Antwerp · Music

The Oddword

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Ever seen an electro crowd doing a mosh pit? With The Oddword you can even expect the most unexpected.

Antwerp based DJ duo Boy Kortekaas and Ylli Engels are no strangers in the music industry. Boy Kortekaas started playing music when he was 15. At the age of 18, he already released his first track on the label of Dj Hell “Gigolo records”. That’s the same label where Tiga and Boys Noize began their career. A couple of years later, Boy met Ylli Engels, another great dj from Antwerp. Until then Ylli played in underground clubs in Belgium. They had such a good connection so they began “The Oddword”. In 2009 The Oddword started making music. It didn’t take long before the world started noticing them. In 2010 their first EP “Kortelas” was released on the American label Crux Records. A lot of remixes followed for artists such as Antention, Dumme Jungs, The Subs, Haezer and other great producers. In 2011 they released their second EP called “The Fire EP” on the German label Mähtrasher records. 2012 was without a doubt a fantastic year for The Oddword playing at the biggest festivals in Belgium such as Tomorrowland, Laundry Day and many more. The Oddword brings raw electronic bass music in a whirlpool of electro & techy beats. Their hyped up beats make the crowds go crazy. Not only did they conquer Belgian territory, also Miami WMC & the rest of Europe followed. Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Switzerland and France were not left unharmed.

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The best experience they have had (until their feature on Marilyn & Josephine of course ;-)) was without doubt debuting in South Africa, hitting up Cape Town and Johannesburg, start of 2013.  Now the boys from The Oddword are back in the studio, working on a new EP, several remixes and some kick-ass collaborations…

Being internationally recognized does not make them love Antwerp any less. There is only one club however where they feel appreciated the most: Petrol. “There aren’t a lot of clubs in Antwerp who play our kind of music, that’s why we mostly play in clubs outside of Antwerp and Belgium. But when it comes to festivals, Belgium is a great country!” Music to the Oddword ears as they will be playing this years edition of Pukkelpop, the second largest festival in Belgium! And how about Israel? “We haven’t played in Israel yet, but we have heard it’s nightlife is better than Ibiza’s, so we wouldn’t mind being invited over? (laughs)”

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You can find the Oddword this Summer at:

SUNRISE FESTIVAL 29/30.06 Lilse Bergen – Belgium // OSTEND BEACH 13.07 Oostende – Belgium // BUTTERFLYBEATS FESTIVAL 20.07 Gits – Belgium // ZWARTE CROSS 27.07 Lievelde – The Netherlands // PUKKELPOP 16.08 Hasselt – Belgium

More dates to be confirmed on their Facebook fanpage.

WORLDWIDE BOOKINGS:
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Antwerp · Music · Travel guide

Josephine’s Treasure Map to Antwerp (3)

Turn up the music, fill your cup and drink it down! Part 3 is all about Antwerp nightlife. Antwerp has a lot to offer when it comes to clubbing. Here are a few of my favorite dance floors:

PETROL – Deep down an abandoned road on the South part of Antwerp lies an old industrial warehouse which is rebuild to a club with an underground vibe. Its minimal and dark interior make it a perfect location for techno parties as well as rock concerts. When i dance i “just can’t get enough”, so Petrol offers two dance floors. Usually the club is used for concerts. I once saw an excellent YACHT concert here, somewhere in 2010 – shame we don’t hear anything from these guys anymore. (Petrol – d’Herbouvillekaai 25 – 2020 Antwerp)

MAGIC – One dream, one soul, one prize, one goal: it’s a kind of magic. Freddy Mercury himself would twist and turn on this magical dance floor. Entering this club, literally under ground, feels like being warped back to the decadence of the 70ies. Electro Pop music and Eighties Kitsch in the mix with modern dance tunes, the music in Magic is as divers as its crowd: from underground artist to fashion diva. The only thing that happens in this place is dancing. On my agenda: the Filles a Papa party this Thursday! Important note: you can only get in when you’re on the guest list. Check the website for more information. (Magic – Desguinlei 94- 2018 Antwerp)

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Click the video to see a recap of some magnificent parties going on at Magic Antwerp:

SCHELD’APEN – On the same road as Club Petrol lies an even more abandoned house, also rebuild to a (smaller) club called Scheld’apen. This place has played an important role to a lot of experimental and underground artists. The primary goal of this club is to create a platform for Antwerp artists. From time to time however, you can party hard here. I’m personally looking forward to the Mykki Blanco concert this Wednesday! (Scheld’Apen – d’Herbouvillekaai 36 – 2020 Antwerp)

ULTIMATUM – Another personal favorite are the monthly parties held in bar Ultimatum. Located in the heart of the city Ultimatum is in fact a restaurant/bar, but once a month owner Olivier turns the place upside down (and round and round) to host some of the best parties in Antwerp (and the one’s with the biggest crowd on a Sunday night – don’t these people have work on Monday?!). With names as Thirsty Thurdays and Sunday Funday – let’s be honest – you get what you came for: great music, great drinks (damn those 6 EUR gin&tonics) and great vibes. Definitely on my calendar: another Thirsty Thursday on February 28th. (Ultimatum – Grote Markt 8 – 2000 Antwerp)

(c) Scheld Apen

(c) Ultimatum

After all this dancing our feet hurt and our legs are all tired. So why not indulge yourself for a moment and sleep in one of the comfortable beds of Hotel The Black. This hotel, located in a mansion on the Antwerp Leien, feels like an old Hollywood film, not only ’cause of the colors (black and white) but also because of the glamorous yet mysterious atmosphere. Kim Soeffers, interior architect and personal friend, decorated each room as if she would live in it herself. Every room is provided with a a classic bathtub in which I for one can soak for hours. Another glass of champagne to close the night and then I lay myself to rest in a heavenly set of pillows. Aah.. this is the good life indeed. (Hotel The Black – Amerikalei 113 – 2000 Antwerp)

(c) Sien Josephine

GIVE AWAY TIME:

Because you all have been so good and sweet to us it’s time we do something back.

We offer you a one night stay in the Hotel The Black (according to availability).

Want to dream away just like I did? This is what you have to do:

  1. Like the Marilyn & Josephine Facebook page
  2. Like the Hotel The Black Facebook page
  3. Send us an e-mail with your name and address

The lucky winner will be contacted by the end of March!

Well, this concludes the treasure map (for now). I hope you enjoy your stay in Antwerp as much as I enjoy living here!

xoxo

Josephine