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Josh Wink

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“Some people get pigeonholed as being into just one thing,” Wink remarks. ” I hate that. When there are rules, it doesn’t become art, and it’s not fun. I’ve learned that you can’t please everybody, so I’d rather be concerned with making good art, and the people that like this art will stick with you.”

After forming Ovum Recordings as an independent label in October 1994 with former partner King Britt, who he had worked with on “Tribal Confusion” for NY label Strictly Rhythm, Josh recorded the cult classic “Liquid Summer”. He went on to release singles for a wide variety of revered European labels ranging from Belgium’s R & S to England’s XL. He also began remixing for Moby and others.

In 1995, Wink became one of the first DJ-producers to translate his hard work into mainstream success, when he unleashed a string of classics, including “Don’t Laugh”¸”I’m Ready” and “Higher State of Consciousness” that topped charts worldwide. On his 1998 album “Herehear”¸Wink pushed boundaries even further, inviting fellow artists as diverse as Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails), Caroline Crawley (Shelleyann Orphan/ This Mortal Coil), and Philly poet Ursula Rucker (Jazzanova, The Roots) to contribute to a far-reaching disc that ran the gamut of electronic music styles, from ambient and trip-hop to drum & bass, as well as the trademark mix of house and techno on which Wink has built his international reputation.

Since the release of the first “Profound Sounds” compilation in 1999, Wink has been concentrating on various projects, including continuing to oversee operations of his Ovum Recordings record label. Over the past year Josh has released another two dance floor anthems, “How’s Your Evening So Far” and most recently “Superfreak”, both of which continue his tradition of making distinct music that catches people’s ears and inspires others to compose their own music.

Josh has been touring the US this summer to promote his most recent release on Ovum, the Profound Sounds Vol 2 mix album, for which he tailored every cut to meet his specific requirements for this mix. “Every track is re-edited as a Josh Wink re-edit. I don’t end up compromising the integrity of the original art, I just altered it to fit my contour.” Only after customizing each song was he ready to record the final version of the set. “In a sense, I did the mix twice,” he observes.

Wink has also been busy turning out such notable overhauls as his recent reworking of “Blue Jeans” for Ladytron, Paul Oakenfold’s Starry Eyed Surprise” and Depeche Mode’s “Free Love”. Wink hopes to compile his favourite remix gems on a CD collection soon. He’s also working on some songs with Philly denizen G. Love (as in, G. Love & Special Sauce), and hopefully further collaborations and production gigs with other like- and open-minded musicians.

Meanwhile, Josh continues to tour the globe, keeping close to his rave culture roots, spinning at clubs, parties and festivals in every continent, and putting smiles on faces wherever he goes.