Lyn Mackay has been playing piano and entertaining people since she took over from the music teacher at her primary school in Swansea as the pianist for morning assemblies aged 10-because she was a better pianist than the music teacher! She has co-hosted a live radio show where she sang and played 'live' the requests that were phoned in by listeners. She has written 2 musicals - 'Swansea Girls' which sold out on it's 1st run at the Grand Theatre, Swansea and was brought back for a longer run 7 months later......and the latest ...... 'Swansea Women' which staged at the Grand Theatre, Swansea, September 2010 with tremendous success. AmeriCymru spoke to Lyn about her music and her future plans:-

AmeriCymru: Hi Lyn and many thanks for agreeing to talk to AmeriCymru. You are an accomplished musical performer and composer. Would you tell us something about your music background? Where did you study music?

Lyn: I started taking private classical piano lessons at the age of 7, after showing great interest in my auntie's old upright piano. I had a fantastic old teacher called Miss March and she took me through to Grade 8 in both music theory and practial. I went to a very music-focussed grammar school where I then learned choral singing and how to write harmonies etc. I became a professional singer after leaving school at 18 and travelled the world singing and playing piano, being MD and accompanist, writing and arranging. When I did my teaching degree years later, I decided not to do music as I felt I'd already done enough, so I instead opted to do a degree in Literature & Media Studies-both of which I also love.

AmeriCymru: Care to tell us a little about the musical "Swansea Girls"? What factors, experiences, etc. inspired you to create this show?

Lyn: I was working with the Welsh actress Menna Trussler who more or less told me to go and write something that we could do together...well I tried to think of something that we had in common...and I thought 'well, we're both Swansea girls....hey....GREAT name for a show!' and off I went like a rocket!! The entire show was written in less than a week-plus 13 new songs-I already had 12 frrom my back catalogue that I knew I wanted to use in the show. A lot of the script was auto-biographical and observational through my experiences of things I'd seen and done. I was thrilled to bits when it opened to a packed house in Swansea Grand Theatre. One of the proudest moments of my life was when the theatre manager called me to say 'we'd better out another performwnce on-we've sold out!'

AmeriCymru: What inspired the show 'Botox Boogie'?

Lyn: The SONG Botox Boogie came about after i got wolf-whistled at by some builders one day-it made me laugh...and I thought....'maybe youe DON'T have to be perfect to be attractive!' It gave me such a lift-and a laugh. Especially because, at the time, the press/tv was full of the size zero phenomenon and how anorexic models were being used by designers. Plus there was much discussion about botox and teeth veneers and hair extensions and boob jobs! So I wrote the song as a kind of protest-song.

AmeriCymru: Care to tell us a little more about your latest show 'Swansea Women'?

Lyn: In 'Swansea Girls', we meet 'Dolores' who's in her 80's. We find that she ran away from Swansea during WW2 but we don't discover why. In 'Swansea Women' we go back to WW2 and meet her, her family and neighbours as they struggle to deal with the horror of war. We also find out why she ran away.

AmeriCymru: Are there any types of music that you haven't explored that you would like to pursue?

Lyn: Hmmm....I don't think so really. Being classically-trained with 'cello as a second instrument I have a good knowledge and undertanding of that genre and as someone used to playing 6 hours a night, 6 nights a week in the big piano-bars I worked in, I was asked to play and sing every single style you care to think about-and some you probably HAVEN'T thought about lol! I have a very eclectic musical taste-for which I am very grateful. Good music is good music-whether it's pop, a Welsh hymn or jazz or Beethoven.As a composer though, I would love to write for tv or compose a film score.

AmeriCymru: You also run a musical academy in Swansea- 'The Lyn Mackay Academy Of Music & Performance LTD'. Can you to tell us a little about the Academy and your students?

Lyn: Yes, I started the Academy to offer specialist one-to-one vocal lessons to students, catered to THEIR needs. I cover all aspects of performance and also offer help with confidence and self-esteem issues. It has been quite successful and my students are now regularly winning university places and gaining success in competitions and auditions, about which I am very proud.

AmeriCymru: You have just released a new single 'Empty Arms & Empty Hearts'. Is there a new album in the works? Where can readers hear/buy the single?

Lyn: Yes, the album is called 'A FUNNY TIME OF LIFE' and is being launched in Swansea next tuesday. It should then be available for download within a month. It's a mix of 11 original songs from the 70's to the present and hopefully shows a good range of my writing, with something to appeal to everyone-from rock'n'roll to jazz, ballads and theatre, The single is a track from the album. I was commissioned to write it for SNUK-Surrogacy Network UK to help raise awareness of how desperately some people are to become parents-hence the title ' EMPTY ARMS & EMPTY HEARTS' . It is now avalable for download from itunes, amazon and other online mp3 download sites-just google it.

AmeriCymru: You have been vocal in your support for the campaign to save the Dylan Thomas Center in Swansea. Can you explain for our readers the importance of this resource?

Lyn: Oh dear-where to start? Well like I said, I have a love of words and I particularly like Dylan Thomas' work. The Dylan Thomas Centre is world-renowned as a centre of excellence and people come from all over to visit it, using the amazing knowledge of the staff there to follow the life he led in Swansea and see places mentioned in his works. Inside the centre WAS the lovely bookshop caf run by Jeff Towns. It is such a lovely place and such a resource for the people of the city and further afield. The revenue that this generates for the city annually, is in excess of 3 million pounds. We annot to afford to lose that, let alone a wonderful venue like the centre. I know that schools and colleges will really miss it as an educational resource as well. It is staggering to me that the council are even contemplating closing it. They have made some DREADFUL decisions in the past and are about to make another. They should be ashamed of themselves.

AmeriCymru: What's next for Lyn Mackay?

Lyn: Gosh...who knows? I have some very exciting projects coming up in the next few months. I also have to write the next musical in my quadrology-SWANSEA JACKS, which takes us from the late 50's into thearly 70's. I would like to do another album and am hoping to film the pilot for a tv show with Welsh entertainer and my good friend, Mike Doyle.

AmeriCymru: Looking forward to meeting up at the West Coast Eisteddfod Any final message for the members and readers of AmeriCymru?

Lyn: Well I have loved Americymru since I first joined it-seems like years ago now! I genuinely feel like I have already made some good friends through this network and am really hoping to meet some of you in person in LA this September! See you there!

Interview by Ceri Shaw Email & Margaret Lloyd Beckham

It is now late on a Monday evening - and we are resting overnight before travelling again.

The Crimson Moon Tavern, Brother Weaver Barrel (aka Vollsanger) and the "Widow" spent a pleasant weekend somewhere in the realms of Azriel - where heroes from many lands and times are summoned to entertain the "Powers" and gain wealth and notoriety and fame....

At the same time - these heroes also are raising funds for the RNLI - the Royal National Lifeboat Institution - this year's chosen Charity of the Aberddu LARP Group based in Aberystwyth - who through their gaming and fun - also dip deep in their pockets in the Charity Auction - and though small in number this year - raised the magnificent sum of 1200 on the weekend - probably more in the final reckoning.

Part of the event included the Arena "Last Man Standing" battles - where, being a family event, everyone was entitled to enter - as long as they paid a small donation to the Charity of Choice... and as with many "knockout" tournaments - somepeopleend up with and easier ride than others.

And so it was for a young man who called himself "Janner" - yes a navy man in real life from the Plymouth area (Janner is a well used - though not verycomplimentaryterm for those from Plymouth). By luck or judgement he foundhimselfpitted against a series of young players -mostof whom did not reach his waist - other non-combatants and his wife !! Naturally he found his way to the Final - but what he was not expecting was the youngest challenger - one Lexy .. to decide that there were other ways of winning a competition, and she immediately challenged the
World famous Bard - Vollsanger ( well he was famous in that World ) who was currently disguised as Brother weaver Barrel to write a song about the dastardly deeds of the man who only fought children and the weak...

This was a challenge that the Bard was not likely to run away from !! after all - it was well known in the Crimson Moon that Vollsanger will sing any song for a Copper - and move onto the next table for a Silver piece - but for the prospect of Gold - he will pen you a song there and then...

To which - she further challengedhim- that her father would pay a hefty donation should the song be written - that donation going to the Charity for the Lifeboats - but that the longer it took to write - the less money would go in the pot!!

So the gauntlet to thrown ...

The fastest song to commemorate evil deeds of this vile serpent ... but one that must raisesufficientlaughs to ensure that the donation was matched by the hat that would be passed around the audience... a challenge indeed.

But one look at theinnocencein the eyes of little Lexy... the cat-likecomplexion- the very sharp dagger and the clearknowledgethat she knew how to use it... set Vollsanger on his task....

Ten minutes later - after a quick re-write due to the problems of candle power and vision when you get to a certain age - and the need for CAPITAL LETTERS to be able to sing... and the masterpiece was completed..

Well - itmaynot be the best song that you ever hear - but for a challenge from a youngster ... and ten minute deadline.. it helped to raise part of the 1,200 that the generosity of the LARP Players of Aberddu - and all systems that assisted, which I am sure will be gratefully recieved by the RNLI.

And so the song... please enjoy this bit ofdoggerelfrom Vollsanger - he is "here all week"

Remember - it is always a quarter to eleven in the Crimson Moon
5 minutes before drinking up time
Just time for one more drink
Always time for one more Drink in the Crimson Moon

News

Weird Naked Indian are scheduled to play alongside the Manic Street Preachers in a National Theatre Wales production of The Passion, starring Michael Sheen as Christ.

Michael Sheen went to see an Un-Covered Music gig (a series of gigs that promote bands who play original music) where he saw Weird Naked Indian play. Michael requested to meet the band and asked them to write a song about The Passion with a rousing rebel feel that would fit the scene. The song titled Home is Where the Heart is has now been recorded and will be made available soon as a free download.

The event will be shown by 2 film productions internationally, one by the BBC and the other by Palm D'Or winner Keith Griffiths and Dave McKeen.

http://www.michael-sheen.co.uk/newsdesk/2011/01/29/michael-sheens-passion-play-to-be-made-into-a-film/

Bio

Weird Naked Indian are an acoustic rock duo with a unique style and big sound Nation Radio . Singer and guitarist David Dale and drummer Conor Doig, are driven by their passion for song writing and playing to live audiences.

The band draws upon influences such as The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Led Zeppelin, Tenacious D, Two Gallants and The White Stripes to produce a new unique style of rock that one industry insider has described as Punk Folk Rock. Wow, incredible song craft, passionate execution, this duo lack nothing. Rich melodies, stomping beat and captivating charm. DJ Alli-Cat, Total Rock Radio

The Weird Naked Indian EP is available on iTunes from which the track Grass was selected by Adam Walton as BBC Introducing in Waless Demo of The Week

Weird Naked Indian

http://soundcloud.com/weirdnakedindian

http://www.facebook.com/wnifan

http://www.myspace.com/wnimusic

THE DIFFERENCE IF YOU MARRY A WELSH GIRL

Three friends married women from different parts of the world.....

The first man married a Greek girl. He told her that she was to do
the dishes and house cleaning. It took a couple of days, but on the
third day, he came home to see a clean house and dishes washed and put away.

The second man married a Thai. He gave his wife orders that she was to do all the cleaning, dishes and the cooking. The first day he didn't see any results, but the next day he saw it was better. By the third day, he saw his house was clean, the dishes were done, and there was a huge dinner on the table.

The third man married a girl from Wales. He ordered her to keep the house cleaned, dishes washed, lawn mowed, laundry washed, and hotmeals on the table for every meal. He said the first day he didn't see anything, the second day he didn't see anything either but by the third day, some of the swelling had gone down and he could see a little out of his left eye and his arm was healed enough that he could fix himself a sandwich and load the dishwasher. He still has some difficulty when he pees.

Out of ancient Wales rides Rhydian, a raw, untried young knight with a great deal to prove and an arduous journey to make, both physically and spiritually.

On the way, he must face jealous enemies, shape shifters, spirits from other ages, enchantresses and a fabled sword and scabbard, which can render its user invincible but can also lead him into temptation and to craving power at any cost.

To help him, he has his faithful warhorse, his clever hound and his beautiful lady, blessed with second sight. Rhydian needs not only incredible courage but also humility, forgiveness and friendship if he is to conquer lust, hate, anger and vainglory and achieve true knighthood.

The rich, clear, simple verse will catch, enthrall and ultimately uplift the reader. The pace is exciting, the wonderful landscape vividly drawn and all the characters touchingly human.Read more HERE

V S Jones was born in London, where she originally trained as nurse. However, a born rebel, she left before completing her training and headed to Jersey where she drove taxis. Eventually she returned to London and some time afterwards opened a restaurant in North Wales with her first husband. When both her restaurant and her marriage failed, she returned to nursing and supported her two daughters as a single mother. Two more daughters followed her marriage to her second husband, and at the age of 50 she embarked on a degree course at her local college, followed by a Cert Ed. Since completing a post-graduate Diploma in Dementia Studies, she now divides her time between distance learning tutoring and working for a lifeline control centre with particular emphasis on people with dementia. She now lives in Wellington, Somerset.

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