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Not only is Dutch Alexander Koning an excellent DJ, he’s also a talented producer and experienced event organizer. Besides this, he’s known for his amazing street-art and typical humor. Ergo: a multitalent. In 2014 he told me the story of his first gig. “The organizer had prepared a small practical joke.”
“My first time? Well, I was fifteen and as just as many others, it happened behind the bicycle shed at a school party. I was extremely nervous, and I think that a lot went wrong, because in the end she had all this white goo on her tiny glasses… Ow, that was a different first gig.” (laughs) “
Graansilo
“This gig is about DJing. Already in the early nineties, I played at smaller parties. My first big event was one of the first that was held in the Graansilo. I still think that this is one of the best locations that Amsterdam ever knew.”
Looking like a fool
“When I said ‘yes’, I had no idea that the venue was enormous. Because of that, I wasn’t nervous at all for this gig. That changed when I entered the building: the Graansilo was packed. I hadn’t prepared a thing, so I was afraid that I would end up looking like a fool.” (laughs)
Red button
“But all went well. Although the organizer had prepared a small practical joke during the party: he had installed a red button somewhere in the venue. Nobody, including the DJs, knew what was going to happen when it was pushed.”
Scary as shit
“I played in the middle of the night. Everybody was getting quite vague. Then the red button was detected. What happened? When someone hit that button, for 10 seconds the power to the DJ booth and all lightning went out.” (laughs) “The first time it happened it was scary as shit!”
Bag was a tiny girl
“Fortunately, after the third time, the organizer decided it was enough and disconnected the button. Overall, it was a weird night. It was extremely dark in the venue and the whole building was filled with smoke. This meant that you couldn’t see shit. Let me illustrate this. My younger brother wanted to sit down on a chair, but he thought there was bag on the seat. So, he tried to kick it off. The bag appeared to be a tiny girl. Oops.”
Yellow curb
“In the morning, when I got back at the car, the gate of the business parc was closed. We had to dig up a complete yellow curb to get out!”
“In the end, this first time was just like the one behind the bicycle shed at school. Both were quite an experience.” (laughs) What I learned from it, that you never leave your car at a business parc and always first look for the red button.” (laughs) “No really, what I’ve learned is that in the end everything will be fine. If not now, then next time.”
This interview with Alexander Koning is originally published in June 2014 on DJMag.nl.
Who is Alexander Koning?
Producer, DJ, label owner and promoter Alexander Koning can boast quite a standing in the contemporary world of electronic music. Since Alexander Koning’s initial introduction to house and techno in the late eighties, he’s come a long way.
Alexander Koning has seen his own material released with many reputable imprints in the industry such as Global Underground, Pacha, Bellboy, Circle, Subliminal etc. Now Alexander Koning has gone on to launch his own platform for releasing material in the later half of 2013, namely [Percep-tion] Records. His earlier labels where founded in 1994 and all had great succes.
Alexander Koning caught the electronic music bug after spending his youth attending underground illegal raves at abandoned warehouses and various locations across his home turf of Holland. This soon led to a desire for Alexander Koning to host his own events, teaming up with friend Michel Becks for a string of small parties in their hometown under the name “Eye On The Future”, after great success things blossomed and soon saw a venue change to accommodate its following and the welcoming of internationally renowned artists headlining the events. The likes of Adam Beyer, Joel mull, Marc Romboy, Ben Sims, Valentini kanzyani, Martin Eyerer, Einmusik and Chris Liebing to name a few all graced the decks for the the first time in Holland on Eye on the Future and eventually the prosperity of the parties led to a nomination for “Best Dutch Organization” in 1998. To this date Alexander Koning is still throwing successful parties .
Alexander Koning can also boast a reputable presence on the DJ circuit himself, having played gigs at some of the globes leading nightclubs such as Watergate, Katerholzig, Suicide Circus, Ministry Of Sound, the late Turnmills, Awakenings, Doka, Melkweg, Paradiso, Dancevalley, Sunrise, Wooferland, 5 Days Off and Loveland Festivals. His DJing took him to a lot of countries worldwide.
At this present date, after hiatus due to health issues, Alexander Koning is back in full force delivering more of his classy house and techno grooves via [Percep-tion]. Hosting label showcases at Berlin’s leading club spaces Katerholzig and Sisyphos at Egg in London and at Amsterdam’s Doka, Thuishaven, Paradigm, Toren and Stalker.
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