Ashley Davies is regarded as one of Australia’s most innovative drummers and finest drummer/songwriters
Throughout a career spanning 2 decades, Davies has covered many miles of rich musical terrain and clocked up a dazzling score of credits to his name.
As one half of matt walker and Ashley davies, he won an ARIA award and opened for the likes of bob Dylan and patti smith, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, The Cruel Sea, Gomez, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, The Cowboy Junkies, ZZ Top, Cold Chisel and Junior Brown.
As a drummer who is able to adapt to many styles of drumming Davies has recorded, done sessions, toured and played live with some of Australia’s great and well known artists and also with those musicians and songwriters that he feels great appreciation musically for what they are doing. Jeff lang, chris whiitley, tex perkins, lisa miller, jordie lane, luluc, the backsliders, steve lucas (x), chris Wilson and the crown of thorns, abbie cardwell, rory ellis, nathan porter, dave mccomb, the blackeyed susans, tess mckenna. In 2000 he had the unique opportunity to be part of the Music As Medicine World Music Project and worked with Native American, Tibetan, Maori and Australian Aboriginal people to record the CD Welcome To The People.
As a composer, his music has featured in major Australian films such as Somersault, Australian Rules and the tele series The Silence. He has written soundtracks for films by Melbourne filmmaker Bayden Findlay. Mia Dyson and Matt Walker have also performed and recorded songs written by him.
In 2001 Davies launched his CD and live road show of Ned Kelly, which he produced with noted historian Ian Jones. This project tells the story of the legendary Australian outlaw and bushranger. The album won the 2001 Best Australian Debut CD in Rhythms Magazine Reader’s Poll. When it premiered at the Apollo Bay Music Festival it played to packed houses and was voted the highlight of the festival by the Melbourne Age newspaper. It has since toured to several Australian festivals including the prestigious Perth International Arts Festival.
With his new solo project Muscle Drum Music volumes 1 and 2, Ashley Davies comes to the fore as one of this country's great drummer-songwriters. A thrilling rhythmic adventure, Muscle Drum Music was recorded almost entirely by Davies on two drum kits, guitar, harmonica and with no loops or samples. true solo records, written from the drums up and built on their own driving grooves.
Press
Release:
Produced by Ashley Davies Muscle Drum Music Volume Two sees Ash stretch out on the same rhythm and musical themes he first hit on with MDM Vol 1. Ash is still playing the drums, guitars, harps and doing vocals but for this recording he called on some friends to add their musical expertise to the muscle drum music sound. Ross Irwin – Cat Empire (trumpet). Jake Mason – Cookin on Three Burners – (Hammond, piano). Craig Woodward – Headbelly Buzzard – (banjo, fiddle).
“I’ve been waiting for this since it’s predecessor, and I’ve gotta say right off the bat, I’m not disappointed in the slightest. This is masterful and it’s something I’ll be listening to for some time to come.” Sam Fell – Rhythms
“A lot more full and textured than your average drum clinic…… Davies’ gleeful momentum rarely fails to translate.” Michael Dwyer – Rolling Stone
“…a superb solo album…..reinstates this powerhouse drummer’s credentials…..made for winding the windows down and cranking the volume” Jarrod Watt – ABC Radio
“Toe-tapping rhythms, syncopated grooves and general percussive overload. A worthy alternative to doof-doof dance music for your next shindig.” Jesse Shrock –
A soundtrack that transports you to the crashing early morning waves of Australian surf beaches. CON SARAZEN mX Magazine,
With Muscle Drum Music, Davies reveals himself as a multi-faceted musical artist; one of those rare musicians who writes his own songs, plays all his own instruments, and is talented enough to justify being called a ‘one-man band’. Don’t you just hate them? SIMON GORDON The Dues
“A brilliant showcase for the musicality of the man best known for his beats.” Chris Lambie – Rhythms
Description: A thrilling rhythmic adventure, written from the drums up and built on its own driving grooves. instrumentals and song mixing RnB, jazz, latin, african drums and raw blues.
Attack Ships On Fire plays intense, angry songs with a sense of humor. Firmly rooted on a foundation of punk rock, and with an impressively sarcastic wit, the attitude is clear: powerful music doesn’t have to be depressing. ASOF isn’t looking to redefine punk rock but we want to take…
OurAfter Slated to Release “Tabula Rasa” Tuesday November 11, 2008
Scranton, October 14, 2008-After two months in the studio, OurAfter will be releasing a 5 song EP titled “Tabula Rasa” on Tuesday November 11, 2008. The band has planned a special dual CD Release show with FOF/EMI…
Upstart Memphis record label Electric Room Productions bursts onto the scene May 25th with the release of their first full-length album, Lucky Peso, by Souvenir Satellite - brainchild of Texas-born and Memphis-based visual artist Meikle Gardner, a stalwart of the regional art scene. For years his paintings have earned him…
Silverhawk
The Densmore Bros. (Sam and John), lead Silverhawk a Psychedelic/Americana/Rock n Roll Family Circus from Portland, Oregon. Indie Rock for a new generation. And that’s a very good thing indeed.” Aiding and Abetting, 2004.
Tar-black humor hangs in the air onstage as the Densmore Bros trade guitar,…
John Keane, born and raised in Los Angeles, began his career as a recording artist at an age when most kids are still trying to decide what instrument to pick up as a hobby. At the age of eleven, John along with older brother Tom, made up the popular duo…
On the heels of their successful debut “Beaver” and their recent live DvD “Gleasons Drift and Friends”, 2007 finds Gleasons Drift with the release of their second full length, “Nickel Rocket”. Nickel Rocket continues with the sound that has defined Gleasons Drift since their inception in 2002: loose, lean, spontaneous…
If there is one thing that Christian McKee has down pat, it is his regard for influence. Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, and Nick Drake. Hardly an unconventional list but still, it gets his point across. Growing up as an archetypal music-loving youth in North London, McKee was first sparked by…
It's hard to believe it now, but before 1989 no band had ever combined the explosive elements of white trash culture, Dada art and Chuck Berry. There was a gaping hole in the fabric of popular entertainment and the New Duncan Imperials sewed it up. Springing to life in Chicago…
You know it's no joke when Stevie Wonder asks another singer "you trynna' take my job son?" This is the exact question Stevie asked 18 year old singer/songwriter Kay after Kay performed Stevie Wonders "Superstition" for him.
From the day Karim "Kay" Diane was born in Washington, DC, he was…
After years of searching for the right individual’s, band founder and lead vocalist Jordan Davidson met writing partner/lead guitarist Chase Rennie. In 2010 the band was completed by drummer David LeBel formulating the rock and roll powerhouse that is Eyes of Isis.
Eyes of Isis are proud to announce the…
Indie Artist Directory 
Ashley Davies is regarded as one of Australia’s most innovative drummers and finest drummer/songwriters 
