PROLOGUE [programme details below…]
So, the wheel's came off over the last few weeks. One dodgy cold begat a quaking flu, and it's taken me weeks to get over it. Heartfelt empathy and a speedy recovery for any of you experiencing miserable aches and sniffles.
I've barely updated the Substack or bothered people with news / updates about the programme. Your ears, your support and curiosity about these wonderful artists is vital, priceless and appreciated by all involved, though, I promise you.
I love writing about the finest and most fascinating of the new music that apparates into my inbox but there has been no time to wax lyrical here recently. This high temperature hiatus has given me time to take stock, though, and it feels that after a couple of years of lots of interviews and features, it's time to focus back entirely on the music. I'll still speak with fascinating people (Rona Mac is our special guest this coming Saturday night) but the interviews and features will be fewer and further between.
It'd be interesting to hear what you think, though, so feel free to reply / comment below. This isn't a low-rent dictatorship. It's a friendly tank powered entirely by our love for new music.
See also, Twitter / 'X'. I feel like by leaving the platform a couple of months ago, I abandoned a beautiful community of people who have woven themselves into the fabric of the programme over the last 10-15 years and I miss them greatly.
My woke snowflake reasons for leaving Musk's machine learning echo chamber are obvious, so I won't be going back -- but if you miss interacting with the show / seeing information about the artists I'm playing, as I play them, and the ability to comment directly on the recordings you love, you can find me lurking on Threads here:
https://www.threads.net/@adamthomaswalton
In other 'news', I've also been busy finishing off a batch of songs to follow up my 2022 album 'Afal'. Jesus, time is an unbroken horse on a vast but shrinking plain. Perhaps mentioning my own music in a post about the show isn't entirely appropriate, however I think it is appropriate to remind myself just how precious time is to anyone trying to balance their creative urge with life and work. Literally every piece of music that arrives is a result of dedication, small sacrifices, a fraught balancing act on a high wire a lot of (excellent) normal people will never have to understand.
If you send me music, your efforts don't go unrecognised or unappreciated. Even if I don't play them. There's a lot of music and only three hours for us to get down and dirty with it.
Anyway. A lot of words to say relatively little.
Thank you / diolch for your interest / celebration and support of new music from Wales. We continue to live through incredibly rich times. Long may it continue.
Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Keep on trucking...
You can hear this week’s celebration of new Welsh music now here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0024szj
SMARTSPEAKER: to listen to the show, ask your smartspeaker to ask BBC to play BBC Introducing With Adam Walton.
Please subscribe to the programme via the BBC Sounds app, and then the programme will automatically download so that you can listen at your convenience, wherever you like (via Smartphone / portable devices etc):
Feel free to share the link below:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0024szj
And if you have a chance, you can check out other recent editions of the programme:
02.11.24 All killer, no filler... https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0024l2p
26.10.24 First Timers: a programme dedicated to 40+ artists from across Wales who I have never played before. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0024csz
19.10.24 Kelly Lee Owens interview: a fascinating conversation with Bagillt's Kelly Lee Owens, one of the world's foremost electronic producers. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002460h
If you would like information about any of the featured artists, please don’t hesitate to reply.
More information about BBC Sounds here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds
Please do send new music excellence to me via the BBC Introducing Uploader or as a download link to my BBC email address. You'll work it out. It has a dot between my first name and my last name.
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THIS WEEK’S PLAYLIST
Public Order - 'Stranger'
Merthyr Tydfil / Porthcawl
http://facebook.com/PublicOrderUK
About Bunny - 'Bed'
Neath / Wrexham
http://facebook.com/aboutbunnyband
Kelly Lee Owens - 'Air'
Bagillt
http://kellyleeowens.bandcamp.com
Sywel Nyw - 'Disglair ft. Carwyn Eckley'
Bangor
http://facebook.com/SywelNyw
Campfire Social - 'Breathe Out Slowly [album]'
Chester / Newbridge
Siula - 'Llygaid'
Cardiff
http://instagram.com/siula_x
Bill Ryder-jones - 'If Tomorrow Starts Without Me'
West Kirby / Rhyl Collaborator
http://billryderjones.co.uk
Gruff Rhys - 'They Sold My Home To Build A Skyscraper'
Bethesda / Cardiff
http://gruffrhys.com
Eggmen Whoooooo!, The - 'So Long (Bye Bye Baby)'
Neath / Resolven
http://facebook.com/p/The-Eggmen-Whooo-100083374175439/
Dream State - 'Bloom'
Swansea
http://facebook.com/DreamStateUKOfficial
REEM MUHAMMED SELECTS…
Rhi’N’B - 'Let You Know'
Cardiff
http://instagram.com/Rhi_n_b
CVC - 'The Lowrider (Just About Meant To Be)'
Church Village
http://cvcband.com
Daemönik Fonce - 'Nancy's Ranch'
Wales
GLOK / Timothy Clerkin - 'Nothing Ever ft. Du Blonde'
Cardiff Originally
Griff Lynch - 'Ti Sy'n Troi ft. Lleuwen'
Bangor
http://instagram.com/grifflynch/
Danielle Lewis - 'Slow, Sad, and Real'
New Quay
http://daniellelewis.bandcamp.com
TRIBUTE TO HOWARD KING
Dr Phibes And The House Of Wax Equations - 'Sugarblast'
Deeside
http://https://www.discogs.com/release/709842-Dr-Phibes-And-The-House-Of-Wax-Equations-Sugarblast-EP
Adwaith - 'Mwy'
Carmarthen
http://facebook.com/adwaithmusic
Setondji Spirit - 'Together We Are (feat. Soulfyah Productions)'
Swansea
http://www.facebook.com/setondjispirit
Pen Dub - 'Yr Ogof ft. Tom Macaulay'
Morfa Nefyn
http://pendub.bandcamp.com
Broster and West - 'Train's Still Coming'
Machynlleth
http://mikewest.net/
Dan Bettridge - 'Architecture Of A Worried Mind'
Ogmore - By - Sea
http://danbettridge.bandcamp.com
Amanda Whiting - 'Peace Piece'
Cardiff
Joyce - 'The Heat'
Llanelli / Carmarthen
http://www.instagram.com/joycemakesmusic
Gaff - 'Chefchaouen'
Aberystwyth / Cardiff
Worldcub - 'Suddo Tonnau'
Llanrug
http://worldcub.bandcamp.com
Red Snapper - 'Lucky Strike ft. David Harrow'
Swansea
http://redsnapperofficial.com
Connective Zone - 'Function'
Welshman’s Label
http://juno.co.uk/products/connective-zone-palm-palm-remastered-edition-vinyl/1053727-01/
David J Bull - 'Invisible Forces'
Cardiff
http://soundcloud.com/david-j-bull
Phantoms In The Dusk - 'hide among the roses till the fire comes'
Aberystwyth
Death Of Money, The - 'Wasp Screams ft. Bethan Lloyd'
Cardiff
http://thedeathofhermoney.bigcartel.com
Primitive Knot - 'Decay'
Mold
Cole Guest - 'popsong'
Wrexham
http://instagram.com/coleashguest
Tristwch Y Fenywod - ''Nes I Ddawnsio Efo'r Lleuad'
Wales / Leeds
Mascot Moth - 'Ellis Ascendant'
Llanfyllin, Powys
Owen Weston - 'Higher Ground'
Swansea
Honeytalks - 'Cloud Nine Fever'
Rhyl
http://facebook.com/honeytalksofficial
Eve Goodman - 'Summer Sun, Winter Trees (Radio edit)'
Y Felinheli
http://facebook.com/evegoodmanmusic
Safari Gold - 'Through The Night'
Cardiff / Valleys
http://facebook.com/safarigoldmusic
Nyree Williams - 'Winter Blues'
Wales
http://linktr.ee/nyreewilliams
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SHOW STATS
1522 diff songs/ 1706 Total. 894 Artists in 45 shows since 1st, Jan '24 (~Songs per:38, Unique artists per:20) Welsh:97% Cymraeg:13% (feat. lyrics in Welsh); Source: Uploader:38%, Direct:15%, Bought:19%, Plugger:22%, Commission:4%
Comprehensive Session / Interview List: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1w-rIPj0l0QhUcbEm08PUPLUWh-416mwlteG_8wpNWtQ/edit?usp=sharing
Subscribe to my Substack: https://adamwalton.substack.com
Diolch o galon,
Adam Walton
Hi Adam. Great read and a huge diolch for continuing to turn out fantastic programmes that really showcase the breadth and quality of Welsh music that we are privileged to enjoy. For what it’s worth - I think your focus on the music is the right one. Interviews and features clearly have their place but, particularly in the slot you currently have on the schedule, I personally enjoy the wave of different music that keeps a pace and flow to proceedings. I miss the Twitter crowd too but hopefully we can continue to reconvene on Threads in the months ahead. Keep the faith 💚