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WELSH ALT POP ARTIST 'MALI HAF' RELEASES NEW 'SHWSH!' SINGLE ON THE 16TH JUNE
By Ceri Shaw, 2023-06-14
Mali Haf on Facebook
SHWSH!
Released on 16/06/2023
In this single Mali Haf takes a new direction with her brand of alternative pop. The aim is to create music with an impact that cannot be ignored, a combination of compelling electroinc beats and evocative melodies. She hopes to convince her Welsh speaking and non-Welsh speaking audiences that the language can thrive in current high energy musical environments.
SHWSH! is a burst of empowering pop that urges it’s listeners to be themselves in the worlds of Reality TV and social media. There is empathy for how we have to navigate the bombardment of media advice, designed to create disatisfactions. The last verse wishes that we could be free to allow love into our lives.
The other clear message in the lyrics is that your gender identity is personal to you, no-one should dictate how you should express it.
The single is accompanied by a video which depicts Mali being auditioned for the part of playing a “woman”.
This is the first single leading towards an EP in the Autumn. This new material is a collaboration with the South Wales based producer Minas.
SHWSH!
Dyddiad cyhoeddi 16/06/2023
Yn y sengl hon mae Mali Haf yn mynd i gyfeiriad newydd gyda’i brand o bop amgen. Y nod yw creu cerddoriaeth gydag effaith na ellir ei anwybyddu, cyfuniad o guriadau electroinc cymhellol ac alawon atgofus. Mae’n gobeithio darbwyllo ei chynulleidfa Cymraeg eu hiaith a’r di-Gymraeg bod yr iaith yn medru ffynnu mewn amgylcheddau cerddorol egni uchel y presennol.
Mae SHWSH! yn ffrwydriad o bop grymusol sy’n annog ei wrandawyr i fod yn nhw eu hunain ym myd teledu Realiti a’r cyfryngau cymdeithasol. Mae yna empathi gyda sut mae'n rhaid i ni lywio ein hunaniaeth trwy gyngor parhaus y cyfryngau cymdeithasol, sydd wedi'u cynllunio i greu anfodlonrwydd. Mae'r pennill olaf yn dymuno y gallem fod yn rhydd i ganiatáu cariad i mewn i’n bywydau.
Y neges glir arall yn y geiriau yw bod eich hunaniaeth o ran rhywedd yn bersonol i chi, ni ddylai neb ddweud sut y dylech ei fynegi.
I gyd-fynd â’r sengl mae fideo sy’n darlunio Mali yn cael clyweliad am y rhan o chwarae “Dynes”.
Dyma’r sengl gyntaf yn arwain at EP yn yr Hydref. Mae'r deunydd newydd hwn yn gydweithrediad â'r cynhyrchydd Minas o dde Cymru.
We called ANGHARAD a ‘mesmerising musical chameleon’ with the release of her debut single ‘Because I am a Woman’, an unstoppable disco anthem with sweeping strings, sparkling horns and a clear message of empowerment. Her second single ‘Postpartum’ is equally as striking and unflinching in it’s honesty.
Here we find ANGHARAD swimming in darker musical waters, ‘Postpartum’ is what happens when you combine ‘Slow Dazzle’ era John Cale with the stark and bold rock and roll of Patti Smith’s ‘Horses’ and NEU!’s propulsive sonic explorations. Angharad explains about the background to ‘Postpartum’:
“This is about all the things that they don’t tell you about child birth and early motherhood. It’s a list about the uglier side of childbirth, and its effects on a woman’s body, physically and mentally, and in particular the acute loss of identity we feel when we bring life into the world.
There’s a dark humour here, because the truth is, we wouldn’t have it any other way. But if only I had this song to listen to before becoming a mother for the first time, I think I would have been a bit more prepared about what was to come! If you didn’t know about cluster feeding, the hair loss, Mothers Thumb and that first 'accident', then let this song educate you. It’s not all cute and fluffy, and it’s time we open up about this.
"I’m a prisoner to the sofa, and I’ve lost what makes me me, it true that all I am, is a mother to my baby?” Is a genuine cry of desperation about losing one’s identity. This 3 minute song will be more useful and educational than a 6 week ante-natal class!”
'Postpartum' by ANGHARAD is out now on Libertino.
Derbyniwyd sengl gyntaf ANGHARAD 'Because I am a Woman' cryn dipyn o sylw am ei fod yn anthem disgo gyda neges bwerus yn perthyn iddi ac mae ei hail sengl ‘Postpartum’, allan ar Libertino heddiw, yr un mor drawiadol a di-flewyn ar dafod â'r gyntaf.
Yma gweler ANGHARAD yn arbrofi mewn dyfroedd cerddorol tywyllach, yn cyfuno synau albwm ‘Slow Dazzle’ gan John Cale, roc beiddgar Patti Smith ac archwiliadau arbrofol NEU! Esbonia Angharad:
“Mae'r gân yn ymwneud â'r holl bethau does neb yn ei son amdano pan ydych yn disgwyl eich plentyn cyntaf. Mae’n son am yr ochr does neb yn ei weld a'r effeithiau mae hynny yn ei gael ar gorff merch - yn gorfforol ac yn feddyliol, ac yn trafod hefyd y teimlad rhyfedd hwnnw o golli synnwyr o hunaniaeth ti dy hun.
Taswn i 'mond 'di cael y gân yma i wrando arni cyn dod yn fam am y tro cyntaf, dwi'n meddwl y byddai wedi fy mharatoi i ychydig yn well nag yr oeddwn i! Os nad ydych yn gwybod riw lawer am fwydo babi, colli gwallt, y 'ddamwain' cyntaf a'r teimladau newydd sy'n dod gyda'r profiadau hynny, yna gadewch i'r gân hon eich addysgu. Mae'n hen bryd i ni son yn agored am y pethau yma. Mae'r gân hon yn fwy defnyddiol, addysgiadol a gwerthfawr na unrhyw ddosbarth cyn-geni!”
Mae 'Postpartum' allan nawr ar Libertino
A Message From Welsh Band CVC ( Church Village Collective ) - Currently on Tour in the U.S.
By Ceri Shaw, 2023-06-10
BUY CVC CONCERT TICKETS HERE
AmeriCymru: Many thanks for agreeing to this interview. Care to introduce the band, CVC for our members and readers?
CVC: Thank you for having us! We have Francesco Orsi on lead vocals, David Bassey and Elliot Bradfield singing guitarists, Nanial on keys, Tom Fry on drums and Ben Thorne on bass.
AmeriCymru: Where in Wales is Church Village and how would you describe it?
CVC: Church Village is about half hour drive from the capital Cardiff, it’s a small little village but looks quite nice when the suns out Full of characters, and lots of good rugby players.
AmeriCymru: ( will be re ordered) How vibrant is the Welsh music scene at the moment? How easy is it for a Welsh band to get noticed?
CVC: There’s all sorts of great music going on in Cardiff now, too many great bands to name! And I think it’s quite hard to break out of the Cardiff scene, it took us a while, and we know loads of great band and musicians that are struggling to make a dent in England or the UK, so anything we can do to shine a light on that we will do. There’s untapped potential aplenty over in the land of sheep hear me now!
AmeriCymru: What can you tell us about your current / recent tour of the United States? Any plans to return and perhaps visit the West Coast?
CVC: We’ve played New York and Toronto so far and the reaction has been incredible! To have people over the other side of the world singing back to us is a crazy feeling, and yes hopefully a West Coast trip in October fingers crossed!
AmeriCymru: Care to tell us a little about your recently released album 'Get Real'? CVC:
Get Real was recorded in guitarist Elliot’s kitchen during lockdown, we sent it around everyone we could find and ended up getting a response from Jonny Bradshaw and Geoff Barradale, our managers, and then they put us on the road and on the radio! It contains nearly all the songs we’d written up to that point, and we recorded everything from real Welsh rain to pots and bongs and shoe horned it all in to this DIY home grown recording.
AmeriCymru: How would you derscribe CVC's sound? What are the bands main influences?
CVC: I’d say it was like groovy harmony based rock music in a nutshell We love harmony bands like Frankie and the 4 seasons, groovy stuff like the Doobie Brothers and the Atlanta Rhythm Section and hip hop music from guys like Biggie Smalls and NWA.
AmeriCymru: Where can people go to hear you play and buy your music?
CVC: Well after this first American tour we’re going home to play our second UK tour, and then we’re out in Germany for Reeperbahn! All dates are on our website www.CVCband.com !
AmeriCymru: What are your future touring and recording plans? Any new tours or albums in the works?
CVC: We just about to start recording album 2, since most of it was written about a year ago, so we’re raaaaring to go!! We want to take it all over the world, especially Japan, we’re all sushi lovers!
AmeriCymru: Any final message for the readers and members of AmeriCymru?
CVC: Get Real, Stay Real! Look after each other, look after yourselves, and keep it peace and love!
FORTHCOMING TOUR DATES
Psychedelic upstarts The Family Battenberg announce the release of their reverb coated,fuzz founded new track ‘Runny Hunny’, out on the 6th of June!
By Ceri Shaw, 2023-06-06
Psychedelic upstarts The Family Battenberg announce the release of their reverb coated,fuzz founded new track ‘Runny Hunny’, out on the 6th of June!
Having already gained attention from Steve Lamacq , Amy Lamé , Huw Stephens , alongside Amazing Radio playlisting on their previous releases, the band plan to make a lot of noise with ‘Runny Hunny’.
Upcoming Live Dates
June 9th - The Bunkhouse, Swansea (Supporting Panic Shack)
June 29th - The Globe, Cardiff (Supporting SHLUG)
July 16th - HarbourFest, Bristol
July 22nd - Leopalooza, Cornwall
July 23rd - NozStock, Herefordshire
THE BAND
Life in Church Village is laid back and simple. Situated at the top of a hill in the Welsh Valleys around 10 miles north of Cardiff: there are a couple of rugby pitches, a few pubs all within walking distance of one another and that’s about it. Like many villages of this kind, it appears on the outside as quiet and serene, but there’s a bubbling underbelly, of kids itching for a chance to explore the wider world.
CVC (or Church Village Collective in full) represents this. But as the name suggests, they’re not divorcing themselves from the identity of the ‘small town’; if they have it their way, international renown will soon be brought to their village.
The outfit is comprised of singer Francesco Orsi, bassist Ben Thorne, drummer Tom Fry, keyboardist Daniel ‘Nanial’ Jones and singing guitarists David Bassey and Elliot Bradfield. It’s worth noting that the latter two, despite never having met them, are related to Welsh royalty Dame Shirley Bassey and Manic Street Preachers’ James Dean Bradfield, respectively. Maybe owing to genetics, Bassey states “I don’t think I’d be able to not do this, I don’t actively choose to, I’m just drawn to it”. But the band are all as equally talented with different skills that aid the cacophony of their sound. Simply put, CVC are a democracy, greater than the sum of its parts, and destined for world domination - perhaps!
It’s a lofty but not impossible dream - but if there is one band that’s up to that challenge, it’s them. “The point of being in a band is to have fun and to make music that people enjoy” Dave adds, “We listen to music to feel something and if we can give a bit of that back to other people - to hear them say they like the art you’ve produced, that’s the best thing ever”. The band’s rallying cry? “Peace and love and good times; stay real, stay true and that’s it.” Ultimately, they are essentialists and their music appeals to universally felt, primal instincts.
Again, there are no add-ons with this band, no gimmicks. They grew up on rock music’s building blocks: The Beatles, Neil Young and The Beach Boys - rich and melodic music steeped in rock’s history, while adding a contemporary feel; think the sunny sounds of Mac Demarco and Super Furry Animals coupled with the virtuosity of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
There is a hint of chaos though. Partly owing to the fact that they started as a ‘jam band’ says Orsi, and partly to their ingrained love of 70s psychedelia, it’s maybe the big three-part harmonies that stand out. Orsi, Bassey and Bradfield’s vocals are able to conjure moods of any palette, sweet but also explosive.
“We like big sounds,” sums up Bassey. “We like the big-big stuff. You’ve gotta have a keyboard player, two guitars, that’s a must, and three singers - “You definitely want to get to the top of Everest before you start coming back down.” Thorne adds.
The love of harmony comes from a surprising place given their knack for rebellion. “When I was in primary school, my music teacher would have six or seven hundred pupils singing four part harmonies and it was banging,” says Bradfield. “Like, it was loud as fuck in the hall. I remember getting goosebumps and thinking, ‘This is so class…’”
Real to Reel, their debut EP released in mid-2022 neatly summed up their identity. It’s an urgent manifesto that appeals to classic tastes but implanted in the present. ‘Docking the Pay is full blown energy’ says Thorne, despite being made in lockdown; a time when the world was invariably still. NME called the EP an “assured achievement” and highlighted ‘Winston’ saying “[it] recaptures the groove and glory of late ‘60s psych-pop…with swirls and reverb”. It’s otherworldly.
In January 2023, Get Real, CVC’s 11-track debut album, will offer a similar transcendency. Keeping it local, they recorded in Bradfield’s’ living room over four sun-baked summer weeks; cooking up some of the rhythms in the kitchen using wooden spoons and pots and pans - with Ross Orton (Arctic Monkeys) coming on board to mix the finished product. They were efficient, “We’d start in the morning, crank the amps up and then be home for dinner… Great fun,” says Bassey. “We do everything for the greater good of the band, rather than as individuals, that’s how everybody looks at it” says Jones.
As expected, the album betrays the four-walled confines of where it was recorded. Songs that rarely stray beyond four minutes, they’re arena-filling epics in miniature. ‘Knock Knock’ weaves an undulating groove, ‘Music Stuff’ brings a bit of Laurel Canyon to the Valleys, ‘Mademoiselle’ shakes, rattles and rolls.
‘Docking the Pay’ rightfully re-features on their debut album and fits perfectly, “it’s the ideal track to introduce the band”, says Thorne.
Elsewhere, there’s the anthemic ballad ‘Sophie’, named after Jones’ girlfriend and the jazz- inflected ‘Anogo’, which was written about the time the keyboardist broke both his arms (“The moral of the story is don’t be inebriated and climb trees,” he says).
When the album lands, an indispensable new band will be uncovered. “We want to be on massive stages with massive crowds, big gigs, big albums, top of the stack, like…the bigger the better.” Teeming with exuberance, they’re primed and prepped for this.
Around the release of Real to Reel, they played scuzzy, sweaty venues like London’s The Lexington and Cardiff’s Clwb Ifor Bach as well as the greater plains of Electric Picnic and Reading & Leeds, converting crowds along the way. This was no more evident than at their EP release party at London’s Shacklewell Arms, where new and seasoned fans alike loudly chanted “CVC” at the end of the set; it felt spiritual, almost cultish.
The sound of ‘real Welsh rain’ pitter-patters across this self-produced album. CVC bring it all back home on Get Real. It’s local and far-reaching; atop hills but firmly grounded; it’s bursting at the seams. It’s the Church Village Collective.
THE TOUR
CVC ON THE SOCIALS
LinkTree: @cvcband | https://linktr.ee/cvcband
Facebook: @CVCband | https://www.facebook.com/CVCband/
Twitter: @CVCband_ | https://twitter.com/CVCband_
Instagram: @cvcband_ | https://www.instagram.com/cvcband_/
YouTube: @cvcband | https://tinyurl.com/24fp9a75
TikTok: @cvcband | https://tinyurl.com/ye95bd2h
Cardiau Chwedlau - New Welsh Mythology Card Game - An Interview With Eifion Rogers
By Ceri Shaw, 2023-05-22
AmeriCymru: Hi Eifion and many thanks for agreeing to this interview. What inspired you to launch your new company Cyfrinachau Cymru?
Eifion: Thank you very much for opportunity to speak to you, i was aware of the great work you do for Welsh and American links so I was eager to discuss this project with you. The inspiration came for the game due to my opinion that not enough is done to market the lesser know locations and amazing tales of folklore and mythology our great country has to offer. I live high up in the Bannau Brecheiniog very close to where my family are originally from in Myddfai, the tale of The Lady of the Lake is associated with Myddfai and is widely recognized as one of the greatest folklore tales that has ever come out of Wales. I'm also very active in networking with numerous Welsh groups from all around the world and I hope initiatives like this can help Wales recover from a barren spell recently by promoting the Welsh language, history, culture and also offering a game for all ages. Another inspiration for me was a chance meeting with a member of a local church in Arthenrhy Ireland, who explained to me how members wrote a book hundreds of years ago in that location, which focused heavily on folklore and mythology.
AmeriCymru: What is the company's mission statement? What kind of products will you be making available?
Eifion: "Cysylltu Cymru a'r byd"
AmeriCymru: Care to tell us more about your new Welsh folklore and mythology card game?
Eifion: The game 'Cardiau Chwedlau' or Welsh legends is based around the popular kids card game Top Trumps, all 32 characters are based around the fantastic stories of mythology and folklore our amazing country offers, with a strong inspiration from The Mabinogion who I firmly believe was written by our warrior princess Gwenllian 1136. The characters are all individually ranked across 4 separate sections, magic, intelligence, battle and legend.
AmeriCymru: Do you have any samples you can share with us?
Eifion: I've attached several photos which can be viewed from the photo album on this page.
AmeriCymru: What age range is the new card game aimed at?
Eifion: We are really hoping to get this product introduced to the Welsh education sector, we believe this will be a great resource for anyone to learn Welsh, and learn about our history and culture at the same time, whatever their age.
AmeriCymru: Where can people go to learn more, or purchase from, Cyfrinachau Cymru?
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/welsh-legends-cards-cardiau-chwedlau#/
AmeriCymru: What's next for Eifion Rogers? Any new products / projects in the pipeline?
Eifion: Off the back of this product there will be several new initiatives that will be launched, I've been working on around 8 products for the last few years, I'm also hoping to continue my work with Welsh and American communities also.
AmeriCymru: Any final message for the members and readers of AmeriCymru?
Eifion: Thank you all for your support with this, keep up the good work I hope to get to the States in the next few years to see you.
Ivan Moult 'Songs From Severn Grove' The Stunning new album released 26.05.23
By Ceri Shaw, 2023-05-22
Indie folk singer-songwriter, Ivan Moult, is set to release his third album 'Songs From Severn Grove ' on May 26th on Welsh record label, Bubblewrap Records.
The Cardiff-based artist has received support from BBC Radio 6 Music, BBC Radio Wales and Folk Radio UK, with over 100k plays on Soundcloud. His 2018 album Longest Shadow earned him festival slots at Cornbury Festival, Festival of Voice and Swn, as well as support slots with This Is The Kit, Becca Mancari, and Willy Mason.
This new album showcases Ivan's versatility as he wrote, played, recorded and mixed all the songs at his home studio in Cardiff, with mastering polished off by Charlie Francis (REM, Robyn Hitchcock, Adwaith). Songs From Severn Grove chronicles Ivan's journey of growth, beginning in lockdown during the 2020 pandemic, and continuing through the challenges and joys of becoming a father.
His signature sound, combining 1960s/70s folk and blues with a contemporary touch, is on full display as he showcases his strongest work yet. Influenced by artists like J.J. Cale, Nina Simone, and Tim Buckley, Ivan's original and unique voice is at the centre of the soundscape, layered with harmonies and delay-soaked electric guitars.
'Exquisite' - Folk Radio UK
'Beautiful songs' - Huw Stephens, BBC Radio Wales
'Utterly wonderful' - Adam Walton, BBC Radio Wales
'Dreamy' - Amplify The Noise
The album will be available on digital, vinyl, and CD formats.
Pre-order the album on Vinyl and CD here: bit.ly/IvanMoult-SF7G
Pre-save the album: orcd.co/IvanMoult-SF7G
Ivan Moult is set to release his third album, 'Songs From Severn Grove', this Spring on independent Welsh record label, Bubblewrap Collective. His previous albums have received radio support from BBC Radio 6 Music and BBC Radio Wales, and have been featured on Folk Radio UK.
Ivan's second album, 'Longest Shadow', released in 2018, won him festival slots at Cornbury Festival, Folk on The Dock, and Festival of Voice, as well as support slots with This Is The Kit, Becca Mancari, and Willy Mason. For this new album, Ivan played, recorded, engineered, and mixed all of the instruments himself at his home studio in Cardiff. The album charts a journey of growth and change, beginning with the lockdown during the 2020 pandemic and continuing through Ivan's experiences of fatherhood and the development of his love and relationships.
The album showcases Ivan's voice front and centre, with layered harmonies and a soundscape of delay-soaked electric guitars, drums, and bass. The music draws from influences such as J.J. Cale, Nina Simone, and Tim Buckley, creating a fusion of 1960s/70s folk and blues with a contemporary sound. Ivan's unique and original style remains recognisably present throughout the album.
The music draws from influences such as J.J. Cale, Nina Simone, and Tim Buckley, creating a fusion of 1960s/70s folk and blues with a contemporary sound. Ivan's unique and original style remains recognisably present throughout the album.
“Absolutely wonderful. Just gorgeous.”- Janice Long, BBC Radio Wales
“Effortless acoustic songwriting...”- Clash Magazine
“...beautiful guitar playing matched with touching vocals”- For Folk’s Sake
“... beautiful orchestration and affecting subject matter”- Americana UK
“...the bar is still being raised”- Buzz Magazine
