Americymru member Tyler Stenson is a native of Portland, Oregon. He is of Welsh-German descent ( distantly ) and is a composer and performer of Lyrically Driven Elegant Americana. We hope you will agree with us that Tyler has a great future ahead of him in the music business. Hear Tyler on his MySpace page HERE

1. We read that you won the Portland Songwriters Association's Songwriter of the Year in both 2007 and 2008. Can you tell us about the awards, and how you found out that you had won? Were there particular songs involved in those awards, or was it for a body of work you did in each year? And was it based on live performance or recordings?

The PSA award was a series of contests over a year that whittled a large pool of songwriters down to a final top ten competition. At the final performance, each songwriter chooses two original songs to perform in front of a panel of judges and peers; lyrics are submitted, the songs are performed and the contestant is judged based on a number of variables including song quality, stage presence, lyric quality, originality, musical competency, overall performance, rhyme, meter, hook, etc. The official title is PSA Performing Songwriter of the Year so it is a bit more encompassing than just the quality and craft of the song- it accounts for the performance attributes as well.

In 2007 I entered the competition with my songs Better Be Us All and Babysitting the Cowboy. In the 2008 competition, I chose to submit Whistle Stop and Cellophane.

At the end of the evening, the judges compare notes and comments and grant a winner and a runner-up.

In the first competition, I performed last of the ten and therefore had to sit and listen to everyone perform before me. Needless to say, when I took the stage, I was all nerve but feel I performed well. In the end, during the judges intermission, I had to take a walk before the final announcement. When I returned indoors, the president of the PSA got on the microphone and with a drum-roll announced the runner-up then the winner Im proud to say my name was called second as the winner.

In the second year, I was given the choice to perform at the finals as an honored guest (last years winner) or to play by the rules and defend my title. Choosing to defend my title, irony had me placed in the very first slot of the night. Im not sure what was worse sitting through all of the competition and playing last or getting it over with, then sitting through the other performances. Either way, the other competitors were extremely talented and I was fully prepared to lose my title. That said, after sitting through nine other performers, president Dan Lowe smiled and told the audience that he gave last years winner a choice and he was proud to announce that the title had been successfully defended. I didnt expect to win that night so it was a thrill to say the least.

2. How would you describe your sound and style?

My four word elevator pitch is Lyrically Driven Elegant Americana. In my eyes, lyric is king- some have called it border-line theatrical. Above all, my music is very human and accessible and authentic. Although the lyrics are very rich and full of stories and metaphors, they are accessible through our common American experience.

3. You were originally from Wyoming, and much of your music seems to reflect that childhood. What was it like growing up there for you? What are some of your fondest (or strongest) childhood memories, and do you see them play out in your music?

Looking back at my childhood, I see nothing but sweetness and days that Im very fond of. It was the perfect place for a child; a place you could run around and explore without a shred of social danger and a place that never glorified money, class or creed. It was a magnificent landscape with settings that kept a child busy with imagination. My fondest specific memories in Lander dont necessarily play out in my music as blatant re-creations; however, the mentality of the simpler time and nostalgia is constantly exposing itself. Part of the appeal of Wyoming is the fact that while the rest of the world is sprinting to grow, Wyoming stayed somewhat frozen in time. I consider myself to be somewhat of an old soul; therefore, the pace of Wyoming and the Old West is much more to my liking.

4. Growing up, what music did you listen to? Also, we notice that you feel that at least some of your own music has been influenced by such folks as Paul Simon and James Taylor. We can hear echos of them in some of your songs. Who else would you say has been influential in your musical development? And what have you found yourself listening to over the past month?

Growing up I found myself listening to whatever my older siblings were listening to top 40, pop, hair bands, etc. The only culture I ever really received was from my mother who was more of a Broadway musical, hymnal and classical type lady. I didnt start forming my own tastes until middle school when I fell wildly in love with country music and classic acoustic songwriters such as James Taylor, Simon and Garfunkel, Dan Fogelberg, etc. My musical story is simple, Garth Brooks and country music made me want to sing but the VH1 Storytellers episode of Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds made me want to write and perform the abstract. Country music is very surface level but there was a certain appeal to the obscurity in Dave Matthews songs. From that day forward I started writing with poetry in mind and placed my musical preferences in musicians that had something individual to say and a unique way of saying it. My biggest influences as a songwriter are Josh Ritter, Adam Duritz (Counting Crows), James Taylor, Damien Rice, Ryan Adams, Jason Ross (Seven Mary Three), David Gray, etc.

Over the last month Ive been listening to Josh Ritters Thin Blue Flame on constant repeat Ive also been listening to Julian Tulips Licorice, Kirk Duncan and my completely random iPod mix. I suppose it is worth noting that I tend to wear my influences on my sleeve (in obvious ways) so I have limited the amount of music I listen to and have started being a bit more self-centered in that regard. The less music I listen to, the less I am influenced; therefore, the more original I become.

My general rule of thumb is to only listen to music that sets the bar high and makes me want to improve as an artist as much as top 40 songs make you want to tap your toes and repeat the catchy chorus, it is rare to find something artistically rich and thought provoking. My intention is never to be an elitist but this helps me (as an artist) strive to be as individual as I can be.

5. How old were you when you came to Portland? Did you come directly from Wyoming? Sometimes moves can be hard. Were there times when you doubted the wisdom of the decision to move?

I moved to Portland as a child with little say in the matter. My connection to Wyoming has become pure nostalgia and the romantic notion that Ill retire there one day. In all honestly, I only lived my childhood in Wyoming but it is the place of my birth, the place I go back to every summer to visit grandma, the place I still return to once a year for the famous July 4th celebration and annual Father and Sons camping trip and the place that I hold very dear to my heart. In the end, Ive lived in Portland longer than I ever did Wyoming; however, I carry that nostalgia with me daily and I feel more at home in the plains of Wyoming than I do in downtown Portland.

6. Your song "Babysitting the Cowboy" speaks to the imagination of a child. Did you have a good imagination as a child?

I think my imagination was on par with most children but my mother always said I had the sharpest memory of the bunch and an uncanny way worth words that has allowed me to immortalize those memories. Babysitting the Cowboy was actually a poem that I wrote for a poetry class at the University of Oregon- a poem before it was ever a song. The assignment was to write descriptively about a childhood memory so I took that vivid day in Lisas backyard and re-created the scene as I remembered it. That song is undoubtedly my personal favorite because it resonates so deeply within my bones as it pins the imagination of a child next to the memory of a man.

7. Your song "Whistle Stop" -- were you thinking about your own mortality, or someone else in particular, or just mortality in general? (Or something entirely different which has escaped us? lol)

Though I wont name names, Whistle Stop is in memory of my friends mother. Though she passed in 2005, she lived her life boldly and left no doubt behind as to who she was. Yes, I do ponder my mortality in a number of other songs but this song is her legacy.

8. Some of your songs seem to involve a certain reverence for the earth and for life. "Big Hearts" and "Better Be Us All" come to mind. Are you a spiritual person, or do you see this aspect in your music?

I am a believer that everything in this life and everything on this earth that has touched me deserves its day in the sun. Whether it be people that cross my path or a tree that grew in the front yard of my childhood home, all of these things made me who I am, all of these things served their purpose and all of these things are immortal in my eyes. Though I have a spiritual side, I am not an overly spiritual person and it does not govern my life; however, I am a romantic that values nostalgia, love, history, emotion and anything else that exists inside of me or next to me. Ive never heard your observation put into words but I absolutely admit to my reverence for the earth and for life solely on the fact that these are pieces that make up me and therefore deserve my long-lasting respect.

In the end, it is not the earth and life as a whole that I love and respect; it is each plot of land and individual that Ive personally encountered.

9. One of your fans here at Americymru was very touched by "Cellophane" and it seems to be both a love song and a song about love of the earth. What was your inspiration for this one?

My friend and girlfriend bought me a plane ticket to Europe (the inspiration behind Big Hearts). Ultimately, I may have never seen the other land if it wasnt for them and Big Hearts was my humble thank you to the dearest people in my life. The experiences I had were beyond compare and that gesture of the human heart was like nothing Id ever seen. Cellophane, was schemed in Switzerland on that same trip.

To set the stage, I was with my girlfriend at the top of Mt. Pilatus, looking out at the majestic Alps; elegant green hills were below and Lake Pilatus was neatly framed in the center of it all. One would think that that storybook landscape would be unparalleled in beauty BUT the song contests that the eyes of the girl at my side, at that moment, matched (if not exceeded) the loveliness.

SIDE NOTE, Lake Pilatus is said to be the burial place of Pontius Pilate just a little inside info. J

10. When you are not making music or writing music, what are you doing for fun?

Im a dude J I like to hang out with friends, laugh, drink beer, watch Blazer games, watch movies, graphic/web design, read, workout, eat, make comments with no merit, etc. No matter what, my favorite thing is to get together with a group of friends and simply laugh at each others expense. Often times, without meeting me in person, people think Im an overly serious individual because of the depth of my writing- thats simply not true. Im a goof and a comedian at heart. My writing is more of a heightened reality rather than a reflection of how I carry myself in the day-to-day. Dont get me wrong, my music and my lyrics are my thoughts and my love but I live my life with a much brighter smile than some might think.

Right now, for some supplemental income, my best friend and I have started a small creative agency on the side. I really enjoy working with other companies and brands on their logo/web/graphic design, etc.

11. For your fans on Americymru, what would you most like us know about you?

I think Ive said my piece. Mostly I want them to know that Im working very hard at making music my undivided livelihood but it is a tough road and Ill need all of their support, prayers and word of mouth. I havent made it big yet so Im still fighting for position in the industry by no means coasting to the finish lineJ Id also like them to know that Im for hire my best successes are with private events and Im ready and willing to host the most powerful concert theyve ever seen in the comfort of their living room, no matter where they are on the map (as long as it makes sense financially). I am a real person trying to make a humble talent prosperous not an easy road, very thankless at times but very noble in the end.

Interview by Brian y Tarw Llwyd

Sunday 6th May, 7.30pm: Rhian Edwards will read from her debut poetry collection Clueless Dogs at the Crunch / Skye Extravaganza event. Mozarts, 76B Walter Street, Uplands, Swansea SA1 4QA. For a list of all Rhian's events visit www.rhianedwards.co.uk

Monday 7th May, 8pm. A new season of fortnightly Monday readings hosted by Anne-Marie Fyfe for Coffee-House Poetry at the Troubadour. Entrance 7.00/ 6.00 concessions.

Thursday 10th May, 7pm: Join Literature Wales at Theatr Bryncheiniog in Brecon as they announce which writers have made it on to the Wales Book of the Year 2012 Short List. The audience will be treated to readings by some of Wales' best loved poets including Eurig Salisbury and Ceri Wyn Jones current and former Bardd Plant Cymru respectively, National Poet of Wales Gillian Clarke and Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy. Tickets: 10/ 8 contact Theatr Brycheiniog on

Friday 11th May, 5.30pm. After Brock by Paul Binding will be launched at Yarborough House, The Square, Bishops Castle, Shropshire, SY9 5BN. All are welcome. Telephone: 01588 638318 for further details.

Sunday 13th May, 12.003.30 pm. Rear Window themed creative-writing workshop with Anne-Marie Fyfe for Coffee-House Poetry at the Troubadour. Advance booking only: Price 28.00/Concessions 24.00.

Monday 14th May, 8pm. Barry Plummer editor of Evan Walters: Moments of Vision will be in conversation with Dr Kim Howells at the Cowbridge Book Festival 2012 at the Minstrels Gallery, The Duke of Wellington.

Tuesday 15th May, 11am. Tony Curtis , Margaret Curtis, Lynne Rees and Peter Finch present Tokens for the Foundlings at the Cowbridge Book Festival. Ballroom, The Bear Hotel.

Wednesday 16th May 7.30pm: Rhian Edwards will read at National Flash Fiction Day at The Millennium Centre, Cardiff. For more information visit www.wmc.org.uk

Wednesday 16th May 6.30pm: Authors Club Best First Novel Award 2012 Shortlist discussion. Patrick McGuinness will read from his debut novel The Last Hundred Days and discuss his work with Suzi Feay, chair of the judging panel. Patrick will be joined by two other shortlisted authors. 113-119 Foyles bookshop, Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0EB

Thursday 17th May, 7.45pm. A dramatic performance of the new poetry collection, Witch by Damian Walford Davies at the Aberystwyth Arts Centre. A part of the 'Open Platform' scheme.

Thursday 17th May, 6.30pm. Patrick McGuinness will give a talk and sign copies of his Man Booker longlisted novel The Last Hundred Days at Linghams Booksellers, 248 Telegraph RdHeswall, Wirral, Merseyside CH60 7SG Tickets 5

Friday 18th May, 1.00pm. Poetry Ireland in association with the National Gallery of Ireland presents a lunchtime reading by Welsh poets Gillian Clarke & Tony Curtis . National Gallery of Ireland, Merrion Square West, Dublin 2.

Friday, 18th May, 8pm. Paul Henry will be reading at South Street Arts Centre, Reading. Further details: Ashley Harrold afharrold@virginmedia.com

Sunday 20th May, 7.30pm. Rhian Edwards launches Clueless Dogs at Gwdihw, Guildford Crescent, Cardiff, South Glamorgan CF10 2HJ

Monday 21st May, 8pm. Redgrove's Life:a Celebration of Peter Redgrove's poetry with Penelope Shuttle, Alan Brownjohn, Katrina Naomi and Pascale Petit .

Thursday 24th May, 7.30pm. The Promised Land, Cardiff.Music legend Bob Dylan is 71 on the 24 ^th May. A year ago, Seren marked his 70th by publishing The Captain's Tower - Seventy Poets celebrate Bob at Seventy . All three editors and selected contributors will be reading from this fantastic anthology.

Friday 25th May, 7pm. Rhian Edwards reads from her debut poetry collection Clueless Dogs at Bauhaus, Bridgend. Rhian Edwards is the 2011/12 winner of The John Tripp Award for Spoken Poetry.

Friday 25 ^th May, 7.30pm. Christopher Meredith reads from his latest novel The Book of Idiots . Joining Christopher is Horatio Clare, who will read from his Mabinogion retelling The Prince's Pen . The Melville Theatre, The Drama Centre, Pen y Pound, Abergavenny.

Thursday 7 ^th June, 7.30pm.Join Horatio Clare and Grahame Davies for the last in the First Thursday season followed by an Open Mic session. 2.50 Media Point Room, Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. Event is supported by Literature Wales.

Rhian Edwards debut poetry collection Clueless Dogs is out now 8.99

No name is so frequently invoked on Wales as that of Owain Glyndŵr, a figurehead of Welsh nationalism and the last native Welshman to hold the title Prince of Wales. However, although much is known and recorded about Glyndŵr, he disappeared from the pages of history in 1412 and it is still not certain where his burial ground is located. Further still, except for what was recorded by some poets of the time, much less is known about his children’s lives.

It is due to these mysteries surrounding Glyndŵr’s life that author John Hughes decided to write Glyndŵr Daughter, a fictional account of the life and times of the daughter of the Prince of Wales - Gwenllian. Although it is possible to glean Gwenllian’s renowned beauty, poise, intelligence and loyalty from poems sung by poets who visited her home in Cenarth, Llanidloes, what has not been documented is the fact that as Glyndŵr’s daughter, her life was tied to the ebb and flow of her father’s war.

In Glyndŵr’s Daughter, Hughes takes the reader back to the cloak and dagger life of the time, and shows how Gwenllian was herself drawn deeply into the murky world of espionage in order to help her father’s cause. Gwenllian suffered horrific experiences during the period of the Glyndŵr uprising, experiences which are shared for the first time in the novel.

The author also suggests a new possible burial location for Glyndŵr in the novel, and argues against the common notion that he was possibly buried close to his home, or on the estates of one of his other daughters in Herefordshire. As Gwenllian lived in a remote part of Wales, she was in a better position to help hide her father and deceive his numerous enemies during the last years of his life, and would therefore have played a crucial role in his burial. So according to John Hughes, where exactly was Owain Glyndŵr buried at dusk in the dark autumn season of 1415?

Glyndŵr’s Daughter is John Hughes’ first novel. He has a PhD in Chemistry and is a newly retired head teacher of Llanidloes High School after 26 years in office.

Extract from the novel:

They returned to Glyndŵr’s grave and stood near it for a few seconds, and Gwenllian said, “If we are successful, no one will ever know where this true prince of Wales in buried. I don’t like the thought of that…”

“Don’t worry, Gwenllian,” said Meredydd. “No one knows where Arthur is buried either, but he has not been forgotten.”