International DJ and producer Walshy Fire, best known as one-third of Diplo’s massively-influential, reggae/dancehall-inspired EDM outfit, Major Lazer has inked a global publishing agreement with Concord Music Publishing, the worldwide independent leader in music publishing. (PHOTO BY OMAR CRUZ)
“I’ve been working in Reggae, Dancehall, Afrobeats, Hip Hop Latin and EDM music production for some time and this journey has led me to this partnership with the Concord publishing team. The partnership will allow me the opportunity to expand the reach of my creative output to even more listeners worldwide by working with a team that supports my vision,” DJ Walshy said.
While performing on some of the world’s most prestigious stages and contributing production to Major Lazer’s albums (Free the Universe, Peace is the Mission, Music is the Weapon), Walshy has used his platform to shed light on rising talents within the Caribbean, helping to launch the careers of rising stars like Chronixx and Koffee.
The new deal, effective 1st August 2019, covers all his existing work including collaborations with Koffee(‘Toast’, ‘Throne’), Sean Paul, Chronixx, Rudimental, Anne Marie & Mr Eazi, Wizkid, Diplo, Popeye Caution, WurlD, Kranium, Konshens, Mr. Vegas alongside his work in Major Lazer.
“This is an important million dollar deal, I’m happy that we were able to get Walshy Fire and Concord Music Publishing together ,” manager Ron Andre Elvis Telford of Creative Titans Agency said.
“I’ve known Walshy for years and have witnessed how he has cultivated his craft while gripping Afro/Caribbean/Dance culture. This is long overdue and I’m happy that he will join Daft Punk, Mark Ronson and other music trendsetters on the Concord roster,” he added.
This summer, Walshy also released his first solo album, ABENG (licensed to Mad Decent Records/Because Music) – a first-of-its-kind conversation between Africa and the Caribbean, pairing artists from both regions on tracks spanning afrobeats, dancehall, reggae, soca and EDM.
The intention with ABENG is to “make Caribbean and Africa have a conversation that is louder, and in the same studio or the same stage, at the same time”. As for how the songs come together Walshy notes, “The beats (Afrobeats & Dancehall) can be very similar, any African artist has no problem riding a soca or dancehall riddim.” As the airhorn sound punctuates the dancehall mix to highlight its impact as a current hit song, the abeng is the sound that echoes the pairing of African and Caribbean artists on these tracks.
Commenting on the deal, Concord Music Publishing UK’s Senior A&R Harri Davies said “Walshy’s versatility, energy and positivity as an artist, songwriter and producer is unparalleled – very few can move between genres with absolute fluidity the way he can. We are delighted to be teaming up with him through the next chapter of an already outstanding career.”
Concord is the independent, worldwide leader in the development, management and acquisition of sound recordings, music publishing and theatrical performance rights. Concord has offices in Los Angeles, New York, Nashville, London, Berlin and Miami and operates via three primary operating divisions:
Concord Music Publishing represents more than 390,000 copyrighted works spanning all musical genres and including many of the world’s most celebrated compositions by its most legendary creators.
Walshy Fire is the younger brother of former Jamaica and West Indies fast-bowler Courtney Walsh, Walshy Fire (real name Leighton Paul Walsh) is 37 years old and grew up on Molynes Road in Kingston.
He migrated to Florida after passing the Common Entrance Examinations to attend Kingston College. He attended Clark Atlanta University and Florida A&M University, and has done stints with sound systems Changes (Nannyville), Coppershot, and Black Chiney (United States), a Miami DJ crew known for innovative, trailblazing mixtapes blending R&B and hip-hop with reggae/dancehall.
In 2012, he joined Major Lazer with Thomas “Diplo” Pentz and Trinidadian Christopher “Jillionaire” Leacock.
Major Lazer enjoyed massive success during the EDM craze that started a decade ago. Their string of hit songs include Pon Di Floor (with Vybz Kartel), Watch Out Fi Dis (with Busy Signal), Lean On (with MO), Cold Water (with Justin Bieber), Powerful (with Ellie Goulding and Tarrus Riley) and Bubble Butt (with Bruno Mars, Tyga, 2 Chainz and Jamaican dancer Mystic).
