Josh Wink - Blowjobs & Balls (interview)

While Higher States of Consciousness catapulted Josh Wink to global stardom in 1996, these days he’s presumably less cerebrally inclined, at least judging by the title of his latest single ‘Balls’.

“When describing the track to Matt (Ovum label manager) I was saying that I think that you really have to have balls to play this track,” he explains on its accompanying press release, “as it's a little different from most of the music out there right now.” 

With a distinctly old school hip-house-tribal-techno vibe and its seriously stretched out slamming breakdown, the track isn’t THAT different, though its power and immediately infectious groove have already delivered delirious DJ reactions from many of his underground tech-house peers (Garnier, Hawtin, Vath are all confirmed supporters).

Clearly constructed for the uber-large dance-floors of Berghain, Space Ibiza and Cocoon (all venues he regularly performs at), its effectiveness underlines Wink’s continuing status as one of underground club culture’s most popular and credible stars. 

Though while he’s been touring the world relentlessly for most of the last 2 decades, he’s more recently found time to finally become a father an experience he admits has been profound.

“It's something you simply can't describe. It's something that you can only understand or relate to if you are a parent. So... I'm not going to try,” he laughs.

“But, this experience has definitely enhance my life! How? Well, I don't really want to travel- I  want to stay home and be a Dad. Does that tell you what being a father means to me! But life is about balance . . . So I'm learning more!”

Chatting to Australian EDM site Inthemix.com recently, he suggested ‘so many people now get involved (in DJ culture) because they solely want their face on a magazine. The champagne, the limousines, the models, the blowjobs in the booth”, so just how many DJs are realistically living that lifestyle?  Are offer of blowjobs in the booth really THAT common in the higher echelons of club culture?

“I'm not sure, as it's not my main focus to be concerned with others and their status,” he fudges, “However, I sure hope blowjobs are still common!”

So how has he personally managed to resist temptation for all these years?

“Temptation to what? Are you still going on about blowjobs?”

Skrufff (Jonty Skrufff): Lots has changed in the last four years since you made a ‘Josh Wink’ track as opposed to remixes: how different was your methodology in making Balls? 

Josh Wink: “Yes, things have changed, as they do all the time musically and of course in regard to production tools, i.e.e operating systems and applications. Yet for me the process is the same. GET IN THE STUDIO! I didn't expect this kind of track to come about after a long hiatus from making personal music (he took a 4 year break). But, the end process is typical Wink tension filled organic electronic music. HAHA.”

Skrufff: How about the function of the track; I guess it’s no longer about sales: what is the purpose/ point of releasing a track (how much more about marketing than a release would have been in the past)?

Josh Wink: “I like to still be able to express myself creatively in a musical manner. And making music is a great way for me to do this. I never got involved in the music 'scene' for sales or such things. I did it because it's what I loved and what I knew and know. Sales, money, fame, fortune etc . . .  that all came later as a unaccepted surprise (bonus). Nowadays a producer/dj can't make the best living from sales alone (unless you're a huge pop star). So, we have to be out on the road performing to make our living. So more or less you’re releasing music so you can tour. It's a shame. But, that's the game now.”

Skrufff: Chatting to Inthemix last year you said ‘I find myself in a situation of: I have to do this stuff I love, and get less money, or do stuff that I don’t really enjoy, but I get paid the money I want’:  what’s the worst experience you’ve had when you’ve gone for the money?

Josh Wink: “I try not remember or talk about the bad stuff! HAHA. Usually when I do the big money things they are sponsored events and I like to give some of the money to charities I support. So, the experience doesn't have to 'seem' as bad when I'm doing something for charity.”

Skrufff: When was the last time you were kicked off the decks?

Josh Wink: “I’ve never been kicked off the decks. I've been in the 'game' for a while and when I was 13 working for a mobile DJ company doing weddings and such I realized that one big role of the DJ is to entertain. I feel that a lot of DJs forget their role of the night. It's not solely for education where you play solely the new unreleased tracks. It's important to understand the harmony and balance between being the educator and entertainer. So, I adapt. I don't conform. I do what I feel comfortable with and I don't challenge my integrity. But realize my role of entertainer AND educator.”

Skrufff: How do you feel about DJ requests?

Josh Wink: “If I have it I'll consider the request. If I don't, I tell them the DJ after me definitely has it and will be happy to play it.”

Skrufff: QG magazine claimed (rightly or wrongly) that Avicii said ‘that only old DJs nowadays read the crowd (“The notion of a DJ who determines what to play by reading the room "feels like something a lot of older DJs are saying to kind of desperately cling on staying relevant,” GQ reported (http://gqm.ag/13DiT0g ) how important is it to you?

Josh Wink: “It’s a unique line to be on. Seeing a live show where an artist performs all of their songs, and a DJ, where they play other peoples music. If a DJ doesn't realize that the dance floor has become deserted when he/she played a certain song then something is wrong.  But then again. I thought I knew it all too when I was 23 years old. =]”

Skrufff: In the past the dance scene was very actively attacked by authorities via such things as the RAVE act and super-tough licensing laws: why do you think they’ve let EDM get through this time round?

Josh Wink: “Because so many people are into now maybe? Or perhaps because it's a lot about corporate money nowadays. Or that maybe things are more professional and therefore less things are going wrong.” 

Skrufff: America grows ever more unequal with the rich getting richer and the poor, poorer, how much do these matters concern you? 

Josh Wink: “I can only change or be a part of change so much. My plight is with music not politics. Things are very, very tricky here in the USA. It's a talk for the bar, Jonty... Not a four sentence answer!”

Skrufff: What is it all for?

Josh Wink: “As Buddha said. "Until death there is nothing enough!"

Josh Wink- Balls is out on Ovum shortly.

http://www.joshwink.com 

http://www.experiencefestival.com/buddhism_sayings (More Buddha quotes: We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make our world . . . “As you sow so you reap . . .“There is no glory for a lazy person however good looking . . .”

http://bit.ly/12Q5oJY (Josh Wink; Balls, Youtube)

http://vimeo.com/16117596#at=0 (Josh At We Love, Ibiza, dancetrippin)

http://bit.ly/Qg8GvV (Higher State of Consciousness, Youtube)

http://bit.ly/ZQLtmg Josh; I Am Ready, Youtube)

Jonty Skrufff: https://twitter.com/djjontyskrufff