Ariwa sounds

With a back-catalogue of over 260 album releases and a mountain of singles over the last twenty eight years, ARIWA has become Britain's most successful UK-produced reggae label.

With Mad Professor at the controls, a world-class reputation has been built for the best of Dub, Lovers Rock, and Roots & Culture reggae music. From humble 4-track home studio origins, Ariwa Studio has grown into a multiple 32, 24 and 16 track digital complex, with an seperate 24 track analogue studio equipped completely with original 1970's sound gear for an authentic revival sound with rooms for live multitrack recordings...

Many of the UK's top established reggae names have built careers at Ariwa (Sandra Cross, Macka B, Kofi, Mad Professor, John McLean, Black Steel) whilst others have been welcomed at Ariwa at crucial career points (Carroll Thompson, Pato Banton, Tippa Irie, Peter Hunnigale, Papa "Phillip" Levi). Since the outset however, Ariwa has proved a "home away" for many of Jamaica's top artists, from Johnny Clarke and Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace in the early '80s through to Yabby You, Ranking Joe, Susan Cadogan and J.C. Lodge in the '90s. Particularly fruitful musical relationships have continued with reggae giants U Roy and Lee Perry, helping in part, towards their renewed critical and sales success.

Ariwa Sounds' achievements have been paralleled by personal success for Mad Professor, whose own albums (30-plus and rising) sell consistently well across the world, with a subsequent, (exhausting) demand for live appearances. He has also re-shaped, in his own inimitable style, the work of artists, such as Massive Attack, The Orb, KLF, UB 40, through to Sade, Jamiroquai, The Beastie Boys and Rancid (!).

Fulfilling the dream of most Black British youths, Ariwa has established a workable link with Africa. Establishing a working unit based on the UK business model of the past 30 years.

This year, and years to come, will herald a series of new releases from debuting and established artists. Thus - and with the synchronised release of new and existing products in the US, Japan, Europe, The Caribbean and Australia - Ariwa hopes to consolidate its expanding global profile by releasing new progressive material, by fresh talents willing to experiment with innovating developing technologies.

Young Ariwa personel Joe & Kamal are active in the day to day working of this unique business, reflecting the pulse and vibration of the youths of today.