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David Llewellyn Hits the Road for St David's Day - MidWest Mini-Tour Details
AmeriCymru: Hi David and many thanks for doing this interview at such short notice. Care to tell us a little about the forthcoming MidWest mini tour?
David: Yes, a cool three gig trip (hoping not too cool :O) keeping our eyes on the weather reports!)
Dave Parry of the Chicago Tafia called a couple of weeks ago and invited me to play at their St. Davids day do, and how could I say no? Id love to do it! As an independent touring singer/songwriter based now in this extremely large country, it is a Godsend to find what I gratefully call necessary angels. These are folks who are scattered across the country and some way or another have heard what you do, and have become fans. They are not usually fellow artists or venue/club owners or DJs etc., they have their own stuff to deal with, but are simply music fans, and want to help. They are also usually acquainted and regulars at a lot of the gigs in their city/area, and a word of recommendation from them or just a heres a good venue you might try ask for Tony can go a long way to opening doors. Sometimes its just a Ive got an air mattress you can crash on whenever you are in town, or Ill host a house concert here in my little apartment, just to get you going, but its a huge huge help, a way to get your proverbial guitar in the door.
Dave Parry and the Chicago Tafia, and my dear friend Katie Thompson (both AmeriCymru members) have been my angels in the Chicago area! They have done all the above for me, and it really shows that one person with a heart full of passion can really make a difference. With these guys help, we also came up with a gig to break the drive up to Chicago, and one on the way back. Big thanks!!! Here are the gigs.
Contact me if you need more info :O) david@davidllewellyn.com
I am traveling with my girlfriend, and now duo partner, Ida Kristin, who will join me on guitars and harmonies at the gigs. A very accomplished singer/songwriter and recording artist in her home country of Sweden, we have been writing and playing gigs together since my first songwriting retreat in Sweden back in 2008. And this is a nice segue into your second question :O)
AmeriCymru: You recently spent some time in Europe on a song-writing retreat. Care to tell us a little about that experience?
David: Ive been doing these songwriting retreats for a few years now, and I have to say I love them. So far Ive been asked to participate in retreats in Sweden, Crete, and Ireland not too bad for a Welsh boy from the valleys :O) As the featured writer, your duties include a certain amount of teaching, song critiquing, and organizational stuff, but really the fun is getting to meet fellow songwriters who come from all over Europe, to share tips and ideas, and get to cowrite together in a relaxed but fairly intense week of just that, songwriting!
Each retreat is different but usually you get a new cowriter each day, a topic or theme, and off you go. If you get your song done, you play it to everyone after dinner, and at the end of the week you get to play ALL your new songs at a gig or two. Did I say intense? I tend to dive in and try to write with everyone, and yes, what with trying to record rough versions of the songs, learning harmonies and guitar parts with your new partners, it can be a lot to do, but it does answer the question What could I really do if I had the chance to do nothing but focus on writing no chores, no phone calls, meals provided . . . ? There is a belief in Nashville that the good stuff comes when the Muse is present. But she/he is fickle, visits when she wants to, leaves when she wants to, so dont think shell patiently wait while you nip around the corner to grab some quick Fajitas for lunch. On retreats like these, there is so much writing and creativity going on that she sets up camp, and all kinds of good things happen.
AmeriCymru: Any plans for new releases in the near future?
David: I am recording a new CD in the next month or so. Mixed, mastered and manufactured by mid summer? Crossing our fingers. I also have plans to record a duo CD with Ida Kristin some time this year. Weve had a lot of requests for it at gigs, so we should get it done asap.
AmeriCymru: Any final message for the readers and members of AmeriCymru?
David: To all the AmeriCymru folks out there have a great March 1st! Have a sip or two of what makes you happy, and be thankful that you dont have to pin a huge, eye watering leek to your school blazer!!! Hey, the girls got to wear daffodils now wheres the fairness in that!
Best David
