Di soun’ culture, di dancehall culture, you were exposed to them in Half-Way-Tree,” Walshy Fire reminisced.Īfter migrated to Florida after passing his Common Entrance Examinations to attend Kingston College. I used to buy my cassettes in Half-Way-Tree from Jack Sowah an’ Cassette Ninja. There’s no louder place in Jamaica, di bus dem with the loud, blazing music, remember di Jolly (Joseph) bus an’ Road Runner bus dem? Half-Way-Tree had House of Leo, Skateland, Aquarius Records store an’ JBC Television. When you come from Half-Way-Tree, it’s like the university of music. “If you grew up in Half-Way-Tree you cannot go round music. He grew up on Molynes Road in Kingston and credits living close to Half-Way-Tree for exposing him to music and entertainment. The younger brother of former Jamaica and West Indies fast-bowler Courtney Walsh, Walshy Fire (real name Leighton Paul Walsh) is 37 years-old. But, you do know when a song is special and yes, I did know the song was special an’ the beat was on fire. “I don’t think you ever expect any song to be a hit. Walshy Fire admits he did not expect Toast to become a massive hit. I love what I’m doing an’ I think we’ve created the space of directly talking positive music,” he reasoned. “I think what I have is a great momentum off Koffee’s Toast in the positive music space. Toast announced Koffee as a bona fide star and arguably the biggest name in dancehall. The first single from ABENG is No Negative Vibes featuring Alkaline and Runtown.ĪBENGwill be released at a time when Walshy Fire is enjoying his biggest hit song in Jamaica. I have a friendship with them so the music feels authentic,” Walshy Fire points out. I don’t do music with anybody that’s not my friend. “Scheduling can be difficult, but not difficult, because I am friends with these artistes. The project took almost two years to complete.

This is my first actual album an’ I feel really proud of it I wanted to do something that was in my mind, a dream for a long time,” he said. An’ I wanted to do more authentic reggae, one-drop rhythms an’ some dancehall rhythms and Spanish songs. “I’ve always put out solo projects, an’ Major Lazer doesn’t do authentic Caribbean music. In an interview with the Jamaica Observer’s Splash this week in Kingston, Walshy Fire, a member of EDM trio Major Lazer, explained the ABENG concept. The 11-track set features collaborations between African and Caribbean acts.Īrtistes involved include Christopher Martin, Timeka Marshall, Nailah Blackman, Machel Montano, Bunji Garlin, Kranium, Demarco, Mr Eazy, Stonebwoy, Wizkid, Masicka and Alkaline. Having had major success with Koffee’s Toast, producer Walshy Fire will release his debut album ABENGon June 7 on the Mad Decent label.

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