An American producer who simultaneously possessed European hit singles, a major-label album contract, consistent contact with the
dance mainstream, plus the requisite underground credentials,
Josh Wink appeared to lack for nothing at the peak of his success in the mid-'90s. Part of the East Coast/Philadelphia
dance scene,
Wink recorded three
trance monsters out of his bedroom studio (as
Wink,
Winx, and Size 9) that topped charts in Europe during 1995 and saw him anointed as a
dance poster boy, easily recognized by his ruddy good looks and flowing blond dreadlocks. Hardly the
techno kingpin, however,
Wink's espousal of a vegan lifestyle and his defiantly anti-drug ideals made him something of a unique personality in the hedonistic world of
dance music.
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An American producer who simultaneously possessed European hit singles, a major-label album contract, consistent contact with the
dance mainstream, plus the requisite underground credentials,
Josh Wink appeared to lack for nothing at the peak of his success in the mid-'90s. Part of the East Coast/Philadelphia
dance scene,
Wink recorded three
trance monsters out of his bedroom studio (as
Wink,
Winx, and Size 9) that topped charts in Europe during 1995 and saw him anointed as a
dance poster boy, easily recognized by his ruddy good looks and flowing blond dreadlocks. Hardly the
techno kingpin, however,
Wink's espousal of a vegan lifestyle and his defiantly anti-drug ideals made him something of a unique personality in the hedonistic world of
dance music.
After being turned on by punk rock in the '70s,
Josh Winkelman was inspired by a diverse group of
dance-styled artists during the 1980s -- ranging from
Depeche Mode to
Kraftwerk to
Run-D.M.C. -- and began working with a Philadelphia-based mobile DJ service from the age of 13.
After he met up with a fellow DJ,
King Britt, at one party, the duo began recording. One of their first productions, 1990's "Tribal Confusion" by E-Culture, was released on New York's Strictly Rhythm Records and became a success in America's exploding club/
rave scene, which
Wink and
Britt soundtracked by DJing at events around the country.
Wink had also recorded for Nervous, another vaunted East Coast
dance label, before forming Ovum Records in late 1994 with
Britt.
Ovum and
Wink had an international club hit right out of the box with 1995's "Liquid Summer"; the single led to
Wink recording for a maze of European labels. During 1995, he recorded "Don't Laugh" by
Winx, "I'm Ready" by Size 9, and "Higher State of Consciousness" by Winks, all of which topped European
dance charts and even made several pop charts despite their debt to hard-edged acid
trance. The singles were collected along with new material for his 1996 debut album, Left Above the Clouds, and released as
Winx. The major labels came calling in 1997, and
Wink decided to sign not only himself but the entire Ovum Recordings label to a deal with Columbia. After recording with
King Britt,
Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor, poet
Ursula Rucker, and Philly
mod punks
the Interpreters,
Wink released his proper album debut, Herehear, in 1998; the mix album Profound Sounds, Vol. 1 followed the next year. He spent much of his time contributing to Ovum acts
King Britt and
Jamie Myerson, but by 2003 he had released both a second volume in Profound Sounds as well as his second production album, 20 to 20. Profound Sounds, Vol. 3 appeared in 2006. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide
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