James Ash
Encyclopedia
James Ash is an English
-born Australian musician
, songwriter
and record producer
. He is the co-founder and keyboardist of Australian electro-rock group, the Rogue Traders
. He can play the keyboard
and "bash out a few chords
on the guitar
".
Ash was born in Windsor
, England
and his early schooling was at Wessex
Gardens, Golders Green
in North London
. and then Ashfold School
in Buckinghamshire
. He and his brother Gary then moved to Langwarrin, Australia
in 1982. The move only lasted 18 months, however, and the boys returned to the UK. Education continued at Paignton College, Devon
- then Cheam High, Surrey
. Ash moved back to Australia
in 1988 for one year and undertook Year 11 at Sandringham Secondary College in Melbourne
.
Ash began writing music in 1989 on a Commodore Amiga. Soon after returning to the UK in 1989, James met long-term collaborator Steve Davis who introduced him to Dance Music and DJing. Meanwhile, James completed his education at Carshalton College
, Carshalton in 1992 and finally emigrated back once again to Melbourne
, Australia
.
Ash joined Melbourne
community based radio
station Hitz FM
in 1993 as an on air announcer. He began DJing in clubs in late 1993.
Ash's first proper DJ gig was at Melbourne
venue 'Lazar's' and was acquired after he lied about his skills as a nightclub DJ. He had actually never DJ'ed in a nightclub before. Ash got dragged off after just ten minutes by the manager
who told him he was rubbish. He convinced the manager to give him another try next week and came into the venue during the daytimes to practise.
Ash has been an active member of Australia's Dj fraternity since 1994, and has held residencies at most of Melbourne's leading clubs over the years.
Ash's first record released was "Be With Me" under the name Faith in Technology through Colossal Records. He quickly followed this up with 'Thunderchild' under the moniker Thunderchild, released through leading Australian Dance label, Vicious Vinyl.
Since 1994 Ash has released over forty remixes and original productions under names including: Faith In Technology, Thunderchild, Elan, Union State and Rogue Traders.
In 1998 Ash turned 25 and moved to Melbourne dance radio station Kiss FM where he remained for the next few years.
In 2000 Ash and long-term collaborator Steve Davis changed the name of their production partnership from Union State to Rogue Traders.
In November 2008 after having enjoyed the success of two hit Rogue Traders albums and while working on the fourth Rogue Traders album, Ash released a dance song "Son of 91" on TV Rock
's record label, making this track the first Ash had released under his own name. The track is a throwback to late eighties to early nineties dance music.
Richards) who appeared on the first Rogue Traders album We Know What You're Up To
and continued to contribute to the writing of the following Rogue Traders albums. They are parents to twin
boys Jack and Ben who were born in 2005.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
-born Australian musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
. He is the co-founder and keyboardist of Australian electro-rock group, the Rogue Traders
Rogue Traders
Rogue Traders are an Australian electronic pop rock band fronted by Melinda "Mindi" Jackson with James Ash on keyboards, Tim Henwood on guitars and Peter Marin on drums. The group's original members met in London in 1989. Before forming Rogue Traders, Ash and Davis worked together on many...
. He can play the keyboard
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
and "bash out a few chords
Chord (music)
A chord in music is any harmonic set of two–three or more notes that is heard as if sounding simultaneously. These need not actually be played together: arpeggios and broken chords may for many practical and theoretical purposes be understood as chords...
on the guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
".
Ash was born in Windsor
Windsor, Berkshire
Windsor is an affluent suburban town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is widely known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and his early schooling was at Wessex
Wessex
The Kingdom of Wessex or Kingdom of the West Saxons was an Anglo-Saxon kingdom of the West Saxons, in South West England, from the 6th century, until the emergence of a united English state in the 10th century, under the Wessex dynasty. It was to be an earldom after Canute the Great's conquest...
Gardens, Golders Green
Golders Green
Golders Green is an area in the London Borough of Barnet in London, England. Although having some earlier history, it is essentially a 19th century suburban development situated about 5.3 miles north west of Charing Cross and centred on the crossroads of Golders Green Road and Finchley Road.In the...
in North London
North London
North London is the northern part of London, England. It is an imprecise description and the area it covers is defined differently for a range of purposes. Common to these definitions is that it includes districts located north of the River Thames and is used in comparison with South...
. and then Ashfold School
Ashfold School
Ashfold School is a private day and boarding preparatory school for about 270 boys and girls aged 3 to 13. It is situated in a Grade 1 Listed Jacobean Mansion named Dorton House in the village of Dorton near the cities of Oxford, Bicester and Aylesbury in the English county of...
in Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
. He and his brother Gary then moved to Langwarrin, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1982. The move only lasted 18 months, however, and the boys returned to the UK. Education continued at Paignton College, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
- then Cheam High, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
. Ash moved back to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1988 for one year and undertook Year 11 at Sandringham Secondary College in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
.
Ash began writing music in 1989 on a Commodore Amiga. Soon after returning to the UK in 1989, James met long-term collaborator Steve Davis who introduced him to Dance Music and DJing. Meanwhile, James completed his education at Carshalton College
Carshalton College
Carshalton College is a further education college located in the Carshalton area of the London Borough of Sutton, in South London, England.The college offers a range of courses for students from the surrounding area including vocational education, ESOL courses, apprenticeships and Access courses...
, Carshalton in 1992 and finally emigrated back once again to Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Ash joined Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
community based radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
station Hitz FM
Hitz-FM (Melbourne)
89.9 Hitz FM was an aspirant broadcaster from 1992 to 2001 in Melbourne. The station ran a series of test broadcasts from various studios in Melbourne's suburbs. In keeping with the youth format nothing over 5 years old was played and staff were to be no older than 25 years. This limit was...
in 1993 as an on air announcer. He began DJing in clubs in late 1993.
Ash's first proper DJ gig was at Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
venue 'Lazar's' and was acquired after he lied about his skills as a nightclub DJ. He had actually never DJ'ed in a nightclub before. Ash got dragged off after just ten minutes by the manager
Management
Management in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
who told him he was rubbish. He convinced the manager to give him another try next week and came into the venue during the daytimes to practise.
Ash has been an active member of Australia's Dj fraternity since 1994, and has held residencies at most of Melbourne's leading clubs over the years.
Ash's first record released was "Be With Me" under the name Faith in Technology through Colossal Records. He quickly followed this up with 'Thunderchild' under the moniker Thunderchild, released through leading Australian Dance label, Vicious Vinyl.
Since 1994 Ash has released over forty remixes and original productions under names including: Faith In Technology, Thunderchild, Elan, Union State and Rogue Traders.
In 1998 Ash turned 25 and moved to Melbourne dance radio station Kiss FM where he remained for the next few years.
In 2000 Ash and long-term collaborator Steve Davis changed the name of their production partnership from Union State to Rogue Traders.
In November 2008 after having enjoyed the success of two hit Rogue Traders albums and while working on the fourth Rogue Traders album, Ash released a dance song "Son of 91" on TV Rock
TV Rock
TV Rock are an Australian dance music duo consisting of Grant Smillie and Ivan Gough.TV Rock entered the mainstream in February 2006 with their hit "Flaunt It" featuring Seany B. which reached #1 for 5 weeks and spent 39 weeks in the Australian ARIA Top 50...
's record label, making this track the first Ash had released under his own name. The track is a throwback to late eighties to early nineties dance music.
Personal life
James is married to singer Melinda Appleby (néeNEE
NEE is a political protest group whose goal was to provide an alternative for voters who are unhappy with all political parties at hand in Belgium, where voting is compulsory.The NEE party was founded in 2005 in Antwerp...
Richards) who appeared on the first Rogue Traders album We Know What You're Up To
We Know What You're up To
We Know What You're Up To is the debut album by Australian dance group Rogue Traders. It was released by Vicious Grooves, Virgin in Australia on 5 May 2003 . After disappointing sales and poor publicity, Rogue Traders was dropped from the label...
and continued to contribute to the writing of the following Rogue Traders albums. They are parents to twin
Twin
A twin is one of two offspring produced in the same pregnancy. Twins can either be monozygotic , meaning that they develop from one zygote that splits and forms two embryos, or dizygotic because they develop from two separate eggs that are fertilized by two separate sperm.In contrast, a fetus...
boys Jack and Ben who were born in 2005.
APRA Award
- 2009APRA Awards of 2009The Australasian Performing Right Association Awards of 2009 are a series of awards which include the APRA Music Awards, Classical Music Awards, and Screen Music Awards. The APRA Music Awards ceremony occurred on 23 June at the Peninsula in Melbourne, they were presented by APRA and the...
Dance Work of the Year win for "Don't You Wanna Feel" written by Jamie Appleby, Steven Davis, Natalie BassingthwaighteNatalie BassingthwaighteNatalie Bassingthwaighte is an Australian actress, singer-songwriter and television personality. She began her career as an actress on the television series All Saints. She then starred in the American television movie Counterstrike...
, Dougal Drummond.