Twelve new Horizons artists announced
Today, BBC Cymru Wales and Arts Council of Wales announced the names of the 12 Welsh artists selected from across Wales to be a part of the Horizons project in its second year. The names of the 12 acts were announced on BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru.
Published: 6 April 2015
It’s been great getting to know the bands from this year’s Horizons project, playing their music on the radio, and meeting lots of them at events. The benefits are a two-way street: exposure for the artists and fresh new sounds for our shows.
Today, BBC Cymru Wales and Arts Council of Wales announced the names of the 12 Welsh artists selected from across Wales to be a part of the Horizons project in its second year. The names of the 12 acts were announced on BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru.
Now in its second year, Horizons aims to continue to develop new, independent contemporary music in Wales and support and promote emerging Welsh music talent to wider audiences. More than 300 artists applied for a place on the project.
The 12 new Horizons artists are (in alphabetical order):
- Aled Rheon - This timeless, folk singer from Cardiff has been compared to Nick Drake and Meic Stevens.
- Cold Committee – Super charged power pop 4 piece band from Prestatyn and Rhyl.
- Cut Ribbons – Playing and touring indie pop band from Llanelli who have received enthusiastic support from Radio 1, XFM, Radio Wales, and the music press.
- Dan Bettridge – Ogmore by Sea singer-songwriter with a velvet voice and heart-breaking songs.
- Delyth McLean – Young, bilingual country artist from Merthyr Tydfil who’s benefited over the last year from the Young Promoters Network development scheme.
- Hannah Grace – Big and bold jazz singer-songwriter from Bridgend who’s currently studying at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff.
- HMS Morris – Fronted by the touring musician Heledd Watkins, this kooky three-piece indie pop band from Llandovery and Cardiff are currently making a name for themselves on the south Wales gigging circuit.
- Mellt – Melodic, young punk rock band from Aberystwyth and a growing favourite on BBC Radio Cymru.
- Peasant’s King - Pontypridd five-piece anthemic rock band embarking on their first UK tour in April.
- Violet Skies - Cinematic, sensuous and evocative female singer from Chepstow who’s already caught the eye of Radio 2’s Jamie Cullum.
- Yr Eira – Energetic, electronic and atmospheric young pop band from Bangor rapidly following in the footsteps of the Welsh language scene favourites Sŵnami.
- Y Reu - five-piece indie rock band from Dyffryn Nantlle and Caernarfon with a reputation for electrifying live sets.
Lisa Matthews, Portfolio Manager, Arts Council of Wales says: “We’re excited to be supporting another talented cohort of musicians through Horizons in 2015. For the acts it’s a year of opportunities and development, and for everyone else interested in new music it’s also a wonderful snapshot of music emerging from Wales at this moment. We’re looking forward to tracking their progress at events, festivals and on TV, radio and online over the next 12 months."
Jason Mohammad, Radio Wales presenter says: “It’s been great getting to know the bands from this year’s Horizons project, playing their music on the radio, and meeting lots of them at events. The benefits are a two-way street: exposure for the artists and fresh new sounds for our shows. I’ve loved so many, but one of my favourites were Houdini Dax. They even travelled to India and recorded for BBC Radio Wales while they were out there. I’m really looking forward to meeting the 12 new artists, and I’m sure I’ll fall for the diverse musical styles on offer from Horizons as we go through the year.”
The artists will be offered a platform at events across Wales and on BBC Wales’ national services - BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio Wales - starting with Focus Wales on 26 April and followed by Machynlleth Comedy Festival on 1 May.
The Horizons acts of 2015 will benefit from:
- specially programmed BBC Radio events, sessions and playlists
- direct contact with a BBC producer overseeing the project
- a BBC Maida Vale recording session (the BBC’s legendary London recording studios since 1946)
- promotional tools including a produced video and a professional photo-shoot
- bespoke mentoring via tailored courses
- national and international musical opportunities
- opportunities to play BBC Cymru Wales events through the year
- nominations through BBC Introducing to play at major events across the UK
Horizons, a partnership between BBC Cymru Wales and Arts Council of Wales is now in its second year. It aims to develop new music talent and give artists a platform to reach new audiences. The 12 acts were chosen by a panel of representatives from the partnership and the wider music sector.
The Horizons project will be bringing music to many festivals over summer 2015 and will offer more exciting opportunities to Welsh musicians later in the year. Follow the twitter account @horizonscymru for all the latest news.
Notes to Editors
Horizons Panel
Bethan Elfyn, Adam Walton, Huw Stephens, Kieran Yates (BBC Introducing), Gareth Iwan (BBC Radio Cymru), Bridget Curnow (BBC Radio Wales), Lisa Matthews (ACW), Eluned Haf (Wales Arts International), and David Owens (Media Wales).
CS4
Welsh-language version
ARTISTIAID GORWELION YN CAEL EU CYHOEDDI HEDDIW
Heddiw, (Llun Ebrill 6), mae BBC Cymru a Chyngor Celfyddydau Cymru wedi cyhoeddi enwau 12 artist newydd i fod yn rhan o brosiect Gorwelion yn ei ail flwyddyn. Cyhoeddwyd enwau’r 12 artist heddiw ar BBC Radio Cymru a BBC Radio Wales.
Bellach yn ei ail flwyddyn, nôd Gorwelion yw datblygu cerddoriaeth gyfoes annibynnol newydd yng Nghymru, a chefnogi a hyrwyddo talent gerddorol i gynulleidfaoedd ehangach. Derbyniwyd dros 300 o geisiadau gan artistiaid am le ar y cynllun.
Y 12 artist a gefnogir gan Horizons eleni yw (yn nhrefn yr wyddor):
Aled Rheon – Mae’r canwr gwerin o Gaerdydd wedi ei gymharu â chantorion megis Nick Drake a Meic Stevens.
- Cold Committee – Band pop trydanol gyda phedwar aelod o Brestatyn a Rhyl
- Cut Ribbons – Band indie pop o Lanelli sy’n teithio’n aml ac sydd wedi derbyn cefnogaeth brwdfrydig n Radio 1, XFM, Radio Wales, a’r wasg gerddoriaeth.
- Dan Bettridge – Canwr-gyfansoddwr o Aberogwr gyda llais melfed a chaneuon torcalonnus
- Delyth McLean – Artist ifanc dwyieithog o Ferthyr Tydfil wnaeth elwa ar brosiect dablygu’r Rhwydwaith Hyrwyddwyr Ifanc y llynedd.
- Hannah Grace – Canwr-gyfansoddwr jazz mentrus o Ben-y-bont ar Ogwr sy’n astudio yn y Coleg Brenhinol Cerdd a Drama, Caerdydd.
- HMS Morris – Mae’r band indie pop yma o Gaerdydd a Llanymddyfri. Y cerddor Heledd Watkins yw wyneb y band ac maent eisoes yn enwau adnabyddus ar y sîn gigiau yn ne Cymru.
- Mellt – Band pync roc melodig o Aberystwyth sy’n ffefrynnau ymysg gwrandawyr BBC Radio Cymru
- Peasant’s King – Band roc pum aelod o Bontypridd sy’n mynd ar daith Prydeinig am y tro cyntaf ym mis Ebrill.
- Violet Skies – Cantores sinematig, synhwyrus ac atgofus o Gas-gwent sydd eisoes wedi dal sylw Jamie Cullum ar Radio 2.
- Yr Eira – Band pop ifanc, electronig, bywiog o Fangor sy’n dilyn yn ôl troed ffefrynnau’r sîn Gymraeg, Sŵnami.
- Y Reu – Band indie roc pum aelod o Ddyffryn Nantlle a Chaernarfon sydd ag enw da am berfformiadau byw gwefreiddiol.
Dywedodd Lisa Matthews, Rheolwr Portffolio, Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru:
“Ry’n ni’n edrych ymlaen unwaith eto i gefnogi grŵp o gerddorion drwy Gorwelion 2015. I’r artistiaid, mae’n flwyddyn o gyfleoedd i ddatblygu ac i bawb arall sydd â diddordeb mewn cerddoriaeth newydd, mae’n ddarlun o’r hyn sydd ar gael yng Nghymru ar hyn o bryd. Rydym ni’n edrych ymlaen i ddilyn eu hymdrechion drwy’r gwyliau, digwyddiadau ac ar y teledu, radio ac arlein dros y 12 mis nesaf."
Dywedodd Jason Mohammad, cyflwynydd ar Radio Wales:
“Pleser oedd dod i nabod bandiau ac artistiaid prosiect Gorwelion eleni, chwarae eu cerddoriaeth ar y radio, a chyfarfod â llawer ohonynt mewn digwyddiadau. Mae’r prosiect yn elwa’r ddwy ochr; sylw i’r artistiaid a sŵn ffres i’n rhaglenni ni. Ro’n i’n mwynhau gwrando ar gymaint o’r artistiaid ond un o’m ffefrynnau oedd Houdini Dax gan iddyn nhw deithio i India a recordio yna ar gyfer Radio Wales. Rwyf yn edrych ymlaen at gyfarfod y 12 artist newydd ac rwy’n siŵr y caf fy machu gan yr amrywiaeth o gerddoriaeth a gynigir gan Gorwelion wrth i ni fynd trwy’r flwyddyn.”
Bydd yr artistiaid yn cael cynnig perfformio ar lwyfan mewn digwyddiadau led-led Cymru a thrwy wasanaethau radio cenedlaethol BBC Cymru - BBC Radio Cymru a BBC Radio Wales - gan ddechrau gyda Focus Wales ar Ebrill 26 ac wedyn yng Ngŵyl Gomedi Machynlleth ar Fai 1.
Fe fydd artistiaid Gorwelion yn 2015 yn elwa drwy:
- gynllun arbennig o weithgareddau radio ar y BBC, fel sesiynau, a rhestrau chwarae;
- cyswllt uniongyrchol gyda chynhyrchydd BBC sy’n goruchwylio’r cynllun;
- sesiwn recordio yn BBC Maida Vale (stiwdio recordio’r BBC yn Llundain ers 1946);
- offer hyrwyddo gan gynnwys cynhyrchu fideo a lluniau proffesiynol;
- cynllun mentora arbennig a chyrsiau hyfforddi;
- cyfleoedd cerddorol cenedlaethol a rhyngwladol;
- cyfle i chwarae yn nigwyddiadau BBC Cymru drwy gydol y flwyddyn,
- enwebiadau trwy BBC Introducing i chwarae mewn digwyddiadau mawr ledled Prydain.
Mae Gorwelion yn bartneriaeth dwy flynedd rhwng BBC Cymru a Chyngor Celfyddydau Cymru i ddatblygu talent gerddorol newydd ac i roi llwyfan iddynt i gyrraedd cynulleidfaoedd. Cafodd yr artistiaid eu dewis gan banel o gynrychiolwyr o’r bartneriaeth ac o’r sector gerddoriaeth ehangach.
Bydd Gorwelion yn dod â cherddoriaeth i lawer o wyliau eraill yn ystod haf 2015 a bydd yn cynnig mwy o gyfleodd cyffrous i gerddorion Cymru yn ddiweddarach yn y flwyddyn. Dilynwch y cyfrif twitter @horizonscymru am yr holl newyddion diweddaraf.
Nodiadau i Olygyddion
Panel Gorwelion:
Bethan Elfyn, Adam Walton, Huw Stephens, Kieran Yates (BBC Introducing), Gareth Iwan (BBC Radio Cymru), Bridget Curnow (BBC Radio Wales), Lisa Matthews (CCC), Eluned Haf (Celfyddydau Rhyngwladol Cymru) a David Owens (Media Wales).
CS4
