Twelve new Horizons artists announced
Today, BBC 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 third year. The 12 acts represent the most diverse mix of music since the Horizons project started in 2014.
Published: 29 February 2016
What I enjoy most about the Horizons project is the opportunity to get to know 12 artists so much better. To be able to follow their journey over the year – from all the festivals to the famous Maida Vale studios – is extremely exciting.
Today, BBC 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 third year. The 12 acts represent the most diverse mix of music since the Horizons project started in 2014.
More than 200 artists applied for a place on the project, which is now in its third year. Horizons is a unique showcase of new, independent contemporary music in Wales, supporting and promoting emerging Welsh music talent to wider audiences.
The 12 new Horizons artists are (in alphabetical order):
- Afrocluster - Nine-piece funk and hip-hop band from all over Wales
- Anelog - Five-piece bilingual psychedelic pop band made up of two families from Denbigh
- Casey - Five-piece post-hardcore band from Newport
- CaStLeS/Cestyll - Three-piece band from Rhosgadfan, Gwynedd
- Connah Evans - Singer-songwriter from Anglesey
- Danielle Lewis - Folk-pop singer from New Quay, Ceredigion
- Fleur Dy Lys - Four-piece Welsh-language indie band from Anglesey
- Reuel Elijah - Hip hop, R&B, and pop singer from Cardiff
- Roughion - Electronic Producers from Aberystwyth
- Tibet - Four-piece indie rock band from Cardiff
- We’re No Heroes - Three-piece indie disco band from Cardiff
- Ysgol Sul - Three-piece Welsh-language indie rock band from Carmarthen
Lisa Gwilym, BBC Radio Cymru presenter says: “What I enjoy most about the Horizons project is the opportunity to get to know 12 artists so much better. To be able to follow their journey over the year – from all the festivals to the famous Maida Vale studios – is extremely exciting. More importantly, to be able to share the music we play every week on C2 on BBC Radio Cymru with new audiences around the UK and beyond means the world to me. I can’t wait to hear and see the range of music on offer from the Horizons artists this year.”
Connah Evans, whose new single joins the BBC Radio Wales playlist this week, says: “I can’t believe that I’m going to be part of Horizons this year! I have applied before but didn’t get through, so it just shows you never to give up. I am really looking forward to meeting all of the other artists and bands involved from all around Wales, as well as all the amazing show opportunities I may get.”
Dion from the band CaStLeS said: “We’re extremely happy to be a part of the project. We’ve been working very hard on the band over the last two years and it’s a good feeling that all our good work is being recognised by a project like Horizons, and we’re looking forward to making the most of this support.”
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 2 May.
The Horizons acts of 2016 will benefit from:
- Exposure across BBC Wales services
- Direct contact with a BBC producer overseeing the project
- A BBC Maida Vale recording session
- Promotional tools including a professional photoshoot
- Career mentoring through a music industry development lab
- Opportunities to perform at a programme of Welsh festivals/events and BBC Wales events through the year which may be broadcast (subject to BBC’s editorial discretion)
- Nominations through BBC Introducing to play at major events across the UK
- Opportunities for selected bands/artists to perform at international festivals
Horizons - a partnership between BBC Cymru Wales and Arts Council of Wales - is now in its third 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 experts from within the partnership and the wider music sector.
The Horizons project will be bringing music to many festivals over summer 2016 and will offer more exciting opportunities to Welsh musicians later in the year. Music fans can follow the Twitter account @horizonscymru for all the latest news.
Pictures of the 12 bands/artists are available on request.
Notes to Editors
Horizons Panel
Bethan Elfyn, Huw Stephens, Adam Ryan (Festival Republic/ Great Escape) Gareth Iwan (BBC Radio Cymru), Bridget Curnow (BBC Radio Wales), Lisa Matthews (Arts Council of Wales), Becky Scotcher (Wales Arts International), Alex Thompson (Editor, Clash Magazine) , Georgia Ruth (Singer-songwriter and presenter on BBC Radio Cymru) and Aeron Roberts (Arts Council of Wales)
SP/GJ4
Welsh-language version
12 O ARTISTIAID NEWYDD GORWELION YN CAEL EU CYHOEDDI HEDDIW
Heddiw, (Llun, Chwefror 29), mae BBC Cymru a Chyngor Celfyddydau Cymru wedi cyhoeddi enwau’r 12 artist newydd sydd wedi eu dewis o leoliadau ar draws Cymru i fod yn rhan o brosiect Gorwelion yn ei drydydd flwyddyn. Mae’r 12 artist yn cynrychioli’r cymysgedd mwyaf amrywiol ers cychwyn prosiect Gorwelion yn 2014.
Derbyniwyd dros 200 o geisiadau gan artistiaid am le ar y prosiect, sydd bellach yn ei drydydd flwyddyn. Mae Gorwelion yn arddangosiad unigryw o gerddoriaeth gyfoes annibynnol newydd yng Nghymru, sy’n cefnogi a hyrwyddo talent gerddorol i gynulleidfaoedd ehangach.
Y 12 artist sydd wedi eu dewis gan Gorwelion eleni yw (yn nhrefn yr wyddor):
- Afrocluster - Band naw-aelod sy’n chwarae cerddoriaeth funk a hip-hop sy’n dod o leoliadau ar draws Cymru
- Anelog - Band pump-aelod dwyieithog pscyhedelic sy’n gyfuniad o ddau deulu o Ddinbych
- Casey - Band pump-aelod craidd caled o Gasnewydd
- CaStLeS/ Cestyll - Band tri-aelod o Rosgadfan, Gwynedd
- Connah Evans - Canwr a chyfansoddwr o Ynys Môn
- Fleur Dy Lys - Band Cymraeg pedwar-aelod o Ynys Môn
- Danielle Lewis - Cantores gwerin-pop o Gei Newydd, Ceredigion
- Reuel Elijah - Canwr hip-hop, R&B, a pop o Gaerdydd
- Roughion - Cynhyrchwyr cerddoriaeth electronig o Aberystwyth
- Tibet - Band pedwar-aelod indie roc o Gaerdydd
- We’re No Heroes - Band tri-aelod indie disgo o Gaerdydd
- Ysgol Sul - Band Cymraeg tri-aelod indie roc o Gaerfyrddin
Dywedodd Lisa Gwilym, cyflwynydd ar BBC Radio Cymru: “Yr hyn dwi wir yn ei fwynhau am gynllun Gorwelion yw’r cyfle i ddod i adnabod 12 artist gymaint yn well. Mae cael dilyn siwrne’r grwpiau dros y flwyddyn - o’r holl wylie cerddorol i stiwdios enwog Maida Vale - yn hynod gyffrous. Ond yn bwysicach, mae cael rhannu’r gerddoriaeth dwi’n ei chwarae’n wythnosol ar C2 gyda chynulleidfaoedd newydd ledled Prydain a thu hwnt yn golygu cymaint i mi. Fedrai’m aros i weld a chlywed yr amrywiaeth o gerddoriaeth fydd yn cael ei chynnig gan artistiaid Gorwelion eleni.”
Dywedodd Connah Evans, sydd efo sengl newydd wedi’i ychwanegu at restr chwarae BBC Radio Wales wythnos yma: “Dwi methu credu fy mod i’n mynd i fod yn rhan o Gorwelion eleni! Rydw i wedi ymgeisio o’r blaen ond heb fod yn llwyddiannus felly mae’n dangos bod rhaid i chi barhau! Rydw i’n edrych ymlaen at gyfarfod yr artistiaid eraill i gyd o ledled Cymru, yn ogystal a’r cyfleoedd perfformio anhygoel sy’n bosib.”
Mynegodd Dion o‘r band Cestyll: ‘Da ni'n teimlo yn anferthol o hapus fod yn rhan o'r cynllun. Rydym wedi bod yn gweithio reit galed ar y band dros y ddwy flynedd diwethaf, felly mae'n deimlad da bod yr holl waith yn cael sylw gan gynllun fel Gorwelion, ac yn edrych ymlaen i wneud y mwyaf o’r cefnogaeth.
Bydd yr artistiaid yn cael cynnig perfformio ar lwyfan mewn digwyddiadau ledled Cymru a thrwy wasanaethau radio cenedlaethol BBC Cymru - BBC Radio Cymru a BBC Radio Wales - gan ddechrau gyda Focus Wales ar Mai 2.
Fe fydd artistiaid Gorwelion yn 2016 yn elwa drwy:
- Sylw ar holl wasanaethau BBC Cymru
- Cyswllt uniongyrchol ag un o gynhyrchwyr y BBC sy’n goruchwylio’r prosiect
- Sesiwn recordio yn BBC Maida Vale
- Pecynnau hyrwyddo, gan gynnwys photoshoot
- Mentora cerddorol, ar ffurf labordy ddatblygu sy’n rhan o’r diwydiant cerddorol
- Cyfleoedd i berfformio mewn rhaglen o wyliau / digwyddiadau yng Nghymru, yn ogystal â digwyddiadau BBC Cymru gydol y flwyddyn. Gallai’r rhain gael eu darlledu (yn amodol ar ddisgresiwn golygyddol y BBC)
- Enwebiadau drwy BBC Introducing i chwarae mewn digwyddiadau o bwys ledled y Deyrnas Unedig
- Cyfleoedd i’r bandiau / artistiaid a ddewisir berfformio mewn gwyliau rhyngwladol
Dyma drydedd flwyddyn cynllun Gorwelion, sy’n bartneriaeth rhwng BBC Cymru Wales a Chyngor Celfyddydau Cymru i ddatblygu talent gerddorol newydd ac i roi llwyfan iddynt i gyrraedd cynulleidfaoedd newydd. Cafodd y 12 eu dewis gan banel o arbenigwyr o’r bartneriaeth ac o’r sector gerddoriaeth ehangach.
Bydd Gorwelion yn dod â cherddoriaeth i lawer o wyliau eraill yn ystod haf 2016 a bydd yn cynnig mwy o gyfleoedd cyffrous i gerddorion Cymru yn hwyrach eleni. Gall dilynwyr cerddoriaeth ddilyn cyfrif Twitter @horizonscymru am yr holl newyddion diweddaraf.
Nodiadau i Olygyddion
Panel Gorwelion
Bethan Elfyn, Huw Stephens, Adam Ryan (Festival Republic/ Great Escape) Gareth Iwan (BBC Radio Cymru), Bridget Curnow (BBC Radio Wales), Lisa Matthews (Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru), Becky Scotcher (Celfyddydau Rhyngwladol Cymru), Alex Thompson (Golygydd cylchgrawn Clash), Georgia Ruth (Cantores a chyfansoddwr a chyflwynydd ar BBC Radio Cymru) ac Aeron Roberts (Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru)
SP/GJ4
