Trwbador | |
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Background information | |
Origin | Newport, Wales |
Genres | Electronic, indie pop |
Years active | 2010–2015 |
Labels | Owlet Music, Great Pop Supplement, Tummy Touch Records |
Past members | Owain Gwilym, Angharad Van Rijswijk |
Trwbador were a Welsh duo who occupied a place in the musical landscape between folk and techno. [1] The two-piece resided in Carmarthenshire, [2] although they began working together while at University in Newport. [3] Trwbador's original sound has established them as a forerunner of the Welsh music scene. [1]
Members Owain Gwilym and Angharad Van Rijswijk began writing music together in 2010. [4] After graduating from Newport University, [5] the two relocated to West Wales, where they are originally from, and released two home-recorded EPs through their own label Owlet Music. [4] Songs from these EPs were featured on UK Radio shows and the track Off-Beat became one of BBC Radio Wales DJ Adam Walton's tracks of the year. [6] The track Sun in the Winter was the MPFree on BBC 6 Music's Lauren Laverne breakfast show [7] and played by Huw Stephens on his BBC Radio 1 show. [8]
After being heard on the radio, Trwbador were invited to play at the London 2012 Olympics. [9] In December 2012 Cornershop released a Christmas single titled Every Year So Different featuring Angharad on vocals. [10]
In April 2013 Trwbador released their self-titled debut album. [11] Cornershop play Sitar and Tanpura for the album version of the track Sun in the Winter [11] re-recorded for this album. The album was released on CD through Owlet Music was released on 12" LP on white vinyl by The Great Pop Supplement [11] with artwork by Cardiff artist Nic Finch. [12] The album was received positively among music websites [13] and magazines, getting a four star review in Q Magazine with the description "A magic debut". [14] In Summer 2013 Trwbador performed at a number of festivals to promote the release of their album, including Glastonbury Festival, [15] Green Man Festival, [4] SWN Festival [16] and Laugharne Weekend. [17] A track from the album, Red Handkerchiefs, went on to feature in the 2013 TV advert for Visit Wales [18] and the 2014 TV advert for Lindeman's wine. [19] In November 2013 James Dean Bradfield named Trwbador as an influence for the track Builder of Routines from the Manic Street Preachers album Rewind the Film. [20] As 2013 drew to an end Trwbador's debut album was shortlisted for the Welsh Music Prize. [21]
In June 2014 Trwbador released a hip-hop single featuring vocals by London rapper Esaa (also known as Yungun). [22] The track was released on seven-inch record and digital download again via Owlet Music [23] and was praised by radio DJs including Rob Da Bank and Lauren Laverne, whose BBC 6 Music show it was featured on as the MPFree. [24] The track also had play on XFM, the first time the duo had been played on this station. [25] Following Breakthrough came Trwbador's second album Several Wolves, which was released in August 2014 on Owlet Music. [26] The title was taken from the essay by Deleuze and Guattari "One or Several Wolves" from the book A Thousand Plateaus. [27] Along with the guest appearance from Essa on Breakthrough, Welsh artist Richard James performed vocals on the track Blue Minds. [28] Several Wolves also received positive reviews including 8/10 from Mixmag, [29] 4 stars from Q Magazine, [30] 7/10 from Uncut magazine, [31] ArtRocker album of the week, [32] BBC 6 Music album of the day [33] and an article in The Quietus [34] among others. After the positive reception of the album, Trwbador closed the year by playing a live session at BBC Maida Vale studios for Huw Stephens BBC Radio 1 show. [35]
Channel 4 drama series Raised by Wolves used the Trwbador song "Love & Folly" on episode 3, "Mehmesis", in May 2015. [36] In September, the announcement was made over the duo's website that Trwbador is over. [37] Shortly after, their second album Several Wolves was nominated for the 2014–2015 Welsh Music Prize. [38]
A stunning record
Trwbador | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Background information | |
Origin | Newport, Wales |
Genres | Electronic, indie pop |
Years active | 2010–2015 |
Labels | Owlet Music, Great Pop Supplement, Tummy Touch Records |
Past members | Owain Gwilym, Angharad Van Rijswijk |
Trwbador were a Welsh duo who occupied a place in the musical landscape between folk and techno. [1] The two-piece resided in Carmarthenshire, [2] although they began working together while at University in Newport. [3] Trwbador's original sound has established them as a forerunner of the Welsh music scene. [1]
Members Owain Gwilym and Angharad Van Rijswijk began writing music together in 2010. [4] After graduating from Newport University, [5] the two relocated to West Wales, where they are originally from, and released two home-recorded EPs through their own label Owlet Music. [4] Songs from these EPs were featured on UK Radio shows and the track Off-Beat became one of BBC Radio Wales DJ Adam Walton's tracks of the year. [6] The track Sun in the Winter was the MPFree on BBC 6 Music's Lauren Laverne breakfast show [7] and played by Huw Stephens on his BBC Radio 1 show. [8]
After being heard on the radio, Trwbador were invited to play at the London 2012 Olympics. [9] In December 2012 Cornershop released a Christmas single titled Every Year So Different featuring Angharad on vocals. [10]
In April 2013 Trwbador released their self-titled debut album. [11] Cornershop play Sitar and Tanpura for the album version of the track Sun in the Winter [11] re-recorded for this album. The album was released on CD through Owlet Music was released on 12" LP on white vinyl by The Great Pop Supplement [11] with artwork by Cardiff artist Nic Finch. [12] The album was received positively among music websites [13] and magazines, getting a four star review in Q Magazine with the description "A magic debut". [14] In Summer 2013 Trwbador performed at a number of festivals to promote the release of their album, including Glastonbury Festival, [15] Green Man Festival, [4] SWN Festival [16] and Laugharne Weekend. [17] A track from the album, Red Handkerchiefs, went on to feature in the 2013 TV advert for Visit Wales [18] and the 2014 TV advert for Lindeman's wine. [19] In November 2013 James Dean Bradfield named Trwbador as an influence for the track Builder of Routines from the Manic Street Preachers album Rewind the Film. [20] As 2013 drew to an end Trwbador's debut album was shortlisted for the Welsh Music Prize. [21]
In June 2014 Trwbador released a hip-hop single featuring vocals by London rapper Esaa (also known as Yungun). [22] The track was released on seven-inch record and digital download again via Owlet Music [23] and was praised by radio DJs including Rob Da Bank and Lauren Laverne, whose BBC 6 Music show it was featured on as the MPFree. [24] The track also had play on XFM, the first time the duo had been played on this station. [25] Following Breakthrough came Trwbador's second album Several Wolves, which was released in August 2014 on Owlet Music. [26] The title was taken from the essay by Deleuze and Guattari "One or Several Wolves" from the book A Thousand Plateaus. [27] Along with the guest appearance from Essa on Breakthrough, Welsh artist Richard James performed vocals on the track Blue Minds. [28] Several Wolves also received positive reviews including 8/10 from Mixmag, [29] 4 stars from Q Magazine, [30] 7/10 from Uncut magazine, [31] ArtRocker album of the week, [32] BBC 6 Music album of the day [33] and an article in The Quietus [34] among others. After the positive reception of the album, Trwbador closed the year by playing a live session at BBC Maida Vale studios for Huw Stephens BBC Radio 1 show. [35]
Channel 4 drama series Raised by Wolves used the Trwbador song "Love & Folly" on episode 3, "Mehmesis", in May 2015. [36] In September, the announcement was made over the duo's website that Trwbador is over. [37] Shortly after, their second album Several Wolves was nominated for the 2014–2015 Welsh Music Prize. [38]
A stunning record