On their first joint full-length, Ammoye and Rise Ashen conjure Haffi Win, a futuristic alchemy of dancehall, hip hop, house and dub. Released on Canada's Balanced Records, Haffi Win is a deep, soulful journey and quest for self-actualization and empowerment. It tells the story of personal choices and their consequences, and how we can either be conquered by challenges, or we can surmount them. An ode to the momentum behind the brave decision to move on, Haffi Win celebrates honouring our own existence by believing, with humility, that we have a unique contribution to make.

Haffi Win fuses Rise Ashen's powerful urban beats and dramatic melodies with Ammoye's vivid narrative of growing up in Jamaica. The smoothness of Ammoye's voice draws listeners in and the power of her lyrics enchants, as she effortlessly sings about life, love, and justice. Haffi Win is both smooth and rough, sometimes threatening and always bassy. A textured album, Ashen's layering includes not only instruments, beats and vocals but the emotions evoked from sirens, soccer games, and street violence. Showing vulnerabilities, courage and soul, Haffi Win explores feminine strength and the human desire to manifest ones' self through Ashen's tight beats and Ammoye's ill vocals, with an aftertaste of the island.

Ammoye and Rise Ashen - Haffi Win

Original tracks and collabos

Common Ground was Rise Ashen and Trevor Walker's first and only full-length, initially released on Canada's defunct, but classic Fossilfuel Recordings. Journeying alongside these two acclaimed DJ-producers, one experiences percussive dance at its most savvy, refined and soulful.  I would characterize it as a mix of Acid Jazz, Downtemp Lo-Fi with Reggae and Dub with various "World" elements thrown in.

Ashen & Walker - Dub One

05 Ammoye And Rise Ashen - So So Good

04 Ammoye And Rise Ashen - Bluebirds

03 Ammoye And Rise Ashen - New Recipe

02 Ammoye And Rise Ashen - Mad Dem

01 Ammoye And Rise Ashen - Haffi Win

Silla and Rise’s debut album is a sonic experiment blending Inuit throat-singing and futuristic dancefloor beats.  Silla are Cynthia Pitsiulak (Kimmirut, NU) and Charlotte Qamaniq (Iglulik, NU) their name comes from the word “Sila” in their Inuktitut dialect meaning weather.  Sila is what surrounds us; it is what connects us to our land, to the moon, sun and stars, the ocean and the air we breathe. In respecting and honoring  the need to preserve Inuit culture and paying homage to our land and the strong connection to its  spirituality, they experience and perform the sounds of traditional and contemporary throat songs.  Rise is Ottawa’s Rise Ashen, a Juno Award nominated global grooves producer, DJ and dancer who has spent his life pursuing the intersection of traditional and futuristic music.  Free DL, please share far and wide!

Kuluk - Summer Luv

Here are a long-awaited collection of remixes from Ammoye and Rise Ashen's 2012 album Haffi Win... They ended up on a shelf for years and we thought it was finally time to unleash them...  Much love to the remixers! Enjoy!

Take It Easy (Dusty Johnston's Rainy Daze Mix)

Last summer I had a visit from my childhood music teacher, the amazing Montreal-based jazz flute, sax, guitar and percussion player Jeff "Wind In" May.  It had been at least 25 years since we had jammed, and it was wonderful to reconnect with him and make this little piece together at my studio in Ottawa.  He walked into the studio with a tiny wooden bamboo flute and it's hard to believe the depth of sound he can attain with such a minimal instrument.  Jeff can be reached at www.jeffmaymusic.com and I highly recommend him as a teacher, he achieved the greatest of feats with me, helping to develop a lifelong love of music in my life...

Reunion with Jeff "Wind In" May

Musician, Producer + DJ Rise Ashen in Ottawa Canada - Badass beats + beautiful melodies, World meets Deep, Futuristic Club Beats.  3-times Juno Award nominated. Will rock your party!