Rise Ashen
Producer, Musician, DJ and Dancer Eric Vani (A.K.A. Rise Ashen) has devoted his life to the study of sound and movement. From his early years as a bboy in Montreal in the late 80's, to his studies at Fanshawe College (North America's Oldest Recording School) and the Banff Centre for the Arts, Eric's focus has been on applying hi-fi knowhow to underground music. His record collection spans Rai, Ancient Music, Traditional and Popular African, South American and Asian music, with Nu-Jazz, Breaks and House as is his primary focus. As a DJ, he blends it all in a worldy mash and is always the sweaty and dynamic life of the party. He has remixed Bebel Gilberto and Duke Ellington, has collaborated with Juno award winner Miguel Graca, Fred Everything, Trevor Walker, Blissom and Teknostep among others and his music has appeared on the compilations of renowned DJs like Rainer Truby and Roger Sanchez, and gets played played by the likes of Masters at Work, Gilles Peterson, Laurent Garnier, Maurice Fulton, Bonobo, 0db among others. You can check out his releases on Afroart, Gotsoul, Dub Fu and Defected to name a few (he has about 35 12 inches out now and 7 artist CDs, not to mention countless mixed CDs, digital singles, and a few CBC radio shows called A NU JAZZ ORDER). He believes music and dance are essential to human culture and that united, artists can lead humanity towards a more enlightened way of living. "We need to make a shift towards long-term thinking"... Quoting Fela Kuti:"when the higher forces give you the gift of musicianship …it must be well used for the good of humanity"