Ash Walker

Lore & Background

Ash Walker began his career in 2015 with the release of his debut album, Augmented 7th, which featured genres including dub, reggae, jazz, trip-hop, and electronica, and included Nikolaj Torp Larsen of The Specials on melodica. He formed his live trio in 2017 with himself on keyboards and melodica, Marc Cyril on bass, and Tim Shackman on drums, later adding Lord Laville on vocals and Yazz Ahmed on trumpet to create The Ash Walker Experience.

Aquamarine (2019) was the first album Walker recorded at home; his previous albums were recorded in studios. The album featured Marc Cyril on bass, Yazz Ahmed on trumpet and flugelhorn, Lord Laville on vocals, and Jonathan Shorten on Rhodes piano and Moog synthesizer. Walker intentionally included vinyl pops and hisses as part of what he calls an 'anti-sound engineer' approach, influenced by King Tubby. He has stated, 'I’m not a fan of clean, precise, and perfect. I’m quite an advocate of mistakes. I’m a big fan of fuzzes, crackles, and all the stuff that a normal engineer would try to clean up and get rid of.'

As a DJ, Walker has opened for The Specials, Lee 'Scratch' Perry, David Rodigan, El-B, and Zed Bias. He writes his songs on bass guitar first, and his influences include Duke Ellington, Quincy Jones, King Tubby, Bo Diddley, 4hero, J Dilla, Pete Rock, Curtis Mayfield, Philip Glass, and Steve Reich.

Reader's Guide

Ash Walker occupies a distinctive space in contemporary British music, merging dub, jazz, and electronic textures across four studio albums. His 'anti-sound engineer' philosophy, embracing fuzz, crackles, and imperfections, sets him apart from polished production norms and aligns him with the legacy of King Tubby. By recording Aquamarine at home and incorporating vinyl artifacts, he challenged conventional studio practices. His work has gained recognition through airplay on BBC radio by influential DJs such as Gilles Peterson and Don Letts, and his live ensemble, The Ash Walker Experience, has brought his genre-blending sound to audiences. Walker's approach to songwriting—starting on bass guitar—reflects his background as a bassist, and his influences span jazz, soul, and electronic pioneers. While not a household name, his albums on Deep Heads and Night Time Stories have built a dedicated following, and his DJ sets opening for reggae and dub legends underscore his credibility within those scenes. His significance lies in his refusal to be confined to a single genre, instead weaving together diverse musical traditions into a cohesive, textured sound.

Did You Know?

• Ash Walker's debut album Augmented 7th featured Nikolaj Torp Larsen of The Specials on melodica.
• He recorded his album Aquamarine at home, intentionally including vinyl pops and hisses as part of an 'anti-sound engineer' approach.
• Walker writes his songs on bass guitar first, as he is a bassist himself.
• His live band, The Ash Walker Experience, includes Lord Laville on vocals and Yazz Ahmed on trumpet.