FEATURE:
The Digital Mixtape
The Welsh Music Prize 2023: The Shortlist
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I think certain award shows and ceremonies…
get acclaim and lots of media attention. That is all good, yet there are those that never quite get the spotlight and exposure from the mainstream. When it comes to musical countries that produce such excellent, unique and original music, you need not look much further than Wales. One of my favourite times of year is seeing the shortlist announced from the Welsh Music Prize. Every year offers up a banquet and bonanza of incredible albums. At a time when Welsh music is still not emphasised and spotlighted much by national stations and the music media, this year’s rich crop of entrants should help to redress that! In fact – and taking away nothing from the superb Mercury Prize -, so many award ceremonies are focused on London. Albums and artists from the capital scoop most of the accolades. Instead, with the Welsh Music Prize, you can feel and hear something genuinely brilliant and enduring without having to crown your eyes to London. Of this year’s selected fifteen albums, legends such as John Cale stand alongside Sister Wives. I know who I think will win this year, though you can never predict – so strong and diverse is the shortlist! Cath Holland writing for the good folk at God Is in the TV gives us all the news and nominated artists that we need to look out for. Ahead of Sian Eleri hosting the ceremony on 10th October, we have some time to listen to the shortlisted fifteen albums and revel in the brilliance of Welsh music:
“The 15-strong Welsh Music Prize shortlist was revealed by Adam Walton on BBC Radio Wales this weekend. The annual award is a celebration of releases over the past year, and seeks to highlight and increase the profile of Welsh music both in the country itself and across the globe.
The finalists offer much to choose from – cinematic nostalgic indie psych-pop via YNYS – shortlisted for our very own Neutron Prize last month – and gothic folklore feminism courtesy of Sister Wives; Minas‘s is a firey debut, boisterous psychedelic ensemble CVC‘s record suitably boisterous, we enjoy classy songwriting by Dafydd Owain, and classic indie pop from Hyll exploring growth into adulthood. Electronic duo Overmono make the list, as does triple Welsh harpist Cerys Hafana, and a deeply personal release from H Hawkline, plus beautiful delicacies shared by Ivan Moult. The legendary John Cale is in there, rapper Mace the Great as bracing as ever, Rogue Jones making a witty and warm return, Stella Donnelly is both biting and moving and Sŵnami entertain with highly melodic indie.
Founded in 2011 and supported by Creative Wales, the prize is open to albums of all genres and past winners have included Kelly Lee Owens, Boy Azooga, Deyah, Gruff Rhys, Gwenno, Meilyr Jones and more. Last year’s award was given to Bato Mato by Adwaith who are the first artists to win the Welsh Music Prize twice, the band’s debut album Melyn taking home the gong in 2019.
The shortlisted albums have been whittled down from a longlist of 140 albums by the Welsh Music Prize jurors. The judges – Dave Acton (Larynx Entertainment), Huw Baines (The Guardian / NME / Kerrang), Tegwen Bruce Deans (music journalist), Mirain Iwerydd (BBC Radio Cymru), Nest Jenkins (ITV Cymru Wales Backstage), Eddy Temple Morris (Virgin Radio) now have the task of choosing one of the nominated albums for the coveted prize.
Winners will be announced at this years’ ceremony on 10 October at Wales Millennium Centre, presented by BBC Radio 1 presenter Sian Eleri. The event will welcome a live public audience as part of Llais, Cardiff’s flagship international arts festival which takes place 10– 15 October. This year the Welsh Music Prize will open Llais for the second year, and include performances by shortlisted performers Cerys Hafana, Mace the Great and Minas. Triskel Award winners Talulah, Dom & Lloyd and Half Happy who receive up to £5,000 worth of support each to assist their careers with advice and expert sessions from Help Musicians, will also play on the might along with PPL Momentum recipient Hana Lili.
IN THIS PHOTO: Sian Eleri
Welsh Music Prize co-founder, Huw Stephens said: “This year’s shortlist is another great collection of albums from Wales. The Welsh Music Prize is a globally recognised award and an important part of Wales’ music calendar, and this year’s line up at the Welsh Music Prize promises to make it a very special night.”
The Welsh Music Prize 2023 finalists are:
Cerys Hafana – Edyf (Cerys Hafana / Self Released)
CVC – Get Real (CVC Recordings)
Dafydd Owain – Uwch Dros Y Pysgod (Recordiau I KA CHING)
H Hawkline – Milk For Flowers (Heavenly Recordings)
Hyll – Sŵn O’r Stafell Arall (Recordiau JigCal Records)
Ivan Moult – Songs From Severn Grove (Bubblewrap Records)
John Cale – Mercy (Domino Recording Co Ltd.)
Mace The Great – SplottWorld (SplottWorld Ent.)
Minas – All My Love Has Failed Me (Libertino Records)
Overmono – Good Lies (XL Recordings)
Rogue Jones – Dos Bebés (Libertino Records)
Sister Wives – Y Gawres (Libertino Records)
Stella Donnelly – Flood (Secretly Canadian)
Sŵnami – Sŵnamii (Recordiau Côsh Records)
YNYS – Ynys (Libertino Records)”.
Just before wrapping up, I have some more details about which of the fifteen nominated artists will be performing on the day on 10th October. If you want to grab tickets to see the Welsh Music Prize ceremony then al that information is below. You can also keep track of all the updates and news by following the Welsh Music Prize on social media:
“The Judges for Welsh Music Prize 2023 are:
Dave Acton (Larynx Entertainment)
Huw Baines (The Guardian / NME / Kerrang)
Tegwen Bruce Deans (music journalist)
Mirain Iwerydd (BBC Radio Cymru)
Nest Jenkins (ITV Cymru Wales Backstage)
Eddy Temple Morris (Virgin Radio)
IN THIS PHOTO: Sister Wives
Recipients of the Triskel Awards (with Help Musicians) are:
Half Happy
Dom & Lloyd
Talulah
Live performances for WMP ’23 are:
Cerys Hafana (WMP ‘23 nominee)
Mace the Great (WMP ‘23 nominee)
Minas (WMP ‘23 nominee)
Talulah (Triskel Award Winner)
Dom & Lloyd (Triskel Award Winner)
Half Happy (Triskel Award Winner)
Hana Lili (PPL Momentum recipient)
Tickets for the event can be purchased here: https://www.wmc.org.uk/en/llais/events/welsh-music-prize
For more information about the Welsh Music Prize go to www.wmp.cymru or follow @welshmusicprize #WMP2023”.
Go and check out those fifteen albums before the ceremony takes place. I wanted to end this feature by picking two tracks from each of the shortlisted albums for this year’s Welsh Music Prize. You will see and hear so much music diversity. All of these artists need to be in your regular rotation. Once you hear this playlist, do yourself and a favour and listen in full to all of the albums from…
FIFTEEN Welsh Music Prize warriors.