Reminder that tickets for the SEEKING NEW GODS tour go on sale tomorrow 1st April, 9am (not a joke or some kind of stunt) See poster for dates – Welsh gigs to be announced soon & hopefully more cities & countries next year! https://t.co/ZMnFrYabYi pic.twitter.com/xYqQNVJGz2

— Gruff Rhys (@gruffingtonpost) March 31, 2021

Seeking New Gods, which is released on May 21st on Rough Trade, is Rhys’ first outing since 2019’s Pang! – the artist’s third Welsh language album. Pang! was nominated for the 2020 Welsh Music Prize, and received positive critical feedback, with Uncut praising Rhys for “once again embracing the possibilities of technology and harnessing modern, global sounds to enhance his unique vision.”

The new LP was partly recorded in the arid Mojave desert in the heart of the rugged American south-west, and was mixed by Mario Caldato, the Brazilian-American sound engineer best-known for his work with the Beastie Boys. Whilst it was initially designed as a concept album focusing on Mount Paektu (an active volcano on the Chinese-North Korean border), Rhys has been clear that the record is more human than geological.

In a statement released through Rough Trade, the Welshman said: “The album is about people and the civilisations, and the spaces people inhabit over periods of time. How people come and go but the geology sticks around and changes more slowly. I think it’s about memory and time. It’s still a biography of a mountain, but now it’s a Mount Paektu of the mind. You won’t learn much about the real mountain from listening to this record but you will feel something, hopefully.”

Last month Rhys unveiled the album’s melodic, up-tempo lead single Loan Your Loneliness. The track was accompanied by a stylish video directed by longtime collaborator Mark James. Speaking to NME about the video, Rhys said “The monochrome has made it look much sharper and stylish (for want of a better word – I don’t think I know what style is!!) like a Japanese 60’s pop show or something! We added a layer of cloud to add some spot colour and to integrate the album sleeve aesthetic to the video. The colour was always stronger at the very end – I don’t particularly like the brown slippery dinosaurs but love the mammoths and northern lights…. so we bought it back to colour by the end – the narrative being that a soloing guitarist accidentally invented colour TV with sheer exuberance!”

The current schedule for Gruff Rhys’ Seeking New Gods Tour is as follows:

21/10/21 – Crookes Social Club – Sheffield
22/10 – Storey’s Field Centre – Cambridge
23/10 – Albert Hall – Manchester
26/10 – O2 Academy 2 – Oxford
27/10 – Electric Ballroom – London
29/10 – Dolan’s Warehouse – Limerick
30/10 – Liberty Hall Theatre – Dublin
01/11 – Komedia – Bath
02/11 – Wedgewood Rooms – Southsea
03/11 – Norwich Arts Centre – Norwich

Get ready for 2 hours of @superfurry hits and hidden gems with our listening party for Corona Logic this Friday at 7pm!

The album is the brainchild of @jon_safari and is in aid of @LlamauUK

Free to download via Bandcamp from Friday, but please donate at https://t.co/ByWeXABrn5 pic.twitter.com/yLGe7uDpWB

— Welsh Music Podcast | Podlediad Miwsig Cymreig (@welshmusicpod) March 23, 2021

Mlynarsk spoke about the idea behind the album in an interview with Nation.Cymru, saying “The whole premise of this is that it gives musicians who don’t have anything to do because they’re in lockdown, it gives them something to do. It keeps them busy and gives them something to focus on. It also raises a few quid for a brilliant charity and it’s a nice way to say thank you to the Super Furries for being amazing.”

He added “I approached the bands and asked them to give me two song choices. I then gave them one song to work on, and worked so that there was no duplication. Everyone loved the idea, because let’s face it, everyone loves Super Furry Animals and was keen to pay tribute to them.”

28 different artists feature on the covers album, which is divided into two volumes of fourteen songs. Volume One includes contributions from 2019 Welsh Music Prize winners Adwaith (covering 1997 Super Furry Animals single Demons), Sheffield-based bilingual four-piece Sister Wives (covering Pan ddaw’r wawr from 2000 Welsh language album Mwng) and Carmarthen noise-poppers Los Blancos, who cover the Furries’ second single God! Show Me Magic. Volume One also features contributions from the likes of Dutch-Welsh singer-songwriter Accü; Swansea rockers Bandicoot; Cardiff-based post-punk outfit Sybs; Colorama vocalist Carwyn Ellis; and Wibidi, the side-project of former Super Furry Animals band members Dafydd Ieuan and Cian Ciaran.

Volume Two includes covers of the band’s stunning 2001 electronic soul-pop number Juxtapozed with U (performed by Church Village psychedelic rockers CVC); alleged tribute to hard-tackling Welsh midfielder Robbie Savage Golden Retriever (covered by Carys Eleri and Branwen Munn); and seminal 1996 track The Man Don’t Give a Fuck (performed by South Walian grunge-punk quartet Clwb Fuzz). Among the other contributors to Volume Two are Llanelli indie veterans The Hepburns; Boo Radleys guitarist Martin Carr; Merthyr rock collective Al Moses; and Scott Howells, formerly the frontman for Aberdare band The Broken Vinyl Club.

Corona Logic, which is accompanied by new artwork from longtime Super Furry Animals’ collaborator Pete Fowler, is available to stream and download on Bandcamp this Friday 26th March 2021. Whilst the band themselves remain on hiatus, singer Gruff Rhys is gearing up to release his seventh studio album as a solo artist. The new LP – Seeking New Gods – arrives on May 21st via Rough Trade, with Rhys unveiling lead single Loan Your Loneliness earlier this month.

Speaking to NME about the new record, the Haverfordwest-born troubadour said “The album is about people and the civilizations, and the spaces people inhabit over periods of time. How people come and go but the geology sticks around and changes more slowly. I think it’s about memory and time.“

BBC Wales is delighted to support Gŵyl 2021!

A free, online festival packed with music, comedy and conversation from Wales and the world.

March 6 & 7, 2021@FOVCardiff @FocusWales @OtherVoicesLive @AberComedyFest
Visit https://t.co/KGcxoJVvHm for more info. pic.twitter.com/M5UuDsZy3T

— BBC Wales (@BBCWales) February 10, 2021

BBC Cymru Wales’ Director General Rhodri Talfan Davies told Wales Online that the festival would provide the public with a welcome escape from the mundanities of lockdown . He said “BBC Wales is delighted to be working with Gŵyl 2021. We all need a blast of creativity, comedy and music right now and this unprecedented partnership with four brilliant Welsh festivals promises to be a real gem.”

Arlo Parks‘ performance at the festival comes on the back of a flurry of glowing commercial and critical successes over the last few months. The Londoner – who was awarded the BBC’s prestigious Introducing Artist of the Year prize for 2020 – saw her debut album Collapse in Sunbeams reach number 3 in the Official UK Albums Chart last month. Reviews for the LP were near-universally positive, with NME hailing the record as “a universal collection of stories that’ll provide solace for listeners of all ages and backgrounds for decades to come.”

As was the case for so many artists, Cate Le Bon was forced to sit through a frustrating succession of postponed live dates in 2020 – including a mammoth North American tour with former War On Drugs guitarist Kurt Vile. The Carmarthenshire-born indie-folk musician is expected to treat Gŵyl’s virtual festival-goers to some of the highlights of her five-album back catalogue; included her most recent offering, 2019’s acclaimed Reward. The singer-songwriter – who collaborated beautifully with compatriots Manic Street Preachers on their 2013 track 4 Lonely Roads – will line-up at Gŵyl alongside another of Welsh rock’s big hitters in Gruff Rhys. The musical partnership dates back to 2008, when Le Bon featured on Neon Neon’s single I Lust For You.

Other names on the eclectic Gŵyl roster include Suede and The Tears frontman Brett Anderson (appearing alongside conductor Charles Hazlewood and the Bristol-based Paraorchestra); 2019 Welsh Music Prize winners Adwaith; Romford-raised BBC Sound of 2021 nominee Berwyn; up-and-coming Neath rapper Luke RV; Wrexham indie-rockers Kidsmoke; harpist Catrin Finch; Cardiff hip-hop merchant Reuel Elijah; and Welsh Language Album of the Year winner Ani Glass. Glass’ 2020 debut LP Mirores – which features vocals in Welsh, English and Cornish – was praised by the Wales Arts Review as “a transcendental work of Welsh electronic music that showcases both mass appeal and artistic integrity.”

“it’s a big team effort”

We’re super excited that @jordanadetunji is joining us as our #IVW21 Ambassador for Northern Ireland, read more about how his local music scene and independent venues have supported him at the start of his career: https://t.co/RlaYU3G4wX pic.twitter.com/xpGqihhApt

— Independent Venue Week (@IVW_UK) January 7, 2021

The annual week-long event, will celebrate grassroots music venues across the UK, inviting a myriad of artists from across the UK to play digital shows in order to raise awareness for local venues and creative spaces. The organisation will also hold comedy, poetry, and craft events in order to raise support. So far, over 64 venues across the UK will take part in the celebrations

“I am delighted to have been chosen as the ambassador for Northern Ireland during Independent Venue Week 2021. Independent venues play a vital role in creating economic opportunities, while at the same time showcasing and promoting the works of many local artists like myself,” Adetunji stated. “This is a fantastic opportunity to bring together venues, artists, events operators, and the public – especially in these challenging times – to highlight the importance of independent venues.”

An ambassador from Independent Music Week 2021 also expressed their excitement in teaming up with Adetunji. “As we step into 2021, it is clear we are a long way from any kind of opportunity to safely enjoy live music in grassroots music venues and the health and well-being of our whole community is our priority.”

 “IVW is responding by adapting the way shows are available across the week with a range of digital events. From ‘In Conversations’ with artists, labels, promoters, gig goers and other industry organisations to album listening parties, pre-recorded live streams, comedy and quizzes.”

Music promoter John Rostron, who co-founded the Welsh Music Prize with Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens, told BBC Wales that the award feels more relevant than ever in a year when the music industry has been jolted by the pandemic. He said “Covid-19 hasn’t quashed our appetite for listening to and discovering new music. Streaming and buying new records has been a lifeline for performers to reach audiences, and for us all to stay in good health with a daily dose of great new songs.”

The nominees for the 2020 prize showcase a diverse range of genres, including rap; indie; electropop and folk in both the Welsh and English languages. The 15 nominated acts will hope to succeed Camarthen post-punk outfit Adwaith, who secured the honours in 2019 with their debut album Melyn.

Here’s this years Welsh Music Prize short list. Congratulations to everyone nominated. What a list!#WMP2020 pic.twitter.com/rTjWo1KIOx

— Welsh Music Prize (@welshmusicprize) October 29, 2020

The nominees for the prize this year are as follows:

Ani Glass, Mirores – Ani Saunders (aka Ani Glass) will aim follow in the footsteps of her sister Gwenno, who won the prize in 2015. Like her sibling, the Cardiff electro artist performs in Welsh and Cornish. A win here would cap a successful year for the singer-songwriter, who has already scooped the album of the year award at the National Eisteddfod.

Colorama, Chaos Wonderland – The 10th album released by Colorama; the psychedelic indie-folk project initiated by Anglesey product Carwyn Ellis. The prolific Ellis, who has previously worked with Nicky Wire, The Pretenders, Saint Etienne, and Orange Juice’s Edwyn Collins, was pipped to the prize last year with his album Joia!, recorded under the moniker Carwyn Ellis & Rio 18.

Cotton Wolf, Ofni – Electronic duo Cotton Wolf fuse the production credentials of Llion Robertson and classically-trained composer Seb Goldfinch. The Cardiff-based two-piece were also nominated in 2017 for their debut album Life In Analogue.

Deyah, Care City – Deyah’s latest album, which features elements of soul, rap and spoken word, was hailed as a ‘conceptual masterpiece‘ by I Am Hip Hop magazine. This will be the second year running the Welsh-born, Berkshire-based performer has nominated for the Welsh Music Prize, with her acclaimed Lover Loner EP featuring on the 2019 shortlist.

Don Leisure, Steel Zakuski – Cardiff producer Don Leisure, formerly known as Jamal during his early days on the Welsh noughties drum ‘n’ bass scene, is up for the Prize with his latest album. The Wales Arts Review described Steel Zakuski “as a delicate collage of musical moments and samples from a discovered series of rock, pop, rare groove and disco records from the U.S.S.R.”

Georgia Ruth, Mai - Georgia Ruth Williams (aka Georgia Ruth) told her Twitter followers that she was “chuffed” to receive a nomination for her third album Mai, which has been praised for its personal focus on the theme of new motherhood. The Aberystwyth product, a distinguished singer-songwriter and harpist, previously featured as a guest on Divine Youth, a hidden gem on Manic Street Preachers’ 2014 album Futurology.

Gruff Rhys, Pang! - Super Furry Animals frontman Gruff Rhys, a previous Welsh Music Prize winner with his 2011 solo album Hotel Shampoo, is back on the shortlist for his Welsh language album Pang!, which he described in NME as “a pop album with a couple of verses of Zulu and an English title.” Rhys is set to release his musical memoirs next year.

Islet, Eyelet – Experimental pop trio Islet get the nod for their third studio album Eyelet. The eccentric Powys outfit, who are described by their label Fire Records as “hypnotic, exhilarating and defiantly unique“, were previously nominated for the prize in 2012 for Illuminated People.

Keys, Bring Me The Head of Jerry Garcia – Cardiff-based group Keys’ latest album, Bring Me The Head of Jerry Garcia, has been described by Wales Arts Review as “40 odd minute wild ride“. This LP represents a comeback release after a five year hiatus for the band, who were formerly known as Murry The Hump after Al Capone’s Welsh sidekick Morris “Murray The Hump” Humphries.

Kidsmoke, A Vision In The Dark – The debut album from Wrexham indie fourpiece Kidsmoke, who first rose to prominence when their song Take Me To The River featured in 2017 Black Mirror episode Arkangel, directed by Hollywood legend Jodie Foster. On Twitter the band said they were “overwhelmed” with the Welsh Music Prize nomination.

Los Blancos, Sbwriel Gwyn – Carmarthen rockers Los Blancos are shortlisted for their album Sbwriel Gwyn, which translates as ‘White Trash’ in English. Louder Than War describe the record as “…an album that manages to eschew boorish lad culture and lazy tropes and instead convey the complexities of life when you are a young man in a country that happens to be one of the poorest in Europe.”

Luke RV, Valley Boy – Rapper Luke RV is shortlisted for his deeply personal album Valley Boy, which focuses on the challenging themes of drug addiction and mental health. The Neath product first emerged on the scene with 2o18 single Lost.

Right Hand Left Hand, Zone Rouge – Right Hand Left Hand (along with Georgia Ruth and Cotton Wolf) are one of three acts signed under the Bubblewrap Collective label to earn a nomination for the 2020 prize. Bubblewrap describe the Cardiff duo’s latest environmentally-conscious release Zone Rouge as a “story of humanity’s contempt for the earth beneath us, the air above us and the people around us.”

Silent Forum, Everything Solved At Once – South Walian ‘indie-noir’ act Silent Forum receive a nomination for their debut Everything Solved At Once, described by Wales Arts Review as “a black-comedy concept album about life on the fringes of the Welsh music industry.” The band told Twitter followers this week that they are currently at work on a second album.

Yr Ods, Iaith y Nefoedd - North Walian band Yr Ods’ receive a first Welsh Music Prize nomination for their fifth album Iaith y Nefoedd, which translates in English as ‘Language of Heaven’. This concept album from the five-piece, created in partnership with Rhiwbina author Llywd Owen, centres around a dystopian vision of Wales.

‘Most of what you want to read about Gruff Rhys is not going to be in this book’ Graham Erickson

Yes that right, this is an announcement that my new book

Resist Phony Encores!

Is being released via @hatandbeardbks / @AntenneBooks on February 21st, 2021 pic.twitter.com/FwZPrbZQQH

— Gruff Rhys (@gruffingtonpost) October 19, 2020

Announcing news of the upcoming book release on Twitter this week, the North Walian singer-songwriter promised fans “a selective memoir“, with the inclusion of graphics and photographs from long-time collaborator Mark James. The publishers, Antennae Books, have hailed a biography that will “appeal to students of linguistics, propaganda, and graphic design, and anyone interested in music and live performance.”

Rhys has been one of the most prolific figures on the indie, folk and electronic pop-rock scenes in recent years. The Gwynedd product’s burgeoning discography now contains six solo albums – most recently 2019’s Pang – nine studio albums with the Super Furry Animals; two LPs with Neon Neon; and a plethora of collaborations with an eclectic mix of acts including De La Soul, Simian Mobile Disco, Mogwai and Goldie Lookin’ Chain. He also composed the acclaimed soundtrack for the 2014 film Set Fire To The Stars, inspired by Dylan Thomas’ infamous reading tours in the United States.

Rhys contrasted the differing challenges of book and song-writing in an interview with Rolling Stone this week, saying “Maybe songs are more fun in that you can be really playful and not spend all day on it – more like solving a crossword puzzle – but then to write a good song you have to be really concise – which is really tricky. Whereas with a longer book you can mainline coffee from 9 am till and midnight and ramble on as long as you like – but then you have to proof read and verify facts and things like that which doesn’t really come into song writing. You can use incorrect spelling and really mangle and destroy language in songwriting in a way that seems completely acceptable.”

Resist Phony Encores! is not Rhys’ first foray into the literary world. His 2014 travelogue American Interior, a study of 18th Century Welsh explorer John Evans who traversed America’s Great Plains in search of a Welsh-speaking Native American tribe, was listed for The Wales Book of the Year, a Guardian First Book Award and The Gordon Burn Prize.

The multi-talented Rhys has also penned two musical plays – Praxis Makes Perfect and Candylion – with National Theatre Wales. He worked with the company again on his stunning 2018 song No Profit In Pain, which celebrated the 70th anniversary of the NHS. The melodic and poignantly political track, which Rhys has described as an “agit-synth power ballad” was re-released this year.