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]
Trwbador on stage at The Parrot in Carmarthen in 2013
Debut album (2013)
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]
Several Wolves (2014)
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 StephensBBC Radio 1 show.[35]
In 2015
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]
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