WALSHY FIRE (OF MAJOR LAZER) TO RELEASE DEBUT SOLO LP, ABENG, VIA MAD DECENT ON JUNE 7TH
ABENG IS A “CONVERSATION BETWEEN AFRICA AND THE CARIBBEAN” FEATURING TOP NAMES IN DANCEHALL + AFROBEATS
Walshy Fire has used his platform as a member of Major Lazer and as a producer and international DJ to gather artists from Africa and the Caribbean for ABENG, a first-of-its-kind album bridging the two regions, out June 7th on Mad Decent.
As the MC for Major Lazer and a globe-traveling DJ, Walshy has regularly toured Africa over the last five years — travels which have allowed him to fulfill his dream of bridging the divide between the regions and the broader African Diaspora. ABENG brings together some of the biggest names in Afrobeats/Afropop with top reggae, dancehall and soca artists from the Caribbean for unique pairings like the lead single “No Negative Vibes” featuring Runtown (Nigeria) and Alkaline (Jamaica), and a remix of Walshy’s debut single, “Bend Down Pause” featuring Wizkid (Nigeria), Runtown and Machel Montano (Trinidad).
“No Negative Vibes” is available today, through all DSPs. The video for the single premiered exclusively today via THE FADER.
Alkaline, Walshy Fire, Runtown – No Negative Vibes (Official Video)
The project was inspired by the Jamaican-born, Miami-based DJ/producer’s roots in the Caribbean dancehall scene, and his recent travels across Africa.
The title, ABENG, refers to a horn instrument brought over from Ghana to Jamaica, used by slaves to communicate across long distances
ABOUT WALSHY FIRE
Walshy Fire is an international DJ and producer; ambassador for Caribbean music and culture; and one-third of Diplo’s massively-influential, reggae/dancehall-inspired EDM outfit, Major Lazer. While performing on some of the world’s largest stages and contributing production to Major Lazer’s albums, he has used his platform to shed light on rising talents within the Caribbean, helping launch the careers of Chronixx, Jesse Royal and, most recently, Koffee, whose breakout hits “Toast” and “Throne” he co-produced.
In 2014, Vice tapped him to host Season 2 of its Noisey Jamaica documentary series, exploring dancehall and the “reggae revival” movement then taking the island by storm. When not touring with Major Lazer, Walshy balances his time with solo DJ events around the globe, including his signature Rum & Bass concept.
Other artists featured on ABENG include Mr. Eazi (Nigeria), Ice Prince (Nigeria), Demarco (Jamaica), Masicka (Jamaica), Adekunle Gold (Nigeria), Nailah Blackman (Trinidad), Vanessa Mdee (Tanzania), Stonebwoy (Nigeria), Timeka Marshall (Guyana), Bunji Garlin (Trinidad), Ketchup (Nigeria), Shizzi (Nigeria), Efya (Ghana), WurlD (USA/Nigeria) and Christopher Martin (Jamaica).
“The intention is to make the Caribbean and Africa have a conversation that is louder, and in the same studio or the same stage, at the same time,” Walshy says.
Watch posted below the first single on Walshy’s forthcoming album .. Abeng.
Lagos to Kingston, Africa meets the Caribbean on this Summer Afrobeat Scorcher.
Stream Walshy Fire ABENG Full Album 2019 [Dancehall & Afrobeats]
