Josh Wink

Infobox musical artist
Name = Josh Wink

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Img_capt = Josh Wink at work, 13 May 2007.
Img_size =
Landscape =
Background = khaki
Birth_name = Joshua Winkelman
Alias = Accent, The Crusher, Dinky Dog, Size 9, Wink
Born = 1970
Origin = flagicon|USA Philadelphia, United States
Genre = Electronica
Acid House
Techno
Occupation = Disc Jockey
Record producer
Label Owner
Years_active = 1992–present
Label = Ovum Recordings
Associated_acts = E-Culture, Jack Jones, Elite Music Management
URL = [http://www.joshwink.com Josh Wink.com] & [http://www.elitemm.co.uk Elite Music Management]

Josh Wink (born Joshua Winkelman in 1970) is an electronic music DJ, label owner, producer, remixer, and artist. He is a native of Philadelphia, United States. A pioneering DJ in the American rave scene during the early 1990s, Wink was the most prominent exponent of the tribal forms of techno and house in the U.S. In 1995, he released several hits, including "Don't Laugh," "I'm Ready" (which hit number one on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart) and "Higher State of Consciousness," which topped the dance charts in Europe. He has had many recent club hits such as "How's Your Evening So Far?" (with Lil Louis) and "Superfreak (Freak)" and has also gained a lot of attention for his remixes of FC Kahuna, Paul Oakenfold, Moby, Towa Tei, Ladytron and Depeche Mode, among others.

Early life

As a youth, Wink studied the piano for three years and took clarinet lessons as a teenager. His interest in DJing began as a 13-year-old, when he became apprentice to a friend, a radio station and mobile DJ in Philadelphia. It was at this time that Wink also became a vegetarian, following in the footsteps of his mother and brother. As a teen, he quickly gained familiarity with DJing equipment and taught himself how to mix beats in 1986. By 1988, Wink had met fellow DJ King Britt, and the two began creating original tracks together. The year 1988 was also momentous for Wink in that he turned eighteen, and was then able to work as a DJ in nightclubs.

tyle

Wink's current style is a mixture of techno, acid, house, drum and bass, and experimental music. In interviews, he has stated that his music is "built around tension"Rule, Greg. "Josh Wink." Keyboard Vol. 24, Iss. 10 (October 1998)] , and that his work is often influenced by "mistake theory, which is: I use a lot of things that you and I might consider mistakes....by (experimenting) with effects, with filters, with percentages in my sampler, and just doing stuff that you wouldn't ordinarily do."

In 1996, Rolling Stone writer Frank Broughton observed that "a Josh Wink record takes a series of sampled noises, then twists and warps them through a barrage of sound processors, resulting in a spiraling blend of acidic bass lines and trippy break beats." [Broughton, Frank. "Josh Wink lands techno at a major label." Rolling Stone Iss. 746 (October 31 1996): p. 32.] Another reviewer referred to Wink's "Profound Sounds" album series as "sensual techno, rendered as a whole composition rather than a collection of individual, flavor-of-the-month tracks."Mason, Kerri. "Wink with a nod to compilations." Billboard Vol. 18 Iss. 24 (June 17 2006): p. 62.]

Wink has acknowledged the music of Kraftwerk, 1980s synthpop and late 1980s Chicago house music as major influences on his style. He is a strong supporter of new DJing technology, most specifically utilizing, demonstrating and advocating the Final Scratch application.

Recordings

In 1996 Wink released two albums: "A Higher State Of Wink's Work", which is a compilation of Wink's early 12 inch singles, and "Left Above the Clouds," under the name Winx. In 1998, he released the "Herehear" album and the "20 To 20" EP appeared in 2003. In addition to his artist albums, Wink has released many DJ mix albums, three of his most well-known being Volumes 1, 2 and 3 of the "Profound Sounds" series. "Profound Sounds Volume 3" is notable in that it contains Wink's popular remix of the Radiohead song Everything in Its Right Place," which despite becoming a favorite of DJs as a bootlegged mp3, Wink was able to license exclusively for his album through negotiations with Radiohead themselves, their publisher and management team."

In 1990, Wink founded his own successful record label called Ovum Recordings with King Britt. He also has worked with Ursula Rucker and Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails. All of the above albums were released on his Ovum imprint with the exception of the first two. Josh Wink has also recorded some releases as Wink, Winc, Winks, Winx, The Crusher, E-Culture, and Size 9. His song "Higher State of Consciousness" is featured on the popular video game .

ee also

* List of number-one dance hits (United States)
* List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart

References

External links

* [http://www.discogs.com/artist/Josh+Wink Josh Wink on discogs.com]
* [http://ravearchive.com/index.php/component/option,com_musicbox/Itemid,64/id,45/task,viewAuth/ Josh Wink Mixtapes]
* [http://youtube.com/watch?v=R1uOpkNqR2c "Don't Laugh" Music Video]
* [http://www.ovum-rec.com/ Ovum Recordings]
* [http://www.elitemm.co.uk/josh_wink.php Elite Music Management - Josh Wink's booking agents]