AHI

AHI (pronounced “EYE”) is a Canadian singer/songwriter known for rich, earthy vocals and rousing, sometimes anthemic folk-rock songs. A natural storyteller whose own wayfaring past informs his lyrics, AHI broke out in 2018 when his second album, In Our Time, earned a Juno Award nomination. After several years of heavy touring, including stints with artists like Mavis Staples and Patty Griffin, he headed to Nashville to make his third LP, Prospect, in 2021.
Growing up in a West Indian family in Brampton, Ontario, Ahkinoah Habah Izarh defied expectations by dropping out of college to backpack around the world. His journeys took him to such remote locales as Trinidad and Ethiopia. After relocating to Toronto, Izarh began to perform and record using a stage name consisting of his initials which he pronounced “Eye.” Released in 2016, his independent debut, We Made It Through the Wreckage, introduced a powerful voice capable of deep nuance and his songs alternated between uplifting indie folk, roots rock, and even blues. After winning the Canadian Songwriting Competition in 2017, he joined the Thirty Tigers roster and released his sophomore album, In Our Time, the next year. It proved to be a breakout success, earning a Juno nomination for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year. Clad in his trademark black outfit and equestrian helmet, AHI made his first major television appearance, played a well-received Tiny Desk Concert at NPR, and toured some of North America’s major venues. Working in Nashville with Grammy Award-winning producer Paul Maybury, he recorded the ten songs that made up his third album, Prospect, which saw release in November 2021. ~ Timothy Monger