Ashley Maher

Bio

ASHLEY MAHER is a rare artist, a singer-songwriter who melds her Western roots with a deep and loyal passion for the rhythms and traditions of African music, especially Senegalese mbalax. Her highly individual and infectious brand of world/folk/jazz has gained her an international following, seven acclaimed albums, and performances with several major African icons.

Ashley was born in Canada to British parents, and now divides her time between Los Angeles and Dakar, Senegal. After a very musical childhood, she studied in opera in Italy, before realizing that she was hungry to connect with her most natural voice. At this key point, she happened upon an Ewe drumming class by Ghanaian master drummer, C.K. Ladzekpo, at UC Berkeley.

"I felt as though I had been hit by lightening. Every cell in my body lit up like a candle."

Ashley studied with Ladzekpo for two years, absorbing rhythms that already felt uncannily natural to her. Upon graduating, she relocated to London's flourishing global music scene. Her demos, recorded with London's premier dance / drumming group, Adzido, led to bids from five labels and two well-received albums for Virgin Records: Hi (1990) and Pomegranate (1992).

From then until now, Ashley's Life Path has been her passion for building a musical bridge between Western and West African music, performing internationally and recording, with Los Angeles as her home base. In 2007, Senegalese superstar Youssou N'Dour recorded a song that Ashley had co-written with Jason Hann called Boul Bayekou. Soon afterwards, Youssou flew her to Dakar and then Paris to perform for his shows as a sabar dancer in 2008.

Since then, Ashley has traveled to Senegal over twenty times to record, perform, collaborate, and film her music videos. In 2009, she recorded her fifth album, Amina, produced by Cameroonian bassist Andre Manga and recorded both in Los Angeles and at Youssou N'Dour's guitarist, Jimi Mbaye's home in Dakar. Through crowd-funding, she also recorded her sixth album (Yes) and seventh album (Made in Senegal) at Papis Konate's busy studio in Sacre Coeur, Dakar. The result is Ashley's sunny Californian vocals, stories, and harmonies, stirred into a rich, fresh, steaming, intricate brew of vintage and modern mbalax.

Ashley and Dox Daje, (her Dakar-based band) performed at the international Saint Louis Jazz Festival in 2021 and the Dialaw Festival in Senegal in 2022. Booking agencies Odaras Productions (Switzerland) and Makeda Productions (Senegal) are currently representing them for international touring. Wherever Ashley performs, whether onstage with a large band or acoustic, audiences are enchanted by the soaring voice, ardent song-craft, nimble movements, and mesmerizing stage presence of a True Artist. As a British critic once said of her:

"Today, Ashley's a cult figure for a discerning few. Tomorrow, perhaps, she'll be a heroine for millions."

Posts

Ashley Maher's picture

Ashley Maher added 2 new videos

Ashley Maher - By My Side @ The Mint, Los Angeles
Ashley Maher - Why Do You Cry This Way? @ The Mint, Los Angeles
Ashley Maher's picture

Ashley Maher added a new video

Ashley Maher - Lucky @ The Mint, Los Angeles
Ashley Maher's picture

Ashley Maher added 2 new videos

Ashley Maher - Lucky @ Silvana, New York
Ashley Maher - Salt and Pepper @ Silvana, New York
Ashley Maher's picture

Ashley Maher added a new video

Ashley Maher - Honeycomb Grey @ Green Note, London

Music

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And I Believe
04:35
SoundCloud
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Babalu
05:05
SoundCloud
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By My Side
04:49
SoundCloud
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Crown For Adorning
04:53
SoundCloud
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Gracefully
03:47
SoundCloud
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Hmm
04:38
SoundCloud
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Northern Star
04:02
SoundCloud
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Ogoniland
04:08
SoundCloud
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Seven
04:05
SoundCloud
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Singing Trees
04:54
SoundCloud
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Spin Wild
04:46
SoundCloud
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Why This Now?
04:30
SoundCloud
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You Are The One For Me
04:07
SoundCloud
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Lucky
04:41
SoundCloud
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Ashley Maher 1
Try to Hide
04:11
SoundCloud
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Ashley Maher 1
Amina
04:37
SoundCloud
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Ashley Maher 1
And I Believe
04:35
SoundCloud
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Got To Go
04:21
SoundCloud
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Small Boats
04:35
SoundCloud
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Helpless
04:10
SoundCloud
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Sweet Mystery
03:46
SoundCloud
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Tune With The Music
03:35
SoundCloud
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Ashley Maher 1
Why This Now?
04:30
SoundCloud
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Ashley Maher 1
Yes
04:08
SoundCloud

Videos

Ashley Maher - By My Side @ The Mint, Los Angeles
Ashley Maher - Why Do You Cry This Way? @ The Mint, Los Angeles
Ashley Maher - Lucky @ The Mint, Los Angeles
Ashley Maher - Lucky @ Silvana, New York
Ashley Maher - Salt and Pepper @ Silvana, New York
Ashley Maher - Honeycomb Grey @ Green Note, London
Ashley Maher - Helpless, feat Fatou Ware Mboup - Dialaw Fest, Senegal
Ashley Maher - Habib Faye - feat Birame Dieng
Ashley Maher - GoFundMe 2023 for Dialaw Festival
Ashley Maher - By My Side @ Bayékou - Dakar, Senegal
Ashley Maher - Ogoniland @ Bayékou - Dakar, Senegal
Ashley Maher - Let's Watch the Way it Goes @ Bayékou - Dakar, Senegal
Ashley Maher - And I Believe @ Bayékou - Dakar, Senegal
Ashley Maher - Lucky - Acoustic in Dakar
Ashley Maher - Yes @ Saint Louis Jazz Festival, Senegal
Ashley Maher - Helpless @ Saint Louis Jazz Festival, Senegal
Ashley Maher - Why This Now? - Dakar, Senegal
Ashley Maher (GoFundMe) Performing @ Saint Louis Jazz Fest & Dakar Biennale
Ashley Maher - Sweet Mystery - Live in Dakar 2021
Ashley Maher - Singing Trees, Live in Dakar 2021
Ashley Maher - Why This Now? Live, in Dakar, Senegal
Ashley Maher - Yes - Live in Dakar, Senegal
Ashley Maher - Northern Star
BRING IT - Etu Dieng and Ashley Maher
Ashley Maher - Low Hanging Fruit
Brand New by Ashley Maher - featuring Lornoar & Amira Abed
Andre Hosoi & Ashley Maher - Bay
Ashley Maher - Brand New: Marimba & Guitar
Ashley Maher - Amina
Ashley Maher - Dakar Shows Prepare for Morocco Tour (GoFundMe 2020)
Ashley Maher - Box
Ashley Maher - Singing Trees
Ashley Maher - Space (Making Of) - Dakar, Senegal
Ashley Maher - Northern Star (Making Of): Thierno Sarr on Bass
Ashley Maher - Box (Making Of) in Dakar, Senegal
Ashley Maher - Sweet Mystery (Making Of) in Dakar, Senegal
Ashley Maher - Singing Trees (Making Of) in Dakar, Senegal
Ashley Maher - Demos to Dakar 2018
Ashley Maher - Northern Star (demo for CD 7)
Ashley Maher - Space (demo for CD 7)
Ashley Maher - Tune With the Music (Official)
Ashley Returns to Senegal for CD 7 (2018)
Ashley Maher - ODIN & The Fountain (demo for CD 7)
Ashley Maher - Singing Trees (demo for CD 7)
Ashley Maher - Box (demo for CD 7)
Ashley Maher - Helpless
Ashley Maher - Let's Watch the Way it Goes
Ashley Maher - Morning Walk
Ashley Maher - Got to Go
Ashley Maher @ Konate Studios - "Helpless" (CD - YES)
Ashley Maher - Over the Rainbow w/ Nick Mancini & Federico Ramos
My daughter taught me this. : )
Ashley Maher & Federico Ramos - Covers
Youssou N'Dour - Doole - Choreography for Loretta by Ashley Maher
Ashley Maher - Lucky - répétition à Dakar, filmé par WALF TV (Face A) 2011
Ashley Maher to Record New Music in Senegal (2016)
Ashley Maher - I Want to Make it Grow @ WitZend, Feb '15
Alioune Mbaye Nder - Emigré: w/ Fallou, Ashley, et Kara
Ashley Maher - Lift Your Heels @ Blue Whale, Nov '13
Kara Mack - Dance Solo @ Blue Whale, Nov. '13
Ashley Maher - Ogoniland @ Blue Whale, Nov. '13
Ashley Maher - You Are the One for Me @ Blue Whale, Nov. '13
Ashley Maher - Small Boats @ Blue Whale, Nov '13
Ashley Maher - Got to Go @ Blue Whale, Nov '13
Ashley Maher - By My Side @ Blue Whale, Nov '13
HAPPY w/ Ashley Maher (Thank U, Pharrell !!)
Ashley Maher - Small Boats (Acoustic) @ Blue Whale Jazz Club, May '13
Ashley Maher - Spin Wild (official video)
Pape Diouf: Keurgui La Maison / Ashley Maher & Fallou Ndiaye au Fête Gambian
Ashley Maher - The Diva and the Rent
Sabar L.A. - Backstage Rehearsal w/ The String Cheese Incident @ Greek Theater 2012
Sundiata's Graduation Day from University 2012
Ashley Maher in Italia per 2 Tannebeers !! Brescia e Bergamo
Ashley Maher - SOON & sabar @ LA's Gambian Party 2012
Tassou + Tama: Goorgoorlu et Samba Ndokh Mbaye à JUST 4 U, 2011
Ashley Maher - Interview pour WALF TV (Face A) 2011
Ashley Maher et Goorgoorlu - On Dit Merci @ JUST 4 U, 2011
Ashley Maher - Helpless @ JUST 4 U: feat Alioune Guisse 2011
Ashley Maher - Soon @ JUST 4 U avec Goorgoorlu, 2011
Ashley Maher - Soon - répétition à Dakar, filmé par WALF TV (Face A) 2011
Baye Diop et Ibou Mbaye Improvisent à Dakar 2011
Jean-Philippe Rykiel improvises w/ Ashley Maher demo - Paris 2011
Thione Seck - Maria Chantal: dansé par Ashley Maher ak Pepe Sow
Youssou N'Dour - Ndakaru: dansé par Goorgoorlu
Balla Diouf - Sabar Solo bi Neexna
Ashley Maher - By My Side (LIve in Los Angeles)
Ashley Maher - Small Boats (avec Ndigueul MC)
Ashley Maher - Coupé Décalé @ JUST 4 U, Dakar / Sénégal 2010
Ashley Maher - Lucky @ JUST 4 U, Dakar, Sénégal
Ashley Maher - Try to Hide @ JUST 4 U, Dakar / Sénégal
Ashley Maher - Small Boats (Live in LA) w/ Thiane Diouf
Ashley Maher - Amazing Grace @ Talking Stick, L.A. 2010
Ashley Maher - AMINA CD Release Fête à Los Angeles '10
ASHLEY MAHER - Try to Hide
Ashley Maher & Samba Guisse @ Gambia's Independence Day party - L.A.
Goorgoorlu - Thiantgui
TITI - "Bulma Tanal" dansé par Ashley Maher
PIKINE Sabar 1 !!! Ceebu Jën + Pape Seck, Ashley Maher
PIKINE Sabar 3 !!! Alioune Badara et Pape Seck
PIKINE Sabar 2 !!!
PIKINE Sabar 4 !!! Un bel solo de Fass
Youssou N'Dour w/ Aziz Faye, Bintu Ly, Riche Faye @ UCLA '07
Youssou N'Dour w/ Aziz Faye + RIche Faye @ UCLA '07: Beugue dou Bagne
Ashley Maher - Jumping Mouse @ Inn on the Green, London '09
Ashley Maher - Ogoniland @ Inn on the Green, London '09
Youssou N'Dour - Ndobine, Bercy '05 dansé par Ashley Maher
Ashley Maher - Crown for Adorning @ Royce Hall '08
Youssou N'Dour avec Goorgoorlu + Titi à Sorano, Dakar '08 #3
Youssou NDour: Ashley & Bamba derrière la scene (backstage) '08
Youssou N'Dour avec Aziz Faye + Ashley Maher à Dakar '08
Youssou N'Dour w/ Ashley Maher + Ndeye Gueye à Sorano, Dakar
Youssou N'Dour avec Goorgoorlu à Sorano, Dakar '08 #1
Youssou N'Dour avec Goorgoorlu à Sorano, Dakar '08 #2
Youssou N'Dour in L.A. / Ashley Maher & Pape Ndione's solos '07
USLos Angeles, United States
In operation since: 
1990

Contact

+1 310 985 3646
+1 310 985 3646
Ashley Maher
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