Aja recently brought a perspective to his work, This perspective is rooted in the calypso tradition and is called ring-bang. Ring-bang is the power of rhythm in music and through his most recent releases "Jump In De Ring-Bang Tide" and "Bring It Up", Aja has intensified the rhythm of his music and poetry.

He began writing poetry in 1978, and in 1981 started experimenting with rhythm poetry. However, it was in 1989 with the publication of a collection of poems entitled "Rhythm & Roots" that Aja embarked on a career in performance poetry.

In 1990 he formed the Re-Emergence Band to accompany his presentations, and staged the first solo show by a poet in Barbados. This show led to his LP, "Mike Richards & The Re-Emergence Band Live." In 1992 he changed his name to Aja.

Aja’s poetry is social and cultural commentary and focuses on the plight of Third World peoples and the downpressed.

He has been Barbados’ Poet of the Year from 1991 and the Author of the Year in 1992. In 1993 Aja was also nominated for Barbados Entertainer of the Year. During that year he produced two records, a cassette 45 in June, and an LP/cassette in November entitled "Conscious."

Aja appears on major musical productions in Barbados, transcending the perimeters of poetry. On June 12th, 1993, he became the first poet in Barbados and the third in the Caribbean to be featured in a calypso tent. He has performed throughout the Caribbean, as well as in the USA and Canada.

Aja has joined forces with the world-famous musical artist, Eddy Grant, and his most recent releases appear on Eddy’s label, Ice Records on this year’s crop-over offering, FIRE IN DE WAVE.

The primary objective of this partnership is to develop and establish Ringbang across the globe. It is time for the entire world to "jump in de Ringbang tide."