Blwyddyn Newydd Dda – That’s Happy New Year in Welsh, and this week we bring you greetings and musical delights from Wales to kick start this wet and cold January. All this week across Huw Stephen's shows on BBC Radio 1 and on our national stations BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru, we've shared some exclusive Maida Vale sessions from some of the finest new Welsh artists.
Let's start with Cut Ribbons, a band from a town called Llanelli, who have gone through a roller-coaster of line up changes only to come out stronger, tighter, happier and prettier from the experience! After releasing a stunning debut album in 2015, this new version of Cut Ribbons is also ready to let the rule book fly out of the window and are excited for a year ahead experimenting with their sound for the next record.
Secondly we have singer songwriter Hannah Grace, whose stepping out of the shadows of Gabrielle Aplin’s touring band to release on the singers own label, and support her on tour. Hannah has such a natural touch with songs and performance, that you just know she could turn any song into a gem. Here’s her take on Damien Rice’s The Blower’s Daughter recorded at Maida Vale just before Christmas.
Next up, Chepstow lass Violet Skies, whose atmospheric, orchestrated masterpieces are equally fun-filled bass driven anthems in the making. Her live festival performances have gathered a huge number of fans, including a storming set on the BBC Introducing stage at Glastonbury in 2014. This month sees her head to the hugely influential industry festival Eurosonic, and in a few months to the US to showcase her music too. It really could be her year!
There's plenty more ace music videos from BBC Introducing Wales artists on our new music project website - and this month we have launched the search for the next 12 bands and artists to take part. Finally, if you're making and recording tracks of your own don't forget to get them on Introducing Uploader today and get your music heard, we're listening!
