Will Ashon (born 1969) is an English writer and novelist, former music journalist and founder of the Big Dada imprint of Ninja Tune records.[1]
Will Ashon | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1969 (age 54–55) Leicester, England |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupation(s) | Journalist, record label executive, novelist |
| Labels | Big Dada |
| Website | Big Dada Recordings |
Ashon was educated at Countesthorpe Community College and Balliol College, Oxford.[1] In the mid-1990s he worked as a music journalist specialising in hip hop for publications including Trace, Muzik and Hip Hop Connection.[2] In 1997 he started the record label Big Dada in conjunction with Ninja Tune, signing and releasing albums by artists including Roots Manuva, Diplo, Speech Debelle and Wiley.[2]
His works of fiction include three novels titled Clear Water (2006),[3] The Heritage (2008)[4] and The Passengers (2022)[5] (all published by Faber and Faber). Strange Labyrinth, a non-fictional exploration of Epping Forest, was published in 2017,[6] and a collection of dialogues titled Not Far from the Junction, published by London independent publisher Open Pen.[7] He left Big Dada in February 2014.[8] In 2019 he returned to the subject of hip hop and released a "genre defying"[9] book about the Wu-Tang Clan's debut album entitled Chamber Music: Enter the Wu-Tang (in 36 Pieces).[10]
References
edit- ^ a b Marianne Brace (15 February 2008). "Will Ashon: a thoroughly modern novelist". The Independent. Archived from the original on 26 February 2010. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
- ^ a b "Well Deep release page". Big Dada website.
- ^ Hawes, James (22 July 2006). "Review: Clear Water by Will Ashon". the Guardian. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
- ^ Ashon, Will (2008). The Heritage. Faber & Faber. ISBN 9780571231041.
- ^ "The Passengers by Will Ashon review – voices of a nation". the Guardian. 4 August 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
- ^ "Strange Labyrinth - Granta Books". Granta Books. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
- ^ London, Open Pen (21 May 2020). "Not Far From The Junction". Open Pen. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
- ^ "Will Ashon on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
- ^ "'Genre-defying' second book from Ashon to Granta | The Bookseller". www.thebookseller.com. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
- ^ Ashon, Will (November 2018). Chamber Music: Enter the Wu-Tang (in 36 Pieces). Granta Books. ISBN 9781783784035.
External links
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