Techno icon Josh Wink has been making music for 21 years. As a kid, he was so hungry to break into the early rave scene in his hometown of Philadelphia, PA, he’d work the clubs as a bar-back in order to hand off his mixes to the managers. Apparently, that kind of tenacity is what has made Wink what he is today: a busy DJ/producer taking his style of tribal techno around the world, all while running his own record label, Ovum. And that’s not to mention the success of his most recent album, When A Banana Was Just A Banana, which was recently given the full remix treatment from a list of house and techno’s finest. We were able to shoot over some questions to Wink, who was kind enough to squeeze us in whilst airborne. He gave us a list of his top three favorite tracks he’s written, what he loved and hated about ’90s raves, and a killer recipe for his favorite banana-based treat.

What can you hear now, as you answer these questions?
People talking, announcements, airplane engines, things you can imagine if you were on an airplane.

Which of your many monikers could you do without? And if you had to add one in its stead, what would it be?
I’m happy with my past (except for remixes of my original music without my approval) and my past monikers. Everything has led up to now, and I’m cool with this.

What do you miss the most about old-school rave culture?
There was an innocence of that time, which, unless you were a part of it, it’s hard to imagine. Maybe the innocence was just that we were all younger and exposed to a new style in music that was just blossoming.

And what were you happy to see disappear?
Love to say glowsticks, but I think they’re still around.

Tell us a funny story about being an underage DJ in Philly.
Well, the only way I could get into the clubs when I was under 21 was being a bar-back at a club. I was 18 and giving my mixed tapes to the manager of the club while I was cleaning glasses and stocking beer. Also, when I started getting gigs at the clubs at 19 years old, my friends, who were the same age, wanted to visit me in the club and couldn’t. So, I used to have to either sneak them in the club or sign a waiver on behalf of them saying that they would be in the booth with me and not drink.

What’s the new hotspot in Philly?
Don’t really know. Something weird about always being on the road and traveling is not knowing what’s going on in Philly.

If you could go back and change anything about your first EP, Tribal Confusion (released as E-Culture with King Britt), what would it be?
Nothing.

When exactly was a banana just a banana?
1982, or the time right before becoming a teenager.

And what is a banana now?
It’s everything you want it to be. Endless! HAHA!

We read that you’ve worked a bit with Trent Reznor. What was that all about?
He recorded vocals on “Black Bomb” from my HearHere LP. He’s very talented!

What inspired the feminine name of your record label, Ovum?
Life. It was/is about life music. And the basis of life is the ovum.

If you were in a bar fight, would you rather have Carl Craig, Carl Cox, or Carl Winslow on your side?
We’re all lovers, not fighters.

You like to give out “useless/interesting info” on your Twitter feed. How about an exclusive fact for us?
In my 21 years of making music, this is the second interview I’ve had with your magazine.

Top three favorite tracks you’ve written. Go!
That’s a hard one, but if I could only chose three [they ‘d be] “Higher State of Consciousness,” “Liquid Summer,” and “I’m on Fire.”

Banana split, banana cream pie, or banana bread?
See if you can guess.

1.5 cups spelt flour
1 tbs baking powder
1 tbs cinnamon
pinch sea salt
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup coconut oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
2/3 cup almond milk
1 tsp apple cider vinegar.
toasted pecans or walnuts
2 bananas (mashed)
(all organic ingredients if available)