Kurtis Wells

Berlin

You tend to bump into people who miss home as much as I miss home, or people looking for a taste of the Caribbean, so it’s not very hard to connect. For me, this is the most authentic Jamaican/Caribbean restaurant, they don’t serve food without it being spicy, and most Germans they like food without spice, which is totally fine. I had a chat with the owner and he told me he doesn't like cooking without spices because you come for the most authentic meal. I’d recommend the oxtail.

It’s an African spot with multiple restaurants and bars, it’s pretty cool you can just hang out for hours, you feel like you’re literally not in Berlin. YAAM is centred around Black people. They curate this vibe where people can come and perform and sell their art, this is one spot where I’ve definitely felt connected to culture.

They make a lot of Caribbean-style drinks and cocktails it’s cool to pop in there if you don’t just want the average cocktail, and you want a rum punch.

The Caribbean Art Collection is an incredible experience. From being greeted with wine by the owners to hearing stories about each piece and its origins, my visit was nothing short of special. Being able to unfold what inspired all the different pieces collected and donated by artists all over the Caribbean really gives perspective on how culture can be exported through art.

In my opinion, Badehaus really highlights a lot of the underground scene surrounding upcoming talent in Berlin. I’ve discovered great acts here. It’s perfect for a spontaneous Saturday night.

Kurtis Wells Top Caribbean Spots in Berlin

Estelle

Los Angeles 

Healthy coffee shop in the heart of Leimert Park - the best place in Los Angeles to be.

A little outside of the norm beach scope, but popular as its cleaner than Santa Monica.

Healthy vegan and non-vegan eats in South LA. Also, West Indian food and general fare.

Brunch on a Sunday with LEGENDARY DAMON - the perfect COVID compliant rooftop brunch. Gorgeous scenery, great music - good private vibe.

SHABBAAAA - the best monthly reggae party in LA. Period.

Best day to go is on a Saturday morning 8-12pm. There are ALL kinds of fresh flowers at wholesale prices. Sort of an LA ritual when you get an apartment or house here; you buy your fresh flowers from the flower market.

Monthly HUGE vintage and new artisan market, in “Pasadena”; sort of a village Los Angeles to me.

LA with Estelle

Sean Paul 

Jamaica

The nearest beach to where I live in Kingston. Hands down the best fried fish in the entire world. Try the festival too...it's like a local combination of a donut and a dumpling.

It's where I learnt to swim and was possibly even conceived (laughs). I still go there to train every week...I play water polo and do laps. You pay a small fee and you can come and train. There's also a diving pool there if you're daredevil enough to jump off the high one.

You can't come to Kingston and not pay homage to the Great Bob Marley. It's his old house that they turned into a museum and there is a studio there. All of Bobs kids still come and play football or record here.

Start the week off with the wickedest double... one street dance ends at around 1am and everyone walks across the road to the other one. We have dances every night of the week but these two start it off RIGHT! Best place to hear the newest Dutty Rock Productions and catch the latest dance moves from dancers with creative names like Gabbidon, Energy, PrettiPretti, Kool Kid, Cyaa Tired & the Get There Squad. It's held in the parking lot outside Susie's bakery and coffee bar.

Jamaica's best strip clubs... 3 locations to pick from (Kingston, Ocho Rios & Montego bay) but Kingston is the original and best, that's where my label Dutty Rock hosts a weekly event called "Full Cup Thursdays" with CopperShaun & the Coppershot sound system... it's an awesome vibe you have to see to believe.

The historical city of the pirates and home of Sir Henry Morgan. This place is where the whole "Pirates of the Caribbean" story comes from... there was a massive earthquake and 3/4 of the city sank into the sea. They say its cuz the city was so wicked, but now its a quiet town where you can eat great seafood and catch a boat out to the cays.

As I said before, head out to Port Royal and take a cooler with you... jump on a motorized canoe and take the 20 mins boat ride out to here and just chill.

Another cay near Port Royal. Smoke a spliff and enjoy the crystal clear Caribbean sea.

Sean Paul's 8 Favourite Places in Jamaica to Visit

35s & 45s

New York City 

Owned and operated by local DJ Fatik, I go mainly for the new house/techno/re-issue etc stuff and to kick it. He has an ill plant collection too!

Owned and curated by the DJ's DJ Tom Noble - they carry everything but for me - solid funk, soul, world, disco and house + massive 45 collection. They throw fun in store parties a lot - I walked in on Antal & Tom playing once.

Big, big collection and neighbourhood staple of Williamsburg. Big and super well priced collection of jazz, soul, funk, rock, house, world, etc.

Really dope record store and cafe (great coffee) with rare and well curated collection of used and new disco, house, techno, jazz, brazil, world/brazil and soul.

A solid buy, sell, trade record store with mostly rock, reggae, funk etc - but also a pretty good selection of house joints.

A neighbourhood staple in East Village with the best, consistent rotation of affordable and absolute heat on wax - everything from RnB, soul, disco, hip-hop, techno, house and more house.

A very important space, shout out to owners Vanessa & Bowen. This is one of the most inclusive clubbing spaces in NYC right now with some of the best up & coming, forward thinking DJs as well as staple locals and parties. Good priced drinks, with a totally fun and loose atmosphere - one of my favorite places to be. Also astrology themed cocktails!

Best large club in New York right now, no phones on the dance floor!!! Amazing outside day parties in Spring/Summer with consistent local and international talent I always love to see - Honey Dijon, Theo Parrish, DJ Marcelle, Soul Summit, Marcellus Pittman, Galcher Lustwerk, Stud1nt, Analog Soul etc.

Large club in south Brooklyn with 2 rooms, 1 with a large wooden dance floor and custom hi-fi sound system the other shared with a cafe and more for listening and hanging - although, dancing occurs fo sho - another great place to see the likes of Theo Parrish, Francois K, Ron Trent etc.

Hi-fidelity sound system with high quality vegan tacos, the club is in a cool basement built out with wooden sound treatment and Klipsch system + home rotary mixer - vinyl sounds fantastic here.

The consistent home of techno in Brooklyn for some time now - this is a medium/small size space with heavy hitting lineups on a regular basis, well priced and fun. This is one of my favorite places to hang.

Cocktail bar and fusion sushi restaurant with local disco, funk, rnb and soul DJs. Also home to the birth of 35s & 45s.

Manhattan staple true Discotheque style club with views of New Jersey & New York on the top floor of the Standard Hotel - always good DJs - great place to catch Eli Escobar, Sadar Bahar or local parties from Brooklyn that make their way to Manhattan.

A very small futuristic Star Wars outpost kind of space-themed bar with a custom built hi fidelity sound system and rotary mixer.

Best place for development, hi-res printing, framing, etc - all around full service shop in Soho.

DIY film development in Bushwick, a great space to meet others in the neighbourhood and a good place to learn about new spaces or local exhibitions.

Super fast and fairly cheap place for solid development in LES / Chinatown.

Cheap place in Greenpoint to buy film and develop, best for fast turn around on developing - but the quality is not always the top notch. You get what you pay for, its bottom dollar and fast!

35s & 45s Guide to NYC Crate Digging

Errol

London

Bricky's finest. Wally's knowledge of Caribbean music is encyclopaedic. Make sure you roll to Eat of Eden afterwards to replenish.

Mostly secondhand bits from across the musical spectrum. Warning: no listening booths; YouTube is your friend.

A well-known one, but for good reason. A real mixed bag of records — new and old.

Another Soho spot (special mention to Jean-Claude's If Music too). Solid selection, very reasonably priced and knowledgable staff. Gwan.

If you're out west, take a peek in here for the goodness. If you're in central/north, check out their smaller store in Kings Cross

London Record Digging with Errol from Touching Bass

No Shade Collective

They have a cool selection of books and magazines.



They're based here and Mexico. For us, it’s the best post-internet contemporary gallery.

Two English guys run it - arcade vibes.



A bar full of good beer and food. Queer-friendly crowd.



Found in Kreuzberg, Berlin, HAU is an international theatre showcasing dance performances, concerts, dialogue and visual arts across three venues. 

Germany's national centre for the presentation and discussion of international contemporary arts, with a special focus on non-European cultures and societies.

They host some cool parties and also, have a great outdoors area for summer chill.

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