic British sound born out of the second Summer of Love with a residency in the late ’80s at the iconic Solaris club night in London. From 1990 onwards Eren was a regular in Napoli for the Angels of Love and at the underground Soma parties in Paris. His legendary sets alongside a then unknown Laurent Garnier are tributed by Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter of Daft Punk in the BBC documentary – Daft Punk Unchained, as one of the catalysts that inspired them to make the iconic electronic style of music they are known for. Eren played the very first rave parties in Napoli for Angels of Love with Claudio Coccoluto, Charlie Hall and Mr Monday, a residency that would last for the next ten years where he played alongside Frankie Knuckles, Tony Humphries and Francois Kevorkian amongst other top-ranking international DJ’s
Eren has produced music for Seal and Chaka Khan among others, but he is probably most well known for his legendary mix of Candi Staton’s, – You Got The Love.
“Back in 89, Eren would do the mash up live, mixing Frankie Knuckles & Jamie Principles instrumental of ‘Your Love’ with Candi Staton’s ‘You Got The Love’ it became one of the most famous bootlegs of all time and a top 5 hit in 1991. Since then it has raided the UK top 40 in four different guises, been covered by everyone from Joss Stone and Kasabian to Florence and the Machine and is undeniably one of the greatest dance music anthems of all time. Those in the know, will tell you that Eren’s bootleg mix is the only one worth playing.”
DJ, music lover and underground party promoter, Eren’s memorable after-hours nights in various West London lock-ups are the stuff of clubbing folklore. Passionate about the crowd and their experience, he never fails to take his dance floor on a journey, weaving rich musical soundscapes across genres, guaranteed to make you dance. It is perhaps his reluctance to be categorised by genre as a DJ, more than anything, that has lead to Eren being one of the most underrated DJ’s of the past 30 years.
Career highlights include after-show parties for Julian McDonald and Prada in Paris, Milan and London. Full Moon party season in Ko Pha-ngan, Thailand and international tours with Judge Jules, Ricky Morrison and Roy the Roach across the US and Australasia. He is still in demand as a DJ, Eren is resident DJ for Sancho Panza and plays three nights a week at London’s Bar of the year, Novikov in Mayfair.
