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Biography
Joe Ariwa (born Joseph Fraser, mid-1980s) is a London-based dub producer, sound engineer, and live performance specialist. As the eldest son of reggae and dub pioneer Mad Professor, founder of Ariwa Studios, he grew up immersed in reggae culture, analog recording, and the day-to-day workings of the music industry. After studying music technology, Joe joined Ariwa full time, where he developed his skills in engineering, production, and label management. By 2006, he had become Mad Professor's right-hand man, working as an engineer, DJ, live dub performer, and stage technician while helping preserve the Ariwa archives by digitizing rare multitrack recordings.
Building on this foundation, Joe established himself as a respected producer and collaborator across dub, reggae, dubstep, jungle, and drum & bass. His productions include the Dubstep Dub series, Joe Ariwa Meets Young Warrior, A Double Dose of Dub, Rewired for Dub, and projects with artists such as General Levy, Randy Valentine, Earl 16, Michael Prophet, Brother Culture, and Lady Marga. His distinctive mixing style has earned the trust of leading UK sound systems including Iration Steppas, Channel One, and Jah Youth, as well as renowned producers and artists such as Dennis Bovell, Leonard "Santic" Chin, and Blacker Dread.
Today, Joe plays a central role in managing the Ariwa label, overseeing mixing, engineering, vinyl distribution, and artist development while continuing to perform internationally with General Levy and The Robotiks at festivals including Rototom Sunsplash, Boomtown, City Splash, and Reggae Land. In recent years he has relaunched the Ariwa Posse to support emerging talent, producing releases for artists including Abel Miller, I Jah, Askala Selassie, Chukki Starr, and Redhed Qi, while continuing to carry the Ariwa legacy forward for a new generation of reggae and dub audiences.
Discography
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