Leighton Paul Walsh (born May 3, 1976), better known by his stage name Walshy Fire, is a Jamaican AmericanDJ, MC and record producer. He is part of the dancehall reggae-influenced group Major Lazer alongside fellow DJs Diplo and Ape Drums.[1] Walshy Fire toured with the Black Chiney sound system beginning in 2004. Black Chiney is cited as a significant influence on the evolution of Major Lazer with its mashups that blend hip hop or R&B rhythms with reggae & R&B artist vocal tracks and its representation of the Jamaican sound system.[2] The subsequent mix tapes that the Black Chiney collective of DJs, engineers and MCs would develop were the training ground for Walshy to become a remix producer.
Walshy Fire has been influenced by reggae and dancehall traditions. In 2013, he said: "my sole purpose with this Major Lazer thing is to bring back some glory and international exposure [for] reggae and dancehall."[4] His favorite reggae riddim is "The Answer" by the iconic producer Coxsone Dodd.[6]
Since 2012, Walshy Fire has presided as master of ceremonies for Major Lazer. In 2013, he described his role as follows:
Basically, Diplo is the selector and I'm the MC. He's the one that picks the records and mixes the records and I'm the one that's out front and presents the records to people, makes speeches that makes the records make sense, and pulls up the records. I give the crowd humor when it's time to give them humor, emotion when it's time to give them emotion, and just keep the whole vibe intense throughout the whole set.[4]
He has contributed to production on the Major Lazer releases Apocalypse Soon and Peace is the Mission.[7] In the latter album, he cowrote the Chronixx song "Blaze Up The Fire" and lent his vocals to "Too Original". Walshy Fire contributed to production on the Know No Better EP with Major Lazer. Walshy Fire along with Diplo & Jillionaire host the Major Lazer Lazer Sound[8] program on Apple Music's Beats 1. With Major Lazer Walshy Fire has collaborated with artists from a variety of genres maintaining a commitment to cultural authenticity and in particular with regard to Caribbean music subgenres.[9]
On March 6, 2016, Major Lazer made the first appearance by a major American pop group in Cuba since the reinstatement of diplomatic relations.[10]
One year after the release of Peace is the Mission, Major Lazer announced the planned release of a new song with Justin Bieber and MØ entitled "Cold Water", which will be the lead track to the next Major Lazer album. This is a follow-up to "Lean On" which featured MØ and has been played 149 million times via Major Lazer's SoundCloud and its official music video which has received 1.4 billion YouTube views.[11]
Walshy Fire launched a label in 2015 with its roots in Jamaica's sound system culture,[12] and extending into other genres including hip-hop. Work with Caribbean artists and the presentation of the various subgenres of their music styles to wider audiences[13] through live sets, pre-recorded mixes and broadcast music programs has fueled the Walshy Fire Presents label concept.[14]
As a solo DJ,[15] Walshy Fire has held residencies in several Miami clubs over the years. He continues to tour globally performing sets with mashups from multiple genres including reggae dancehall, roots reggae, soca, house, bass, moombahton, Latin, Afrobeat, hip-hop and old school R&B presented by MC commentary that sets up the songs for the listener.[16] Walshy Fire performs sets as part of his signature Rum & Bass concept which mixes world-influenced dance grooves with carnival culture.
On June 7, 2019, Walshy Fire Presents: ABENG was released on Mad Decent Records.[17] Walshy curated a first-of-its-kind conversation between Africa and the Caribbean, pairing artists from both regions on tracks spanning afrobeats, dancehall, soca and EDM. As Walshy Fire explains, "The intention of ABENG is to make the Caribbean and Africa have a conversation that is louder, and in the same studio or the same stage, at the same time."
As a producer Walshy Fire has contributed to several dancehall, reggae, and EDM projects. He is a co-producer on two songs: "Toast" & "Throne" on the Grammy-winning EP in the Reggae category by Jamaican artist Koffee entitled Rapture. "Toast" has been featured in TV and film, including the Jordan Peele major motion picture Us.[18]
In July 2019, Walshy Fire signed a global publishing deal with Concord Music Publishing that covered all of his existing work.[19]
In 2021 he opened the Dante's Hifi vinyl bar in Miami, Florida.[20]
