Photo curtesy of thejunctionmusicfestival.com
The musical climate of today feels like it’s at a crossroads. We’re seeing the same old stuff coming out on the top 40 but occasionally, there is a break out that brings its own voice to the people. These breaks can happen to musicians from any corner of the musical world. The point is more artists that aren’t the classic “pop” sound have found success these days than they have in a long time.
For some though, the road is still long and the end is unclear. I was lucky enough to find one such musician, Ahi, while he tries to find the right road. Ahi, describes himself as indie-soul, a blending of influences to create a reflection of the genre in today’s atmosphere. Soul music is storied but a new chapter has not been written in a long time, that’s where his generation comes in. Soul singer/songwriters like Leon Bridges, Michael Kiwanuka, and now Ahi have emerged from all over to bring some new life to a style that was once the most vibrant in the music business.
Ahi hails from Toronto, Canada, a city with a music scene but no business. While some really talented artists have come out of the city, towns like New York or LA are still where the industry lies. He found himself at an open mic in the East Village, hosted by the famous Sidewalk Cafe last Monday night. That’s where I met him, sitting in a crowded room watching New York City’s best, bravest, and often strangest performers take the stage. After drawing numbers we all took our seats so the night could begin.
Ahi and I sat next to each other, noting the talent of some and the uniqueness of many. He drew number 24, a slot that wouldn’t put him on until after midnight and as the night began at 7:30, waiting there for five hours seemed like a daunting task. But after a couple hours of internal debate, it was decided, he would take the stage.
The Toronto native just came back to this hemisphere after playing clubs around the U.K. and while London provided its own unique scene, he remarked on just how different New York City really is. Music is this man’s passion and his living, he spoke about how there is money to be made in Canada making music but the real discoveries come out of the states.
So, after hours of waiting and talking, it was finally time for him to come up to the mic. The music that Ahi produces is remarkable, raspy and soulful, he sings with a power that completely silenced the room. Earlier in the night I asked what song he was going to play and he told me he felt like playing Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come.” Of all the songs I know and love this has got to be the most vocally challenging, I knew immediately that I needed to wait it out so I could hear him. Let me tell you, it was worth missing a few trains back home. The opening line may be the most daunting in the entire song, not only does it demand a difficult vocal performance but it also sets the stage for the rest of it. And from the first note, Ahi had us all.
He truly made the soul standard his own, playing a stripped down rendition while maintaining the full bodied sound of the original. The four minutes of the performance felt like slow motion, and it was without a doubt the most quiet the crowd was all night. After the song I walked up to the soft spoken soul singer, shook his hand, told him I was in awe and left for Penn Station, knowing full well I just witnessed a man destined for fame.
Ahi’s music can be found here, and offers some really amazing stuff. I can’t stress enough that people who like Michael Kiwanuka, J Boog, Ray LaMontagne, or just good music in general look him up right away. Here, I’ll make it even easier for you, this is Ahi playing Bob Marley’s “No Woman No Cry” with his daughter at his side.
-Ryan Schmitz
