I am Phil Asher – producer, DJ and part of Restless Soul
How would you describe the music you play?
Deep, Soulful Dance Music
Favourite dj experience or musical memory?
Seeing Stevie Wonder Live. Being @ Live Aid. EOL Live in Miami. Having Jerry Dammer’s as a guest at Inspiration Information.
You’re stranded on a desert island with 5 records. What are they?
1. Lee Scratch Perry Anthology
2. Philadelphia Classics LP
3. D’angelo – Voodoo
4. Guem – Rythmes Africains, Afro_Cubains et Orientaux
5. Soul Heaven 10th Anniversary CD
Current music.. In a state or great?
Great, couldn’t be healthier, but it depends on what music your talking about.
If you meant real house, i’d say great. Especially UK house music.
What do you see happening in 2010?
I see a lot of good music coming out of the UK.
Why are you looking forward to the Deep Cover launch party?
A busy dancefloor, full of like minded people having a great time.
Tell us something we don’t know?
Chemtrail’s are hurting our kids.
A Brief Biography
Undoubtedly one of the UK’s most prolific dj/producers and has been indispensable to the progressive musical landscape over the past 15 years.
Phil has completed well in excess of 200 of his own productions, as well as innumerable remixes. From his first gig at Legends and London’s first House club Delirium in 1991 (slipping on a record when Noel Watson went to the toilet) to more recent gigs at, Inspiration Information, and Soul Heaven at Ministry of Sound in London, Phil has played the length and breadth of the UK, as well as, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Portugal, France, Brazil, Japan, Canada, United States, New-Zealand and Australia.
Surrounded by music and records from an early age his Dad worked at Harlequin records, bringing home all the latest releases to a young and eager Phil. He went on to work in Quaff Records and Vinyl Solution, two of London’s finest record stores, instrumental in pushing house and soulful music in London.
Along with Luke McCarthy, Phil is the founding member of the restless soul Production Team, which also incorporates producers Dominic Jacobson, Taxi Driver, Aaron Ross and Felix Hopkins and Latest recruits Jose Carretas, Bopstar & Craig Whitfield (HHA). He also produces under various aliases and he is also recognised as being one of the pioneering forces in the West London (Broken beat) movement. Phil has been an instrumental part to the scene, from being a founding member of the CO-OP club alongside Dego, I.G.Culture and Demus, Afronaut & G-Force, to representing and promoting the West London sound worldwide.
He is one of those hardworking soul soldiers trying to unite the love for soulful music, breaking down musical frontiers and releasing an eclectic output of quality music.
His first album production was for New Zealand’s Nathan Haines. The production of ‘Sound Travels’ really showed Phil’s true skills. Three years down the track and the collaboration continues. Nathan Haines second album ”Squire for Hire” was released. Again you can hear the distinct yet eclectic sound of Phil’s writing and production skills.
In 2002 French label Versatile approached him to produce an album. The label bosses used the exact words of, “you can do whatever you want”. He did just that and the result is “Sweet and Sour” a bittersweet journey into the eclectic preferences of Phil Asher. The Co-op anthem “Having your Fun” rocked the dancefloors on all music genres.
Present Day
The current project for Phil now is producing two new songwriters, Shea Soul and Zansika, with Songs out on Seasons recordings, Raw Fusion, Loungin and
forthcoming on Especial and Suburban. He has just finished recording an Lp called “Deep Electronic Sound” under the guise Phlash & Friends, on Archive Records.
featuring Shea, Zansika, Light Particle, Mark de Clive-Lowe, Karizma, Zaf, Danny Huckridge, Lady Alma, Ommas & Benji B, Sandra Nkake and a host of discovered and yet to be found talent. Phil once again will be doing whatever he wants on this project, but stresses it should be filled under House Music.
As quoted by journalist Jan Peeters, “With an admirable sense of energy and spontaneity he’ll encounter anything that crosses his many paths and turn it into a musical piece of art. Phil Asher truly is…a master at work.”
(Plastiks 58)
Discography Productions
Selected Singles
Artist / Title / Label
Pascals Bongo Massive / Don’t Get Me Started / Tomato
Global Logic / The Tank/Laugh of Life / Basement 282
The Rising Suns / Lessons EP / Henry Street Music
Nu Romantix / Loves Comin’/81141418 / Koldhouse
World of Left Foot / Hypnotic / Basement 282
Los Jugaderos / Let Me Down Easy / Jus Trax
Unknown Factor / Moonlite / Defender
Overstreet / Overture / Tronicsole
E.Q. lateral / EP / Basement 282
Basic Soul / Re-present/ Over the Moon / Basement 282
Electric Soul / A New Song/Here come one / People
Phlash 3000 / EP / Estereo
12-Bit Rephugees / Locust / Bittasweet
restless soul / Psykodelic / Basement 282
Phoojun / Blacurrent / Co-op
Phoojun / Rainbow / restless soul
restless soul / Let Your Feelings Show / 2000 Black
restless soul feat. Maiya James / Peace In My Life / Clair Audience
Nathan Haines / BELIEVE / Chillifunk
Nathan Haines / Earth is the Place / Chillifunk
Phil Asher / Namby it Aint / restless soul music
Phlash & Friends revolution = solution,
Look at what we’ve done, Runnin,
Exaltation Archive Records
Albums
Artist / Title / Label
Nathan Haines / Sound Travels & Squire For Hire / Chillifunk
Focus / Sweet and Sour / Versatile
Vanessa Freeman / Shades / Chillifunk
Boutique Breaks / Library LP / Boosey & Hawkes
Phlash & Friends / Deep Electronic Sound / Archive Records
Recently remixed Artists
Alison Crockett, No Tenshun, Champion Soul, Jamiroquai, Geofrey Williams, Lekan Babeloa, Bah Samba, Light 4 Lines, Roy Ayers, Arnold Jarvis, Charles Matlock, Invisible Session, Isoul8, Jazztronic, Josh Milan, Landslide, Lyric L, Peven Everret, Reel People, Root Soul, Quentin Harris, Joi Cardwell, Afronaught, Blackjoy, Brotherly, Simbad & Dame Shirley Bassey. EmptyHeads, Love Over Money, Zed Bias & Jenna G, Floriders, Bopstar.
Roc n Kato *with Noel Watson / Jungle Kisses (Level 3 mixes)* / Slip n Slide
Cassio Ware / I Like You / Pan
DBX / Aint There Yet / Disco Sole
Bah Samba / Portuguese Love / BKO
Fonda Rae / Livin’In Exctasy / Freetown
Smoke City / Agua’s de Marco / Jive
Fini Dolo / Blow / Arthrob
Lisa Shaw / Always / Naked Music
Neon Phusion / Space Jam / Laws Of Motion
Ramsey & Co. / Love Call / BBE
Daddies Favourite / I Feel Good Things / Go Discs
Don E / Dom P / Exploding Plastic
Kareem / Better / Exploding Plastic
Tito Puente / Oye Como Va (unreleased) / MCA
Jamiroquai* / Supersonic & Dynamite / Sony
UFO / Somewhere / Brownswood
Nubian Mindz / Black Science / Archive
Bugz In The Attic / Thinkin’ of You / Bittasweet
Summerland / Soul Mate / Naked Music
Kyoto Jazz Massive / Nacer Do Soul / Yellow Productions
Sia Furler W/ Roy the Roach / Taken For Granted / Long Lost Brother
Friel / West of Motebe / Transfusion
Charlie Watts/Jim Keltner / Airto / Virgin
Da Lata / Binti / Palm Pictures
Jeymes Samuel / When It Rains / Giant Step
Mark De Clive-Love / El Dia Perfecto / Universal
Da Lata / Binti / Palm Pictures
Gigi / Gudfella / Palm Pictures
4 Hero / Ways of Thought / Talkin’ Loud
Jody Watley / Photographs / Chillifink
Earth Wind and Fire / Let’s Groove / Sony Japan
Terri Walker / Ching Ching / Def Soul
Izzy Dunn / Fire / Fireworx
Blaze feat. Amira / Think of You V Slip ‘n Slide
Reel People / Butterflies / Papa Records
BlackJoy / Metalbossa / Project recordings
The Tornadoes / Hui Hui / Antipodean Records
Flowriders / Russelology / NY Soul
Love Over Money / Keep on / Tone Control
Zed Bias & Jenna / Let me change your mind / Development music
Compilations
Artist / Title / Label
Various / Jazz In The House 1-14 / Slip ‘n Slide
Various / Trust A DJ Vol 1-2 / Trust a DJ
Various / Phil Asher vs Chillfunk / Chillifunk
Phil Asher Presents / a restless soul collage / Village Again
Phil is Currently busy releasing Songs Via restless soul records, as well as running Inspiration Information, He has just finished remixing Kathy Brown for the Layabouts & George Levin For BBE Records, Catch Him @ a Club Near you Soon.
