A round-up of our favourite new releases
Three months into 2022, it has already presented us with a striking range of new releases from an array of emerging Welsh artists. Whether you’re looking for some soothing sounds to kick-start the day or a sprinkle of jazz-infused hip-hop to mix it up, here's your fresh new soundtrack — featuring our favourite tracks of the year so far.
Angharad Davies — ‘Less than Friends’
Angharad Davies is a half Welsh half Mexican songwriter/producer based in London. First starting to experiment with lo-fi beats during the first lockdown, her opening release ‘Play It by Ear’ came in 2020 with a self-directed music video. Back with a self-produced self-released single, ‘Less than Friends’ is accompanied by gentle, intimate vocals and a softly sampled saxophone — further cementing her DIY aesthetics.
Sachasom — ‘Waweeweewoo’
With washed-out glitchy beats and distorted lo-fi loops, Sachasom’s debut-drop could have been a throwaway ambient listen - but it's choppy production and free-form structure transcends it into a hypnotic nano-bite of disco muse. Inspired by JPEGMAFIA's 'HAZARD DUTY PAY!’, ‘Waweeweewoo’ marks the first stylistic signature of beatmaker Izak Zjalic and is stamped by a profound producer tag.
Bardd — ‘Process’
Bardd are MC/Beatbox Mr Phormula, Poet/Percussionist Martin Daws and Multi-instrumentalist Henry Horrell — no surprise therefore that ‘Process’ is a blend of soulful spoken-word, skipped to a hypnotic hip-hop beat. Take a closer look at the lyrics, and you’ll find sensitivity and acute self-awareness amongst the beautifully-written lines that evoke a sense of reverberating familiarity. The steps to progress? It’s all about the process.
Marino, SnOwFTS — ‘My Blood, My Genes’
Brutally bold in both attitude and lyricism, the exhilaratingly dark mixtape of ‘Southsidestory’ belongs to Swansea’s drill-duo Marino and SnOwFTS. Spinning bilingual rap-bars, the album’s halfway-track captures South Wales’ bubbling grime scene in a thrilling three-minute take. A true palette cleanser, ‘My Blood, My Genes’ is a must-listen.
MACY — ‘Pink Bandana’
‘Pink Bandana’ is the latest single from pop-sensation MACY and the first from her second EP, due for release in 2022. Following in the footsteps of previous power-pop releases, ‘Pink Bandana’ is another dreamy nu-disco track with sugary synth pads and magnetic melodies. Her new single tackles the early stages of heartache but is dressed as a tongue-in-cheek slice of pop-funk — drawing fans of Fickle Friends, GRACEY and Greta Isaac.
Lloyd Steele — ‘Mwgwd’
With mellow beats that wouldn’t be out of place in a Glass Animals’ song, Côsh Records’ newcomer presents a sleek and emotive catalogue-opener. Produced at Ferlas in Snowdonia, ‘Mwgwd’ boasts Rich Roberts’ glossy finish we’ve all grown accustomed to. With warmer nights ahead, ‘Mwgwd’ will be a welcome addition to your long-drive chillwave mix.
Pelydron — ‘Canghenion’
Spanning a whopping nine-minute in playtime, Pelydron’s shoegaze debut-single is an atmospheric mix of phaser, fuzz and reverb. Freshly released via Cae Gwyn Records, ‘Canghenion’ is a bedroom-bound, dream-pop track with misty melodies and hazy hummings. For fans of Low, Beach House and Lightning Bug.
Malan — ‘Go with the Flow’
With her boundless blending of genres, Malan’s latest release bathes in elegance. Fusing soul, pop and R&B - all to a lo-fi groove - ‘Go with the Flow’ is a nu-jazz gem. With more material on the horizon, Malan’s first of three new releases holds a rich replay value.
Catch our full round-up here:
