Ellen Allien — Experimental Techno DJ & Label BossAbout Ellen Allien
Ellen Fraatz, known as Ellen Allien, is a German DJ and electronic artist born and based in West Berlin. Her work spans experimental techno, techno, IDM and tech house, and is closely rooted in the early-1990s Berlin club environment. From 1992, she held resident DJ roles at Bunker, Tresor and E-Werk, three important settings in that scene.
Her residency history also includes Nitsa in Barcelona and Circoloco at DC10 in Ibiza, extending that Berlin-grounded perspective to established international club contexts. Allien founded Braincandy in 1992 and later established BPitch Control in 1999. BPitch Control became an influential platform that helped launch the careers of Modeselektor, Paul Kalkbrenner and Apparat.
She also hosted the Braincandy radio show on Kiss FM Berlin, adding another outlet for her selections and musical community. In 2019 she founded the rave event We Are Not Alone. Across residencies, radio, labels and events, Ellen Allien's DJ story is defined by a sustained connection to experimental, minimal-leaning techno and to the institutions surrounding Berlin club culture.