Walshy Fire

Leighton Paul Walsh, better known by his stage name Walshy Fire, is a Grammy Award Winning Jamaican American DJ, MC and record producer who is better known as part of the dancehall reggae-influenced group Major Lazer alongside fellow DJs Jillionaire and Diplo.[1] Walshy Fire toured with the Black Chiney sound system beginning in 2004. Black Chiney is cited as a significant influence on the evolution of Major Lazer with its mash ups that blend hip hop or R&B rhythms with reggae & R&B artist vocal tracks and its representation of the Jamaican sound system.[2] The subsequent mix tapes that the Black Chiney collective of DJs, engineers and MCs would develop were the training ground for Walshy to become a remix producer.

Walshy Fire
Background information
Birth nameLeighton Paul Walsh
OriginMiami, Florida
Occupation(s)DJ, MC, Grammy Award Winning Record Producer
LabelsMad Decent
Associated actsMajor Lazer
Diplo
Jillionaire
Ape Drums

Early life

Walsh was born and raised in Carol City, Florida in a Chinese-Jamaican family.[3][4][5] He attended North Miami Beach High School.[4] He attended Clark Atlanta University for undergraduate studies and Florida A & M for graduate school where he completed a master's degree in communications. His brother is former West Indian fast bowler and captain, Courtney Walsh.

Musical influences
Walshy Fire at Ruhr Reggae Summer 2016

Walshy Fire has been influenced by reggae and dancehall traditions. In 2013, he said: "my sole purpose with this Major Lazer thing is to bring back some glory and international exposure [for] reggae and dancehall."[4] His favorite reggae riddim is "The Answer" by the iconic producer Coxsone Dodd.[6]

Career

Major Lazer

Since 2012, Walshy Fire has presided as master of ceremonies for Major Lazer. In 2013, he described his role as follows:

Basically, Diplo is the selector and I'm the MC. He's the one that picks the records and mixes the records and I'm the one that's out front and presents the records to people, makes speeches that makes the records make sense, and pulls up the records. I give the crowd humor when it's time to give them humor, emotion when it's time to give them emotion, and just keep the whole vibe intense throughout the whole set.[4]

He's contributed to production on the Major Lazer releases: APOCALYPSE SOON, Peace is the Mission.[7] In the latter album, he cowrote the Chronixx song “Blaze Up The Fire” and lent his vocals to “Too Original”. Walshy Fire contributed to production on the Know No Better EP with Major Lazer. Walshy Fire along with Diplo & Jillionaire host the Major Lazer Lazer Sound program on Apple Music's Beats 1. With Major Lazer Walshy Fire has collaborated with artists from a variety of genres maintaining a commitment to cultural authenticity and in particular with regard to Caribbean music subgenres.[8]

On March 6, 2016, Major Lazer made the first appearance by a major American pop group in Cuba since the reinstatement of diplomatic relations.[9]

One year after the release of Peace is the Mission, Major Lazer announced the planned release of a new song with Justin Bieber and MØ entitled "Cold Water" which will be the lead track to the next Major Lazer album. This is a follow up to "Lean On" which featured MØ and has been played 149 million times via Major Lazer's SoundCloud and its official music video which has received 1.4 billion YouTube views.[10]

Walshy Fire Presents

Walshy Fire launched a label in 2015 with its roots in Jamaica's sound system culture,[11] and extending into other genres including hip-hop. Work with Caribbean artists and the presentation of the various subgenres of their music styles to wider audiences[12] through live sets, pre-recorded mixes and broadcast music programs has fueled the Walshy Fire Presents label concept.[13]

Additional work

As a solo DJ,[14] Walshy Fire has held residencies in several Miami clubs over the years and continues to tour globally performing sets with mashups from multiple genres including reggae dancehall, roots reggae, soca, house, bass, moombahton, Latin, Afrobeat, hip-hop and old school R&B presented by MC commentary that sets up the songs for the listener.[15] Walshy Fire performs sets as part of his signature Rum & Bass concept which mixes world-influenced dance grooves with carnival culture.

On June 7, 2019 Walshy Fire Presents: ABENG was released on Mad Decent Records.[16] Walshy curated a first-of-its-kind conversation between Africa and the Caribbean, pairing artists from both regions on tracks spanning afrobeats, dancehall, soca and EDM. As Walshy Fire explains, “The intention of ABENG 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.”

As a producer Walshy Fire has contributed to several dancehall, reggae, and EDM projects. He is a co-producer on two songs: "Toast" & "Throne" on the Grammy-winning EP in the Reggae category by Jamaican artist Koffee entitled Rapture. "Toast" has been featured in TV and film including the Jordan Peele major motion picture "Us" [17].

In July 2019, Walshy Fire signed a global publishing deal with Concord Music Publishing that covers all of his existing work. [18]

Discography
See also: Major Lazer discography

Singles
  • Throne - Koffee producers Walshy Fire, EchoSlim, Sean Alaric, Nicko Rebel (Sony UK/Columbia 2019)
  • Hot (Bam Bam) - Busy Signal, Walshy Fire, DJ Septik (Walshy Fire Presents 2018)
  • Toast - Koffee producers Walshy Fire, Izy Beats (Sony UK/Columbia 2018)
  • Never Let You In - DJ Soda, Walshy Fire (2018)
  • Love You Like Me - Chen'Nelle Walshy Fire & Natty Rico Remix featuring Konshens (2018)
  • Yeah Yeah - Kalibandulu, Tribal Kush, Walshy Fire (2018)
  • Dangerous - Walshy Fire, Silva, Beatwalker, DJ Blass GIVE ME FUTURE soundtrack (Mad Decent 2017)
  • Work - Popeye Caution (Walshy Fire Presents 2017)
  • G.O.A.T. - Mr.Vegas (Walshy Fire Presents 2017)
  • So High - Mr.Vegas, Lizi, Walshy Fire (Walshy Fire Presents 2017)
  • Chicken and Dumplin - Bunji Garlin (Walshy Fire Presents 2017)
  • No Laziness - Ketchup featuring Bunji Garlin (Walshy Fire Presents 2017)
  • Hearts In The Sand - Cutting Class & Flipo (Walshy Fire Presents 2016)
  • Garmiani featuring Walshy Fire - Voodoo (Dim Mak Records 2016)
  • Sanjin, Walshy Fire & Salvatore Ganacci - Nah Tell Them (Good Enuff 2016)
  • Wurld featuring Walshy Fire & Shizzi - Show You Off (WeAreGVDS 2016)
  • Machet - Naturally (Walshy Fire Presents 2016)
  • Raekwon & Kabaka Pyramid - Be Inspired (Walshy Fire Presents 2016)
  • Kelissa & Keznamdi - Live For Today (Walshy Fire Presents 2015)

Albums
  • Peace Is the Mission (2015) (as Major Lazer)
  • BE Inspired - Various Artists (Walshy Fire Presents 2016)
  • Walshy Fire Presents: ABENG - Various Artists (Mad Decent 2019)

Extended plays
  • Know No Better EP (2018) (as Major Lazer)
  • Thanks For Life Riddim EP (Walshy Fire Presents 2018)
  • Top Shelf Riddim EP (Walshy Fire Presents 2018)
  • Rum Xmas EP (Walshy Fire Presents 2017)
  • Spread Out Riddim EP (Walshy Fire Presents 2017)
  • Chicken and Dumplin EP (Walshy Fire Presents 2017)
  • Confessional Riddim EP (Walshy Fire Presents 2015)
  • Apocalypse Soon EP (2014) (as Major Lazer)

Filmography

Television
  • Noisey Jamaica II VICE 6 episode documentary, Host & Presenter
  • Noisey Season 1 VICE Episode 3 Miami
  • Noisey Season 2 VICE Episode 2 São Paulo

Notes

    References
    1. "Meet The Man Who's Making Your Kids Go Wild". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2016-02-05.
    2. "LargeUp Interview: Q+A with Walshy Fire - LargeUp". LargeUp. Retrieved 2016-02-06.
    3. Liu, Marian. "Kicking 'Bubble Butt' and taking names". SouthFlorida.com. Retrieved 2016-06-02.
    4. Serwer, Jesse (2013-03-24). "Major Lazer's Walshy Fire on Most EDM Stars: "These Guys Aren't DJing"". Miami New Times. Retrieved 2016-06-02.
    5. Bein, Kat (30 June 2013). "Major Lazer's Walshy Fire Advises "Dress for the Mess" at Mad Decent Block Party". Broward-Palm Beach New Times. Retrieved 2016-06-01.
    6. Katel, Jacob (2013-08-14). "Major Lazer's Walshy Fire Breaks Down Twerking". L.A. Weekly. Retrieved 2016-06-02.
    7. "Major Lazer's Walshy Fire Dives Deep on Influences for 'Peace Is the Mission' | SPIN". Spin. Retrieved 2016-02-05.
    8. "Walshy Fire continues the work". jamaica-gleaner.com. Retrieved 2016-03-24.
    9. Coscarelli, Joe (2016-03-07). "Diplo and Major Lazer Bring Their Brand of Music to Cuba". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-03-24.
    10. https://www.forbes.com/sites/garysuarez/2016/05/31/major-lazer-justin-bieber/#518f60b42454
    11. "Interview: Talking about style and musical influence with Major Lazer’s Walshy Fire". www.acclaimmag.com. Retrieved 2016-02-06.
    12. "Watch Full Episodes Online of Beat Making Lab on PBS | #FijiChallenge w/ Walshy Fire of Major Lazer". PBS. Retrieved 2016-03-24.
    13. "Major Lazer's Walshy Fire teams up with Kelissa, Keznamdi". jamaica-gleaner.com. Retrieved 2016-03-24.
    14. "Walshy on fire - Entertainment". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 2016-03-24.
    15. "Life Is Beautiful 2015: Walshy Fire & Jillionaire Get Bromantic". Vibe. Retrieved 2016-02-05.
    16. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/walshy-fire-abeng-album-dancehall-afrobeats-835591/
    17. https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2019/04/meet-koffee-jamaicas-teenage-reggae-sensation/586138/
    18. https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/major-lazers-walshy-fire-signs-with-concord-music-publishing/
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