Ian Oliver

Ian Oliver, real name Jan Winkler, is a German artist and DJ working in electronic music, primarily focused on House, club, disco, and electro sounds.

His passion for electronic music was born in 1994, discovered through a friend. After starting by recording radio shows, he quickly felt the need to become more actively involved in the scene. Two years later, he acquired his first turntables and taught himself to mix using second-hand records, rapidly developing a certain flair for vinyl, although his first mix tapes only reached a limited audience.

His career took a decisive turn when he befriended the renowned techno DJ Tom Wax. Together, they began frequenting clubs, allowing Ian Oliver to familiarize himself with the environment and workings of the scene. He started DJing for small private parties before quickly progressing to larger events, such as graduation parties, where his fresh and innovative House sounds captivated the audience.

In 2003, Ian Oliver, originally from Darmstadt, fully immersed himself in the nightlife of his hometown, spending his evenings in its lounges and clubs, which contributed to the evolution of his style. Tom Wax, recognizing his talent, invited him in late 2004 to become the resident DJ at the brand new Orange Club. Alongside DJ Ufuk, Boris Alexander, and the Superstar DJ Team, they were responsible for the Saturday night mixes. These “Let there be House” parties quickly became legendary in the Rhine-Main region.

Simultaneously, Ian Oliver became a resident for the Darmstadt.eins party series and began working with Tom Wax on his first productions. The summer of 2006 marked his first record release with Ian's Empire, a remake of Sonic Empire, published on the Millionaire Recordings label.

In early 2007, he left Darmstadt to settle in Berlin, a city that proved to be a great source of inspiration for the young talent. This influence was heard as early as October of the same year with his new production Bucovina, again created with his friend Tom Wax. This track was the result of a collaboration with the Balkan Beats DJ Shantel and indicated an exciting new direction for his future releases.