If you haven’t heard of Allan, chances are you’ve still come across his name on a tiny sticker somewhere in a club bathroom or backstage. Originally from Split, Allan Miličević has been active on the scene for the past fifteen years, and within his collection of 2,300 vinyl records there’s at least one track for every possible occasion.
Starting out in post-punk and black metal, his musical identity gradually evolved through a rich selection of electro, techno, breakbeat and trance, all while retaining a distinctive psychedelic edge regardless of genre. Old school sound remains his guiding principle, though he keeps a close eye on new releases as well.
Previously affiliated with the obscure KaosLab collective, Allan later became part of TAMAN alongside El Commando and Kommoda. He is currently active through his own project, All/One, later joined by DJ Carnero. The series grew out of his desire to create a space where he could collaborate with others who share a similar outlook. The aim is to foster a more open approach to club culture while showcasing exciting artists from different parts of the world.
Through the club nights and open-air parties he organised with the crew, Allan has hosted a number of established names including JEANS, Mama Snake, Rene Wise, Schacke, Lag, DJ Brada,Loek Frey, HyperLilli, Tammo Hesselnik andAlienata.
Alongside appearances in clubs and forest parties across Croatia, Allan has also performed at PIP Den Haag, Germany’s Cutie and Salon Des Amateurs, as well as Drugstore and Tunel in neighbouring Serbia. The audiences have also had the chance to catch him at Mo:Dem Festival, Terminal V Croatia, Blast Fest and other events along the coast.
Always unapologetically himself, Allan is up for “playing music, vibing for hours, connecting through sound and talking endlessly about it”. Wherever there’s DJ equipment, he’s bound to end up behind it.
Fun fact: you won’t find him on social media. He promotes himself and builds the network in his own way, while also working as a seafarer. During a break from life at sea, Allan recorded an excellent set for us and took time to answer a few questions. Read on!
Tell us more about the mix you recorded.
This set is my tribute to the institution known as Mrtva Egzotika. It is inspired by the time we spent together, the impressions left by certain genres, and the shared sensibility that connects us.
You split your time between being at sea and on land. What does your routine look like when it comes to preparing for gigs, booking shows, and everything else that comes with it?
The most important thing for me is preparing enough new music for a full set, but not the set itself. When it comes to vinyl-only gigs, I’ll sometimes choose the first few records on the spot, depending on the flow of the party and what’s happening on the floor. Other than that, I’ve never been too into heavy preparation before a gig. I usually book shows over the phone or via WhatsApp. 🙂 As for guest appearances, communication with agents or artists is rarely done by email and usually ends up happening over a call or through messages anyway.
Do you have any maritime anecdotes you could share?
There was a fun situation in Duqm, Oman. After finishing the work and repairs on the ship, the company rented a hotel and threw an open-bar party to thank us for a job well done. Of course, there was DJ equipment there as well, and it ended up being an all-nighter from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. 🙂 The locals were absolutely thrilled with early-2000s Spanish and Slovak techno.
Unlike most DJs today, you’re not active on social media. Why is that? What do you see as the pros and cons?
In Croatia it might not be as developed, but this is still very much an industry. Of course, beyond expressing your passion and showcasing your taste and skills behind the decks, a DJ also needs a certain level of promotion if they want to go beyond personal satisfaction. I probably have more enthusiasm than ambition, so I feel less need to push that side of things too much.
It’s no secret that you enjoy putting on parties. If you had unlimited budget and resources, what would you do with them?
A free festival with three floors, running for a week, with a 9,000-person capacity and a first-come, first-served entry system. The concept would bring together major names from different scenes in B2B sets with underdogs and lesser-known DJs who are clearly at a high level but not yet widely recognised. For example, Partiboi 69 B2B SZCH.
You’ve organised a free birthday party for several summers in a row, and last year you even put together a fairly strong international lineup. A free party these days sounds almost romantic, even utopian. In practice, what does putting together the financial side of something like that actually look like? What are the biggest challenges?
In practice, the only real costs are usually flights for a few artists, and sometimes not even that. Everyone is hosted at my place or at friends’ homes who are willing to help out in situations like this. I have my own soundsystem and DJ equipment, while everything else needed for a proper rave is provided by close friends and people from the scene.
This kind of ethos is recognised and shared by like-minded people. Although it starts with my initiative, it ultimately becomes a collective effort. And even though it’s my birthday, it’s still an All/One event. This year we’re hosting two ladies – Matriark and Hyperlili – and Mr JEANS, alongside support from the local scene.
You come from the Split scene, but you’ve been a constant presence on the Zagreb scene since the beginning of your music career. In your opinion, what makes the biggest difference between the two?
In Split, we’re quite self-sufficient, but the city is simply too small for so many good DJs and selectors. Zagreb benefits from having people from other cities come in from time to time and show what they can do. That, in turn, pushes the local hosts to put in more effort, and in the end the contribution to the scene becomes a shared one. They’d all play at Kocka, just as we’d all play at Das Haus. It’s a shame Das Haus no longer exists, and it’s also unfortunate that Kocka is now facing the possibility of shutting down.
We’ve heard your usual vinyl delivery is the size of a small piece of furniture. 😀 Roughly how many records do you own, how often do you buy them, how do you find hidden gems, and does every record eventually get played?
I buy records on a monthly basis, if not weekly. Sometimes more, sometimes less, but on average it’s about one record a day. Discogs is generally an endless source of inspiration when it comes to digging for music, especially vinyl. I sometimes come across hidden gems purely by chance, and other times through very focused, extensive sessions with 90+ browser tabs open. Every record eventually gets its turn, at least in home mixes. When playing gigs, I try not to repeat tracks too much, and that includes records as well.
Name five artists that best reflect the stylistic range of your record collection.
Extrawelt, Hux Flux, Silicon Scally, Luke Slater, Kowton.
Do you have any hidden talent or hobby outside of music?
Over the past few years, I often find myself in the kitchen cooking something just for the enjoyment of it, and I like to think I’m actually quite good at it. My hobbies are mostly functional training, running, going to the gym, and doing yoga a few times a week.
If you could play us something right now, what would you put on?
Photo: Ana Bradvica, private album