After almost seven weeks of non-stop travel beginning with day one of 2017, weekends at home look a little like this: gym, walk, avoid people.
I'm not anti-social at all, I thrive on people being around me. But I also love my days alone, turning off and not having anyone around.

I've taken up a weekly gig at an amazing new gym in London, BXR. Primarily a boxing gym, there are also other facilities such as the usual gym jazz, sauna and "Sweat Rooms" - basically trainer led class rooms with trendy new machines from LA that make you climb walls and all other sorts of stuff.  Gym music - it's mostly bad, techno pumping, synth overload nonsense. So I was on the quest for great, groovy tracks that still packed a punch and squat.

This led me to think of two albums in particular that made a large impact in my life. In 2005 and 2006 Ministry of Sound Australia came out with two of the best compilations that I have veer heard in my life. The Annual '05 and '06 mixed by John Course & Mark Dymanix. Track after epic track, my Sunday was soon filled with epic nostalgic songs I thought I'd long forgotten.

From beginning to end this album is just untouchable. Like a good book you can't put down, there is no off button till the last seconds fade out.

Tracks on repeat:
"Put em high" (JJ'S 12" Mix) - Stonebridge
Starsailor - Four To The Floor (Thin White Duke Mix)
Eric Prydz and Steve Angello  - Woz Not Woz
Inaya - Day Nasty Girl (Full Vocal Mix)
Freestylers - Push Up

Riding on the success from the previous album, The Annual '06 continues the same groovy sound, strong bass lines but more emotional melodies and catchy rhythms. As suggests the cover, this one shines brighter.
Standout tracks:
Paris Avenue - I Want You (TV Rock Mix)
Supafly vs. Fishbowl - Let's Get Down (Full Intention Club Mix)
Gaelle -  Give It Back (Putsch 79 'Lectro Remix)
Aaron Smith - Dancing (JJ Flores & Steve Smooth Remix)
Lil' Love - Little Love (Club Mix)
Stereophonics - Superman (MHC Remix)
Hard-Fi - Hard To Beat (Axwell Remix)
Freeform Five - No More Conversations (Mylo Remix)
Rachael Starr Till There Was You (Pocket & Goodwill Remix)

The longest and most stressful fifteen minutes in the world have to be in fashion. The chaos that goes on behind a catwalk show for Fashion Week is unavoidable, no matter how organized you may be. Last minute changes, mishaps, late models, faulty lights...are all part of the party.

I got off my thirteen hour flight from Buenos Aires and headed straight to the venue for Huishan Zhang's AW17 catwalk show. Luckily Church House in Westminster was literally down the road from where I live so a quick shower and polish was manageable. I'd been working on the catwalk music for about two weeks. Brainstorming themes and the thoughts behind the inspiration for the collection. Then going off and finding music that transferred these ideas, and was catwalk worthy.

Sound check at 11:30am, run through at 13:00 , show time at 14:00. Well closer to 14:30 as fashion and its people like to be fashionably late. It's wonderful to see your work come together so fluidly especially when most of the prep and final stages have to be imagined in your head.

The below tracks made the final edit for the show:

"Candles" by Frivolous
"Harry Popper" by Marcelo Cura
"Kiara" by Bonobo

Argentina. The land of meat, leather and and a rather delicious red liquid. Talking about Malbec here. It's hard to get a bad bottle of it in fact. Even a cheap 3 pound taking from the local supermarket bursts with flavour and depth. Unfortunately due to Fashion Week preparations that awaited me on my return, can't say I had too much of it this trip although the few drops I enjoyed were heavenly.

Buenos Aires is where the third race for the FIA Formula E race took place. Although the smallest track of them all, we had a beautiful Emotion Club. Set in an old building with wrought-iron staircases and monochrome tiled floors, it gave a classy edge to the setting.

My trip was injected with some much unwanted action. Starting just upon arrival into BA, the immigration officer ripped out my photo page in my passport. Do we let her in or not? Because of course we are not accepting any responsibility for what we just did ...went the tone of the conversation. I was let in but had to make a trip to the consulate to get a new passport. All at my expense.
Four hours later, I leave the beautiful consulate building with a chopped up passport and a ridiculous temporary passport. Ridiculous as the photo I was forced to accept - only one location approved by the Polish consulate of Buenos Aires - was not me at all. Sweaty, no contouring and features all mashed into 2D form.

Suddenly I hear two bangs, shouting, a large bag being thrown my way. Motorcycles with black clad men perched as if on horses drive a nose-hair past me, picking up the goods. It all happened so fast I stood there in shock - basically I'd just witnessed a hit and run. Which likely was armed. I got out of there as fast as the Uber driver collected me, back to the safety of my hotel. Enough action for one day. And the whole trip pretty much.

Restaurant Recommendations

La Cabrera // José Antonio Cabrera 5099, Palermo Soho
Ok making a confession here - I snuck in a piece of meat (I'm pescatarian), after much peer pressure with the words that I'll never taste a steak like this again. Have to admit - it was worth it. The meat melted in the mouth, the flavour was rich and it was pretty evident no hormones or antibiotics were pumped into this flesh. Wine list is outta control too.


Il Matterello Ristorante // Martin Rodriguez 517, La Boca
I've never had an Italian mamma cook pasta for me but if she did, this would be it. This family-run-for-generations hole in the wall is a wonderful retreat where everything is made on the spot. Yes, including the pasta.

Osaka // Juana Manso 1164, Puerto Madero
Looking for an alternative to meat? It may seem hard in this city that breaths all things cow, but Osaka is a decent sushi joint with Peruvian fusion. The sashimi is delicate and fresh, the space modern and hip.

Faena // Martha Salotti 445, Puerto Madero
Do not eat by the pool. Do not eat in that hideous all-white restaurant behind the bar. Don't even order room service here. It all is sub par. The grill at the Faena however is something spectacular. Be prepared though to be smelling like smoke upon departure. The open kitchen, although great entertainment will overpower the strongest of colognes.

Fashion week looms. For me this means I'll be compiling catwalk music. A lot tougher than it sounds. Finding the right tracks, with samples to loop, vocals that can be overlayed ... takes a lot of time to trawl through the endless and sometimes dead end paths.
In my preliminary days of research,  I watch other catwalk shows from the power house designers to gain inspiration. One that does it so well is Versace. The music, all original soundtrack, is so well thought out and brilliantly executed. The music compliments the collections so well, details are well covered. May favourite show soundtracks are the ones below:

I also found some fun and interesting catwalk shows that think outside the box ... however the music is pretty horrendous