“Bold, charismatic and a flamboyant powerhouse” Becky and the Bands  

“A true pop star in the making!” Adam Walton, BBC Introducing Wales

FFO: SHAME, The Chats, FIDLAR, Bandicoot

Mr. Bewlay unleashes his brand new indie garage post-punk banger ‘Live Laugh Love’ on SWND Records on Friday 20th May via all major digital distributors and you can pre-save/pre-order HERE.

The Cardiff based musician steps out of his previous neo-glam sound with a bold new direction of frantic indie garage post-punk that refuses to take itself too seriously. Reclaiming the phrase ‘Live. Laugh. Love’ from the hallowed shelves of B&M to under the spotlights of the underground. Bewlay delivers 2 minutes 22 seconds of unashamed fun declaring his love for an older woman through some provocative lyrics. The track sees an expansion of the Mr. Bewlay character, refusing to reveal his identity to his label, furthering his reputation of being an enigma and a bombastic personality.

The song was recorded at King’s Road Studios in July 2021 with producer Sanders, Bewlay tells us, “I have to admit this song lyrically was originally written as a joke. Relying on the meme of the ‘Karen’ with their hollow tastes and tacky sentimentality. The more I tinkered with the song, the more the lyrics were not sarcastic, instead portraying a neutrality to the situation and relying on absurd imagery of middle-aged women's slogans tattooed on faces and blasting out of stereo systems. It definitely has the shock factor to it.

The track was written to be as bare bones as possible, relying on a smash and grab approach. No intro, no outro, no riffs and only a short solo to shake listeners out of their shocked silence. The trumpet solo was provided by the amazingly talented Laurence Collier of Afro Cluster fame who came down and put to audio the wailing, flamenco inspired solo!”

Whether it be Art Pop extraordinaire, Glam Rock Knight or garage post-punk slacker; Mr Bewlay has established himself as the paramount voice for the unorthodox. The Cardiff based artists’ upbringing was flamboyant with an early induction onto the stage. With amateur dramatic performances of classics like ‘West Side Story’, ‘A View From A Bridge’ and ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’, Bewlay learnt the subtle intricacies of stage performance, a skill he brings with him to this day.

Beginning his music career under the mentorship of the PRS Foundation and Arts Council Wales backed Forté Project, Bewlay has pushed himself into releasing his ‘Electric Reason’ Trilogy which saw him expand his sound with the addition of synth-heavy, funk grooves and sweet retro-inspired pop hits. In addition he has played sold out headliner shows in prestigious venues such as Porter’s (Cardiff), Queens Hall (Narbeth) and Ill Repute (Bristol). As a champion for LGBTQ activism he has also given talks and performed at Queer festivals and shows with the ‘On Your Face Collective’.

With a breadth of sound ranging from retro-spiced pop, to quiet reflective solo pieces, Bewlay’s unpredictability is also found in his music. With influence coming from artists such as David Bowie, St Vincent and Parquet Courts, Bewlay remains in a lane of his own with bombastic vocals, extravagant style and lyrics of the utmost originality. There is little in his way towards inevitable ascension.

Be it Mista, Misses, King or Queen, they all fall under Bewlay’s everything.

‘Live Laugh Love’ by Mr Bewlay is out on Friday 20 May on SWND Records and is available on all
major streaming/download providers.

"Emotive And Powerful" -  KILLING MOON

"brooding slice of atmospheric electronica oozing with sonically dark twists" - CLOUT

“Absolutely outstanding… a dawning of a significant talent.” - Adam Walton, BBC

"dark, blooding slice of ambient pop" -  Fortitude Magazine

"powerfully emotive and anthemic" -  Music Blog Wales

Today see's the release of Alt-pop Artist  LUIANNA‘s  highly anticipated debut EP  'SKIA'.  Sounding akin to the likes of  BANKS  and  The xx ,  LUIANNA  shares new single; ‘Heroin’ a dark, blooding slice of ambient pop that packs an emotional punch.  Talking about the single,  LUIANNA  elaborates, “this song was written about my Dad. The music was written to feel out and describe the feeling of the lyrics and the story in my life, a gentile start going into noisy chaos”. LUIANNA  was born in London, brought up in South Wales and has since spent the past fifteen years between Bristol and Berlin. Her upcoming EP was recorded in The Famous Gold Watch Studio in Berlin.‘Heroin’ is taken from  LUIANNA  upcoming debut EP,  ‘Skiá’ ,  due for release on 29th April 2022.  

‘SKIA’  is out today

Americymru: Hi Scott and many thanks for agreeing to this interview. How did the band come by its name?

South Wales based Americana/Folk singer-songwriter AhGeeBe returns today with his second single Adain Ystlum (Batwing) released via Clwb Music. Relying heavily on instrumentation rather than lyrics, the single is still finessed with a beautifully soft Welsh language poem dedicated to a Bat soaring in the early evening sky.  

"Oh that is very filmic isn't it?"

Huw Stephens, BBC Radio Wales

Adain Ystlum (Batwing) offers something a little different compared to AhGeeBe's debut, while first outing Cocoona offered the opportunity to sing-along, this second single allows listeners to truly fixate on the short story. Even for those that don't speak the Welsh language, AhGeeBe's breathy tones cut through and land perfectly between each chord harking back to a time of traditional Welsh tales told around campfires.

"A few years ago I bought a guitar from a second hand shop in Roath. I’d seen it there a few times and had always been drawn to it, and was surprised it had never sold. Finally, during my monthly visit to look at the guitar, I bought it (after a slightly awkward haggling process. I got £20 off)" Explains AhGeeBe

He continues; "The guitar is an old ‘Burns’ guitar, the same sort that ’The Shadows’ used for their instrumental surf tunes (as well as backing Cliff Richard...). As soon as I plugged it in at home, the riff that became this song just fell out of me straight away."

Although softer and more mysterious, Adain Ystlum (Batwing) is brave and still just as bold. There is no mistaking the AhGeeBe 60's cop show theme, slide guitar laden style that continues to solidify him as one to watch within Wales' music community and beyond. 

"On the guitar headstock is the name of the model of the guitar. It is… BATWING. This is also half the reason I bought the guitar. It’s such a funny name for a guitar, I love it. So with the main riff and music written, I went on to write a poem for Batwing about its flight in the early evening. I wanted to recite it sort of in the style of Serge Gainsburg’s Melody Nelson album. Deep vocals and a little bit mysterious." 

Adain Ystlum (Batwing) has already received support from ex-BBC Radio 1 DJ and current Radio Wales / BBC 6 Music DJ Huw Stephens. AhGeeBe has also seen previous support from BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru (including a full 30 minute interview with Georgia Ruth on Radio Cymru). AhGeeBe continues to prove that Wales is brimming with absolute talent ready to be discovered.

More about AhGeeBe

Multi-instrumentalist AhGeeBe (AKA Rhodri Gwyn Brooks) honed his craft in the South Wales quarry village of Creigiau, spending his time chiselling and sculpting away at the piano and guitar from an early age.

Finally finding his groove, which he describes as “somewhere between old-time country and 60’s cop show theme tunes", AhGeeBe is the shining result of years of session work for musicians across the globe, demoing, recording, and songwriting.

‘Long Time Ago’ is the driving new single by ‘Woodooman’, Cardiff Multi-Instrumentalist and Artist, Iwan Ap Huw Morgan. 

The second single to be taken from forthcoming Album 'Y Nos', which is due for release on 24th June; 'Long Time Ago' follows in the wake of the fantastic Welsh Language track 'Y Nos Mewn Cariad' that was released last month to a very warm reception including praise from BBC Dj's Huw Stephens, Adam Walton, God Is In The TV Blog, Golwg Magazine, Lisa Gwilym and Rhys Mwyn. 

'Long Time Ago' will be released on the 2nd of May via Recordiau Dewin Records

‘Long Time Ago’ yw sengl newydd gyrrwol ‘Woodooman’, yr artist aml-offerynnol o Gaerdydd, sef Iwan Ap Huw Morgan. 

Yr Ail sengl i'w chymryd o Albwm 'Y Nos', syn cael ei rhyddhau ar 24ain o Fehefin; mae 'Long Time Ago' yn dilyn llwyddiant 'Y Nos Mewn Cariad' a rhyddhawyd mis dwetha i dderbyniad cynnes gan gynnwys camoliaeth gan Dj's BBC Huw Stephens, Adam Walton, Lisa Gwilym, Rhys Mwyn, a God Is In The TV Blog, Cylchgrawn Golwg. 

Bydd 'Long Time Ago' yn cael ei rhyddhau ar yr 2ail of Fai drwy Recordiau Dewin.

'Excellent!' -  Huw Stephens, BBC

'Expansive And Fasinating!' -  Adam Walton, BBC Introducing

"Uplifting And Haunting" -  Music Blog Wales

"Haunting and epic!" -  God Is In The TV

Laverbread is extremely nutritious (a superfood?) and contains protein, carbohydrates and a wide range of vitamins and minerals. It is particularly rich in iron and iodine.

Sir Richard Burton described Laverbread as, 'Welshman's Caviar'.

What is National Laverbread Day?

April 14th has been adopted as National Laverbread Day by the Pembrokeshire Beach Food Company. You can read their announcement below. Their website ( Pembrokeshire Beach Food Company ) features many interesting and delicious laverbread products and recipes.

      The Ingredients (Serves 3)

• 3 tins of Bara Lawr (available on line with Parsons pickles)
• 2 medium chopped onions
• 2 cloves of diced garlic, or of you prefer, mince
• 1 tin cockles
• Mixed chopped peppers
• 7 table spoons of Porridge oats depending on thickness required.
• Sprinkling of crushed chillie
  
• Sprinkling of curry powder
• Pepper and salt to taste
  

     
Method (Preparation time: 45 mins approx)

• Fry the onions and garlic until cooked.
• Add chopped peppers then the cockles and Bara Lawr.
• Cook for about 5 minutes and add chillie, curry and salt and pepper.
  
• After about a minute of mixing well, add porridge oats, stirring until nice and thick.
  
• Leave mixture to cool.
• Form into bite size balls ( or bigger to own preference), I've got a big bite!, and place on greased or non stick baking tray.
• Bake at 180C until slightly crusty on the outside. This takes me about 20-25 minutes.
  
  

N.B.  Bara Lawr Bagees can be made in a slab, then sliced into squares and frozen. To serve from frozen warm up in a microwave. Lardons may be substituted for cockles in this recipe.

North Wales Psychedelic rock band  'Holy Coves'  are poised to release their brand new single  'The Hurt Within'  on Friday 25th of March via  'Yr Wyddfa Records' .

Lead by Welsh Singer-Songwriter  Scott Marsden ,  'Holy Coves'  find themselves crossing an unseen threshold on a fantastical new journey where new psych-hazed material spells an exciting new era for the collective.

Through long time friend and Producer  David Wrench ,  'Holy Coves'  were put in touch with Texan Producer  Erik Wofford   (The Black Angels / Explosions In The Sky)  and have built quite a magical working relationship, one where Wofford found himself on Mixing and Mastering duties for the material and certainly contributes to their new sound.