Ashley Henry – Who We Are

London-born, multi-disciplinary talent Ashley Henry delivers vibrant silhouettes across his latest offering “Who We Are” – via Naïve Records.

A dazzling exploration of self-love and enlightenment, “Who We Are” effortlessly encapsulates Ashley’s thoughtful, free-form artistry. Flaunting his dream-like falsetto that playfully intertwines with emotive piano licks and warm percussive textures, the jazzy self-produced backing stands as a canvas for the South East London musician to express his unshakeable self-belief. He utilises the force of his past and present experiences and delivers serenity towards faith and togetherness that elevates us to believe in what we love. An inspired lightning rod for Black artists finding solace in their creative and ethereal journeys, Ashley Henry is quickly becoming one of the most important figures across the UK jazz landscape.

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Speaking on the track, Ashley adds: “Rather than looking to others through the lens of consumerism, ‘Who We Are’ is a mantra for collective consciousness – holding each other’s dreams as close as our own, looking to each other for inspiration, comfort, and sustenance, forging new ways into a future.”

Taking on inspirations that reflect his London upbringing and Jamaican heritage, Ashley Henry’s genre-bending sound and collaborative practice draw from classical training and being a diligent student of the Black radical traditions. Exposed to futurism and history, pulse, restlessness and poise, the young talent naturally gravitated towards muses that have shaped his complex artistry today. From the powerful words of James Baldwin and Angela Davis to the soulful pieces of Ahmed Jamal and George Benson, Ashley’s vivid expressions of Jazz culture feel as beautiful as it does meaningful.

Ashley Henry is steadily becoming a true alchemist of the creative arts. After touring globally with Christine and the Queens and supporting Loyle Carner across the UK, he released his highly-acclaimed album Beautiful Vinyl Hunter in 2019; earning well over 6.5M streams on Spotify alone and a nomination for BBC 6 Music’s Album Of The Year. Boasting collaborations with GRAMMY Award-Winning producers Blue Lab Beats and UK favourite Frankie Stew and Harvey Gunn, Ashley went on to headline the infamous Brick Lane Jazz Festival 2023, rubbing shoulders with homegrown talent incl. Bel Cobain, Reuben James and Lex Amor before delivering his stunning body of work My Voice EP – adding another significant project to an already polished discography.

Now boasting critical acclaim across the likes of THE GUARDIAN, EVENING STANDARD, CLASH and NOTION, Ashley Henry’s high-calibre approach looks set to continue to garner fans and column inches in 2024. Get ready to hear a whole lot more.