Ash Walker’s track ‘Afronaught’ flips the title of his fourth album ‘Astronaut’ on its head so it feels only right that it is the first track to get the remix treatment from none other than label mate, legendary DJ and producer Ron Trent who propels it into another multiverse. Consequently the track oozes with the confidence you can only get from being a master of the game for quite some time. There is an effortlessness to the way it builds skittish yet undulating, simultaneously shrouded in a reverberating cosmic atmosphere guided by Fiddler’s vocals but rooted by taught and precise driving bass hits. The type of remix which could easily send you into psychedelic euphoria at 6am at the end of a night or prime you with the courage to saunter into the club and begin such an escapade in the first place.
The original track and therefore remix notably features vocals from funk maestro and prolific collaborator and mentor Amp Fiddler who sadly passed away in December last year. Ash Walker had this to say on his influence and Trent’s rework: ‘Having recently very sadly lost a dear friend, mentor, collaborator and huge inspiration of mine - Amp Fiddler, it was very touching to hear how Ron Trent reinterpreted Amp and I’s track together ‘Afronaught’. Label buddy Ron was able to steer Afronaught in a Chicago style, Acid House inspired direction which compliments Amp’s vocal perfectly, giving the track a new lease of life. Amp was such a pioneer and embodiment of Afrofuturism who never ceased to push boundaries, proving that us as black musicians have the power to defy genre and surpass societal expectations. Amp’s spirit will live on eternally, not only through the music he created in his lifetime but also through all the artists he nurtured and influenced worldwide.”
Ron Trent’s remix marks just the beginning of this journey, a sonic flare if you will lighting up the way for the projects to come. Walker further contextualises the release; “Following on from the release of my fourth album Astronaut in Summer 2023, I’m very proud to announce a selection of remixes from some of my favourite artists including K15, Kennebec, Ron Trent and Tiger Smith. It's been beautiful to hear how these producers have breathed new life into Astronaut; from K15’s broken beat flip of ‘Time Gets Wasted’ featuring Sly5thAve and Denitia to Tiger Smith’s two-step version of ‘Only Love’ featuring Lou Rhodes.’
Ash Walker’s ‘Astronaut’ received support from publications such as COLORS, METAL Magazine, Wonderland, Clash, My Analogue Journal and radio support from BBC 6 Music, KCRW, Triple R, Rinse FM, RTBF and others. A selection of remixes of Ash Walker’s kaleidoscopic afrofuturist album ‘Astronaut’ will follow over the coming months. Watch this space.
