The sad news was shared on social media on Friday 22nd January, with tributes coming from fellow DJs, friends and music industry figures across the UK and beyond.

Phil grew up in West London, and followed his dad into working in record shops. He worked at both Quaff Records and Vinyl Solution in the early ‘90s, while he schooled himself in house music production and DJing at assorted nights across the capital.

Gravitating naturally to the soulful side, he released under the name Phlash and became a key part of house label Slip N Slide’s various compilation series, including ‘Jazz In The House’ and ‘Soul In The House’. At the end of the decade he co-founded the Co-op night in West London alongside Dego from 4hero, beatsmith I.G. Culture (aka New Sector Movements) and Young Disciples producer Demus.

Co-op was crucial in joining the dots between jazz acts like Bugz In The Attic and Nuyorican Soul and the broken beat sounds emanating out of Reinforced producers who didn’t want to follow the drum & bass template.

In the early noughties Phil co-founded the successful Restless Soul collective, who produced many records for other people. He worked with the likes of Nathan Haines, Mark De Clive Lowe, Karizma and Benji B; recorded an album for acclaimed French label Versatile; and produced over 200 tracks and remixes for a variety of labels.

Asher had only recently moved to the seaside city of Brighton with his partner after spending his life immersed in the West London house music scene.

A real music head and production aficionado, Phil was one of the good guys, and will be sorely missed.” – https://djmag.com/news/london-dj-phil-asher-has-died

https://www.traxsource.com/artist/18818/phil-asher
https://www.mixcloud.com/PhilAsher/
https://www.beatport.com/artist/phil-asher/10724
https://www.discogs.com/artist/18999-Phil-Asher
https://www.traxsource.com/label/3361/restless-soul?page=1

“Undoubtedly one of the UK’s most prolific dj/producers and has been indispensable to the progressive musical landscape over the past 15 years.Phil has completed well in excess of 200 of his own productions, as well as innumerable remixes.

From his first gig at Legends and London’s first House club Delirium in 1991 (slipping on a record when Noel Watson went to the toilet) to more recent gigs at, Inspiration Information, and Soul Heaven at Ministry of Sound in London, Phil has played the length and breadth of the UK, as well as, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Portugal, France, Brazil, Japan, Canada, United States, New-Zealand and Australia.Surrounded by music and records from an early age his Dad worked at Harlequin records, bringing home all the latest releases to a young and eager Phil. He went on to work in Quaff Records and Vinyl Solution, two of London’s finest record stores, instrumental in pushing house and soulful music in London.

Along with Luke McCarthy, Phil is the founding member of the restless soul Production Team, which also incorporates producers Dominic Jacobson, Taxi Driver, Aaron Ross and Felix Hopkins and Latest recruits Jose Carretas, Bopstar & Craig Whitfield (HHA). He also produces under various aliases and he is also recognised as being one of the pioneering forces in the West London (Broken beat) movement.

Phil has been an instrumental part to the scene, from being a founding member of the CO-OP club alongside Dego, I.G.Culture and Demus, Afronaut & G-Force, to representing and promoting the West London sound worldwide.He is one of those hardworking soul soldiers trying to unite the love for soulful music, breaking down musical frontiers and releasing an eclectic output of quality music.His first album production was for New Zealand’s Nathan Haines.

The production of ‘Sound Travels’ really showed Phil’s true skills. Three years down the track and the collaboration continues. Nathan Haines second album ”Squire for Hire” was released. Again you can hear the distinct yet eclectic sound of Phil’s writing and production skills.In 2002 French label Versatile approached him to produce an album. The label bosses used the exact words of, “you can do whatever you want”. He did just that and the result is “Sweet and Sour” a bittersweet journey into the eclectic preferences of Phil Asher. The Co-op anthem “Having your Fun” rocked the dancefloors on all music genres.Present DayThe recent project for Phil now is producing two new songwriters, Shea Soul and Zansika, with Songs out on Seasons recordings, Raw Fusion, Loungin and forthcoming on Especial and Suburban.

He has just finished recording an Lp called “Deep Electronic Sound” under the guise Phlash & Friends, on Archive Records. featuring Shea, Zansika, Light Particle, Mark de Clive-Lowe, Karizma, Zaf, Danny Huckridge, Lady Alma, Ommas & Benji B, Sandra Nkake and a host of discovered and yet to be found talent. Phil once again will be doing whatever he wants on this project, but stresses it should be filled under House Music.As quoted by journalist Jan Peeters, ” With an admirable sense of energy and spontaneity he’ll encounter anything that crosses his many paths and turn it into a musical piece of art. Phil Asher truly is…a master at work.” (Plastiks 58)