The minimal house anthem “Walk In The Park” was created by Jennifer Witcher, better known as DJ Minx, twenty years ago. She created, in just 45 minutes, what Resident Advisor claimed “may be the greatest minimal house loop of all time“. The brevity of its production, referenced in its title, belies the track’s seismic impact on electronic music.
Commemorating this milestone anniversary and honoring the legacy of Detroit’s First Lady of Wax, Factory 93 Record has commissioned a series of remixes from artists close to Minx, led by her Detroit brothers in arms Carl Craig and Seth Troxler. Additionally, a re-edit by Minx and additional remixes by Soul Clap and Ardalan are included in the five-track package.
The original was released by Minx on her own label, Women on Wax, which has supported female, Black, and other mid-Western and Detroit acts for more than 20 years.
Richie Hawtin requested a license for her vinyl when it began to catch on on European underground dance floors for his groundbreaking minimal label M NUS. Minx agreed, remixes from Ricardo Villalobos, Magda, Matthew Dear, and Josh Wink followed, and dance music history was created.
Though 20 years old, Minx’s original remains a powerhouse anthem for discerning DJs across the world, as impactful during day time grooves as during peak time late night hours. The fresh batch of remixes showcases the track’s adaptability.
My career has evolved so much in the twenty years since the release of ‘Walk in the Park’, it’s nostalgic to look back on it all. The fact that it took such a short time to create such a dynamic sound, still creates a glow inside me to this day. Not a single year has passed since its release that someone has not spoken of the track or thanked me for being the producer. This remix compilation features a culmination of producers who have grown into dear friends and have been incredibly supportive of me throughout the years. I am extremely excited to have them put a fresh perspective on a track that means so much to me – DJ Minx.
Seth Troxler and the remix for DJ Minx
Troxler starts off with a gospel-like vocal overlay before veering into an ominous tripped-out sound, Ardalan’s two remixes pack more of a house punch, and Minx’s edit manages to turn up and maximize the groove and impact of the original without losing sight of the subtlety and elements that made it so impactful. Soul Clap’s remix takes a more rubbery melodic direction.
I’ve been listening to this record for 20 years, to remix it is a dream. I took an approach to do it as someone seeking love in the park after dark. – Seth Troxler
Since he began learning to DJ in the late 1980s, DJ Minx has played a significant role in Detroit’s history of dance music. She has been pivotal to the growth and evolution of Detroit’s Movement Festival, playing almost every year since its creation, and now curating her own stage.
She has worked to support and mentor Detroit and female artists through her long-running radio programs in the city on WGPR and CJAM, as well as through her own Women on Wax label and collective. She has also received the Spirit of Detroit award for her contributions to the city’s cultural landscape.
