A statement mix from one of Greece’s most exciting new producers…
Alej Ch is a producer and DJ working across organic, deep and progressive house. His releases have appeared on labels including Warpp, Songuara and Melody of the Soul.
A self-taught musician, he came to production through piano and guitar before developing a sound built around intricate melodies and dramatic flourishes. His recent work sits comfortably between the more organic end of house and deeper, club-focused territory.
On this Balance Selections mix, the Greek producer delivers a polished 60-minute session that marks him as one to watch. Featuring tracks from Ezequiel Arias, Redspace, Maze 28 and more, it offers a sharp snapshot of contemporary progressive house through the lens of one of the scene’s emerging names.
Tracklist
1. Alej Ch – ID
2. Mishell & Yuvee – Leap of Faith
3. Molac – Vanta Black
4. MOB (LB) – Tundra
5. Alej Ch – ID
6. Alej Ch – ID
7. Ezequiel Arias – Eterno
8. Will DeKeizer & Maze 28 – Cornerstone
9. Ezequiel Arias – Sin Control
10. Redspace, Niqla – Calling All the Freaks
11. MXV & Guys – Haunter (Alej Ch remix) {Mango Alley]
Name: Alexandros Antonopoulos
Location: Athens, Greece
Alias/Producer name: Alej Ch
Labels affiliated with: Mango Alley, Holly Stone Records, Warpp, Songuara, Melody Of The Soul, Rubicunda, Amulanga, Univac, among others.
When I was a child, my father used to play the piano at home from time to time, and he introduced us to many different kinds of music, mostly jazz. Music was always around us.
I also had a small band with my brother and a few friends, where we played relaxed rock music. Looking back, those were my first real musical experiences, and they definitely shaped the way I listen to and create music today.
I still remember the exact moment. I was in high school when a classmate handed me one of his earphones during class and played an electronic track.
It was the first time I had heard that kind of music, and something immediately clicked. From that day on, I slowly left the guitar behind and became obsessed with electronic music.
I started going to festivals, listening to new artists every day, and very quickly I knew that I wanted to create this kind of music myself. Producing electronic music became my main focus.
The first DJ I saw live was Lunarave. I was around 17 years old, and I had gone to a club specifically to see him play. At that time, he was my favourite artist in that style of music, so I was incredibly excited to finally see him perform in person.
It was a really special experience for me because I was still discovering electronic music and starting to understand how much I wanted to be part of that world myself.
I’m inspired by artists from many different genres, but when it comes to electronic music, there are a few producers I always come back to.
Marsh, Guy J, Makebo, Kasper Koman, Ben Böhmer.
I like to keep my studio simple and bright. I’ve never been the type of person who enjoys working in a dark studio all day.
I often produce with headphones, and many of my ideas actually come while working outside with just my laptop. Changing my surroundings helps me stay creative.
Lately I’ve really enjoyed collaborating with people outside the electronic production world, especially singers, pianists and other musicians. I think those collaborations bring a different perspective to my music.
As for DJing, I currently play on CDJs, but one of my future goals is to build a live performance setup and eventually perform my own music in a more live-oriented way.
I’m currently releasing my first vinyl-only EP, featuring four tracks and collaborations with four close friends. It’s a very special project for me, and I’m really excited to finally share it.
After that, I have an upcoming remix for Mango Alley, along with several original releases that I’ve been working on over the past months.
Each project has been part of a really enjoyable creative journey, and I can’t wait for people to hear what’s coming next.
At the moment, I’m based in Athens, Greece, where most of my current events take place. I don’t have a residency at the moment, and it’s not something I’m specifically chasing. I actually enjoy travelling and playing for different audiences in different places.
For me, discovering new scenes, meeting new people and experiencing different dancefloors is a big part of what makes DJing exciting.
I’ve also had the chance to perform internationally in places including Thailand, Amsterdam, Madrid and Albania.
I put the mix together in Ableton, I included a few of my unreleased IDs that I’m really excited to share with you, along with some of my favourite tracks that I’ve been playing throughout the year.
This is one of the tracks I’ve really loved playing recently. It has a beautiful atmosphere and works perfectly within the kind of progressive sound I enjoy playing.
Get Mad is one of my favourite progressive tracks that I’ve produced.
Since then, I’ve been exploring a different direction with my sound, especially in my latest productions, and I’m really excited for people to hear what I’ve been working on and where my music is heading next.
It’s really difficult for me to choose just one track because I listen to so much different music. But if I had to choose one from current artists, it would probably be Masego & FKJ – Tadow.
Both artists are musicians I really admire for their talent and creativity. I love the way they approach music so freely and naturally, and Tadow is a great example of that.
The Odyssey. I’m Greek, so I was especially excited to watch this one. It was also interesting to see such a well-known part of Greek mythology brought to life on such a big scale.
Koh Phangan. It’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve travelled to. I also had some really interesting experiences and met some amazing people there, which made the trip even more memorable.
