Since opening its doors to the public for the first time in 2007, Woei has left its mark on the international sneaker and streetwear community with several collaborations including Asics, Patta, and Stüssy along the way.
But the interests and passions of the Woei crew reach far beyond just shoes and apparel. Besides providing the streets with the latest from Nike, Adidas, and Co., music has always been at the heart of the store. Considering the highly curated playlists and mixes that can be heard in the store, as well as hosting some of Rotterdam's most notorious parties, the belief that music unites is deeply ingrained in the Woei DNA.
Based on this deep connection, we want to shine a spotlight on some of our favourite local musicians to talk about what sparked their passion for music and hear their take on common dilemmas in the music industry.
For the fourth episode, we caught up with Moustache Records very own David Vunk! Read through the interview below for some behind-the-scenes anecdotes and get ready for his DJ-set that will be broadcasted live on Operator on Friday, May 29th!
Who are you and where are you from?
My name is David Vunk and I was born in the Bergwegziekenhuis in 1976. I lived in Rotterdam ever since. I've been DJ-ing for the past 25 years and had my first paid gig in 1995.
When and how did you realize that music was going to play a big part in your life?
I was never really sure about it. But three years ago I had this big breakthrough which changed my life. Before that, I always had a job like being a teacher and stuff like that.
"I feel like playing in clubs is like playing in the Eredivisie,
while playing at a good festival is like playing in the Champions League"
Club night or festival?
I really love festivals. It is so fresh and the fact that it starts during the daytime makes it even better. I used to be club-person, but this was also heavily influenced with my gigs. Before I had my "breakthrough" at Het Lente Kabinet in 2017, I got mainly booked for club nights. But after that set, I got really embraced by the festival people! All in all, I feel like playing at clubs is like playing in the Eredivisie, while playing at a good festival is like playing in the Champions League.
What was the most memorable gig in the past? What made it so special?
That would have to be the Rotterdam Dance Parade back in 1998. This one was truly extraordinary. Not only was the atmosphere one of the best I have ever experienced, but it was also one of the first driving/mobile festivals in Rotterdam. My gig started at Eendrachtsplein, which I had never before seen so crowded with people! There were dancing people as far as the eye could see. Literally everybody who loved dance music was there. I remember putting myself under pressure since a lot of people which I knew personally, including my parents, came to the event. You also have to consider that this was a home game, so there was no way I could afford to make any mistakes. At some point, the pressure and nervousness got the better of me and made me vomit... Nonetheless, the Dance Parade was my most memorable gig hands down.
Besides that, I had many more crazy gigs. Like my first gig in the Panorama Bar, which was very special. At the time, I didn't really know what some sort of club it was. They simply told me that my time slot would begin on Sunday morning at 9AM and last until 12AM. The more I thought about those timings, the weirder it sounded to me; what kind of time-schedule is that? So I made sure I was there around 1PM just in case, since I was curious what for kind of place this was. On the other hand, this did mean that I had to gap 8 hours.
I got myself a ton of RedBull's and beers, and at one moment, someone approached me, asking: "Are your not nervous?!" I had no idea why, because I didn't realize it is one of the best clubs in the world. I killed it that night tho...
Digital or vinyl?
Digital, since it has so many advantages. For instance, you can mix really well digitally, while it is considerably more difficult with vinyl. I was the king of vinyl once, though.
If you want to enjoy the heat of the night and an overall less stressful gig, then I would prefer digital. But I always got some records with me as a back-up.
What is your all-time favorite song?
Depeche Mode - Enjoy the Silence, the Ewan Pearson mix. Other than that, The Warlord - The Ultimate Warlord. This one is an old record from 1978. It is the earliest version by the Immortals. There is also a Disco version which a lot of people spin. Back then, I paid 75 Guilders for the record, which was a significant sum. Later on, I found 3 editions at flea markets; 1 Guilder each.
"But in all honesty, it never crossed my mind that you are not "allowed" to wear both brands at the same time"
Why do you combine adidas track pants with Nike sneakers? It is against the so-called "street-code" to combine these two brands.
To be honest, I can not really explain it. It somehow slowly evolved into the "David Vunk"-style.
I really love the adidas track pants, because they are so comfortable compared to the Nike ones. I like the flashy colours, the fit, and they are easy-to-wear any day and anytime.
Nike hasn't convinced me of their apparel yet. But in all honesty, it never crossed my mind that you are not "allowed" to wear both brands at the same time.
How do you come up with your iconic dance moves? Who is the inspiration behind them?
Mick Jagger from the Rolling Stones! Everything he does, I do, too. I also get inspired heavily by Dave from Depeche Mode. He also got some really slick moves. But it is obvious that he too was inspired by Mick Jagger.
What can we expect from Moustache Records in the future?
My own album will be released as soon as the festivals, clubs, and all that are going to re-open. I also have another project on the way with a close friend of mine. This one is called "Im Kellar". We are currently working hard in the studio, creating a new EP!
Any last word for our followers and your fans?
Buy all Moustache records and all your sneakers at Woei!
"Buy all Moustache records and all your sneakers at Woei!"
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Or listen to the mix on Operator's Mixcloud!
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In the meantime, catch up on WOEI FM #3 with BVDW!
