From Antwerp with love, Josh Wink

Friday, February 20th

I gave up drinking coffee in December to cleanse my system at bit. I didn’t drink a lot but consume in two ritualistic systems:

1) A morning ceremony of sorts, a friend who welcomes me to the dawn of the day.
2) A laxative of sorts. Something to wake and stimulate the G.I. (Gastro Intestine), or digestive outings.

Now, in regard to the second, if you’re traveling through time zones, the body deals with unnatural biological conditions and one may find themselves (as I do) not being regular in ‘doing the doo’. At times, I find myself not able to make ‘waste’ for several days, and it’s weird thinking about it.  At times, a bit uncomfortable. It’s crazy thinking that I may have traveled to three countries and three cities in three days, carrying food in my stomach from each nationality! So, when I mentioned this to a friend years ago, he alluded to the fact that if I want to go to the bathroom that I should either do cocaine (not for me) or try coffee. So, coffee it was. Both the taste and ancient ritual of consumption easily got me devoted to this ‘medicinal beverage’. Regardless, I don’t drink it at the present time, but have been yearning for its traits whilst in Paris, being it’s the thing to do as often as possible and also ‘cause I need to go to the bathroom and want a coffee!

‘Nuff dirty talk…

D’Julz home studio. Yellow, D’Julz and Benny

I was able to change my train to Antwerp, and as it happens, Benny was able to change his too, so we were able to sleep in and have a nice lunch before our next journey. I won’t get into it being three in the afternoon and once again we were restricted to eating due to the ‘non typical’ eating hours. Man, it’s difficult to eat out if you are a DJ and want to eat out after a sleep in! Yellow met us at D’Julz’s pad, and we headed out for a much needed lunch recovery. It’s going to be the last Parisian caucus in a café for some time, so I savor the company, atmosphere and food before our inescapable departure.

Adieus are uttered, and promises to meet again in Miami for the Ovum WMC party are spoken and we quickly go our separate ways. Benny and I head for Gare Du Nord, which is an easy voyage on Le Metro and we board our train bound for Antwerp (Rotterdam for Benny).

Happy to be with a friend on an easy 130-minute train ride.  I’ve been getting in the habit of listening to music and writing the blogs on the train, and today this has been substituted for talks with a kindred spirit. Benny had some questions about Traktor and I was more than happy to do a Thayls train demonstration, which received views from curious onlookers.  The tête-à-tête and travel move faster than the train speed, as we are still heavy in conversation when Antwerp Central station is declared in French, German, Dutch and English over the loudspeaker. Benny assists me to the door and we part ways with a quick hug and assurance that we’ll see each other online and in Miami soon. The train slowly pulls away and I walk toward my hotel which is conveniently located at the end of the beautiful new central station.

Checking in, I notice how late the train’s arrival was and realize that Ben from Café D’Anvers is meeting me in 10 minutes for dinner. I relinquish my bags in my hotel chamber, shave with both speed and dexterity (unlike my messy rushed shave in Paris. No pictures), and get interrupted by the shriek of a phone ringing, indicating that my host has arrived. I’m always happy to see Ben and hang for the night. He comes in the new Jaguar XF which, if you know anything about cars (I don’t), is a stunning automobile with more gadgets than James Bond would have and, so I’ve been told, was co-designed by Aston Martin (official car of Mr. Bond, Mr. James Bond).

Ben informs me that we’re going to have dinner in an art gallery that has transformed into a temporary restaurant, this one called Zeitlich Bar & Restaurant.  We meet DJ Prinz, the resident DJ (and old friend) from Café D’Anvers, at the location and they inform me that there has been a trend in “pop up” bars and restaurants in Antwerp lately. The concept is to take a raw space, open a bar or restaurant for 2-3 months with an alternating menu and move on. Pretty neat - leave it to Belgium!

I really enjoy the diversity of this country. Ghent, Antwerp and Brussels, the three main cities, are extremely interesting to me. The country is around 10 million in population and is surrounded by Germany, Holland, France and Luxembourg, creating a multi-lingual and cultured territory. I love the acceptance and diverse appreciation for all the arts, especially the national Brussels radio (you can listen online, too. I highly recommend it).  I always get envious of people being multi-lingual, and in Belgium I’m constantly amazed with the polyglots.

We finish dinner, and I’m dropped off at the hotel to shower and write a bit. I’m presented with another difficult choice relating to sleep again. Sleep for an hour before the gig, or stay awake. I hear varying opinions: a ‘disco nap’ is perfect (20 minutes), and you’ll wake up feeling refreshed, or anything over 20 minutes and under an hour is worse than getting less. Well, all I know is that if I’m fortunate enough to fall asleep (wandering thoughts prevent this) and get 20 minutes, 50 minutes or 90, I wake up moody, cranky wishing I didn’t sleep a wink (yes, a pun). Tonight though it is an easy vote - stay awake and write ideas in the blog.

Red Light, Antwerp. Can’t get other photos as it’s illegal

A fascinating feature of the Benelux region is the non-existent but very present ‘Red Light’ areas. And in a weird way I enjoy the walk to the club, as Café D’Anvers is located smack in the heat of it. Women in windows lure me into their lairs with their thick siren accents and scant, out-of-season attire. But no time for this - off to work, where there is a generous line outside the club and I excitedly walk in. Yes, it is crowded and Prinz is jacking the dancefloor with his pumping DJ sounds. I get underway, after a quick liaison with the equipment and my gear. Starting off strong, I decide to keep the energy high and jack it as well, playing:

1) DJ Yellow ‘Sleep With Me’
2) Richie Hawtin ‘005’
3) Slam ‘Positive Education (Paul Ritch mix)’
4) Kevin Saunderson ‘Bassline (Joris Voorn remix)’

5) Joey Beltram ‘The Dragon (Marco Bailey & TH remix)’

Towards 6AM I start getting a little more housey and groovy, where these songs worked well.
1) Josh Wink ‘Airplane Electronique’
2) Shinedoe ‘Feel the Space’

3) Ekkohaus ‘Learning to Fly’
4) Rhythm Plate ‘Keep Movin’
5) Kasper ‘Morning Comes’

I start to get tired. Real tired, and Prinz is happy to keep extending the evening with his tunes. Ben walks me through the red-lit streets with the windows of the dens more filled with empty chairs than with buxom ladies and varied creatures.  I feel safe in the taxi and fuelled to be returning to my 17-hour home.

Now comes the question: Shower now, or sleep? Guess what: ear plugs in, eye mask on, shower later.