Trwbador

Trwbador
Background information
OriginNewport, Wales
GenresElectronic, indie pop
Years active2010–2015
LabelsOwlet Music, Great Pop Supplement, Tummy Touch Records
Past membersOwain Gwilym, Angharad Van Rijswijk

Trwbador were a Welsh duo who occupied a place in the musical landscape between folk and techno.[1] The two-piece resided in Carmarthenshire,[2] although they began working together while at University in Newport.[3] Trwbador's original sound has established them as a forerunner of the Welsh music scene.[1]

2010–2012[edit]

Members Owain Gwilym and Angharad Van Rijswijk began writing music together in 2010.[4] After graduating from Newport University,[5] the two relocated to West Wales, where they are originally from, and released two home-recorded EPs through their own label Owlet Music.[4] Songs from these EPs were featured on UK Radio shows and the track Off-Beat became one of BBC Radio Wales DJ Adam Walton's tracks of the year.[6] The track Sun in the Winter was the MPFree on BBC 6 Music's Lauren Laverne breakfast show[7] and played by Huw Stephens on his BBC Radio 1 show.[8]

After being heard on the radio, Trwbador were invited to play at the London 2012 Olympics.[9] In December 2012 Cornershop released a Christmas single titled Every Year So Different featuring Angharad on vocals.[10]

Trwbador on stage at The Parrot in Carmarthen in 2013

Debut album (2013)[edit]

In April 2013 Trwbador released their self-titled debut album.[11] Cornershop play Sitar and Tanpura for the album version of the track Sun in the Winter[11] re-recorded for this album. The album was released on CD through Owlet Music was released on 12" LP on white vinyl by The Great Pop Supplement[11] with artwork by Cardiff artist Nic Finch.[12] The album was received positively among music websites[13] and magazines, getting a four star review in Q Magazine with the description "A magic debut".[14] In Summer 2013 Trwbador performed at a number of festivals to promote the release of their album, including Glastonbury Festival,[15] Green Man Festival,[4] SWN Festival[16] and Laugharne Weekend.[17] A track from the album, Red Handkerchiefs, went on to feature in the 2013 TV advert for Visit Wales[18] and the 2014 TV advert for Lindeman's wine.[19] In November 2013 James Dean Bradfield named Trwbador as an influence for the track Builder of Routines from the Manic Street Preachers album Rewind the Film.[20] As 2013 drew to an end Trwbador's debut album was shortlisted for the Welsh Music Prize.[21]

Several Wolves (2014)[edit]

In June 2014 Trwbador released a hip-hop single featuring vocals by London rapper Esaa (also known as Yungun).[22] The track was released on seven-inch record and digital download again via Owlet Music[23] and was praised by radio DJs including Rob Da Bank and Lauren Laverne, whose BBC 6 Music show it was featured on as the MPFree.[24] The track also had play on XFM, the first time the duo had been played on this station.[25] Following Breakthrough came Trwbador's second album Several Wolves, which was released in August 2014 on Owlet Music.[26] The title was taken from the essay by Deleuze and Guattari "One or Several Wolves" from the book A Thousand Plateaus.[27] Along with the guest appearance from Essa on Breakthrough, Welsh artist Richard James performed vocals on the track Blue Minds.[28] Several Wolves also received positive reviews including 8/10 from Mixmag,[29] 4 stars from Q Magazine,[30] 7/10 from Uncut magazine,[31] ArtRocker album of the week,[32] BBC 6 Music album of the day[33] and an article in The Quietus[34] among others. After the positive reception of the album, Trwbador closed the year by playing a live session at BBC Maida Vale studios for Huw Stephens BBC Radio 1 show.[35]

In 2015[edit]

Channel 4 drama series Raised by Wolves used the Trwbador song "Love & Folly" on episode 3, "Mehmesis", in May 2015.[36] In September, the announcement was made over the duo's website that Trwbador is over.[37] Shortly after, their second album Several Wolves was nominated for the 2014–2015 Welsh Music Prize.[38]

Discography[edit]

  • It Snowed A Lot This Year EP (2010)
  • Sun in the Winter EP (2011)
  • Safe single (2013)
  • Mountain / Once I Had a Love single (2013)
  • Trwbador album (2013)
  • Breakthrough (featuring Essa) single (2014)
  • Several Wolves album (2014)[39]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Williams, Adam. "Dim Swn 2014". Swn. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  2. ^ Davies, Adam. "TRWBADOR Making Their Mark". www.llanellistar.co.uk. Llanelli Star. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  3. ^ "Philosophical Epicness". www.southwales.ac.uk. University of South Wales. Archived from the original on 30 September 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  4. ^ a b c "Trwbador". Green Man Festival. Archived from the original on 19 January 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  5. ^ "News Centre". University Of South Wales. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  6. ^ Walton, Adam (6 October 2010). "Gwych Sounds". BBC Blogs. BBC. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  7. ^ "MPFREE EP: 26TH AUGUST 2011". BBC. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  8. ^ Stephens, Huw. "Male Bonding, Jen Jeniro session, Too Pure Singles Club". BBC. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  9. ^ "Day Seven Of London 2012: Soggy Friday". Emerging Icons. Universal. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  10. ^ Tuffrey, Laurey. "WATCH: Cornershop – Every Year So Different". The Quietus. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  11. ^ a b c "Piccadilly Records – TRWBADOR". Piccadilly Records. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  12. ^ "TRWBADOR". Nic Finch. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  13. ^ Gallacher, Alex (17 April 2013). "TRWBADOR release debut album". www.folkradio.co.uk. Folk Radio. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  14. ^ Muggs, Joe (May 2013). "Welsh Duo's Delicate Debut". Q Magazine: 112. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  15. ^ "TRWBADOR". BBC. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  16. ^ The Beat, On. "Sen Festival 2013: Friday". onthebeatmusic.wordpress.com. On The Beat. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  17. ^ "TRWBADOR". Bendigedig. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  18. ^ "Visit Wales advert 2013". YouTube.
  19. ^ Wine, Lindeman's. "Lindeman's Wines". www.youtube.com. YouTube. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  20. ^ Willis, Sam. "TRWBADOR Several Wolves". drownedinsound.com. Drowned In Sound. Archived from the original on 3 January 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  21. ^ Stephens, Huw. "NME NEW Nominees". www.nme.com. NME. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  22. ^ Murray, Robin (21 May 2014). "TRWBADOR ft. ESSA". www.clashmusic.com. Clash Music. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  23. ^ "Listen to Breakthrough ft. Essa". www.amazingtunes.com. Amazing Tunes. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  24. ^ "MPFREE: Trwbador – Breakthrough". BBC Blogs. BBC. 26 May 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  25. ^ Rowntree, Dave. "TRWBADOR – Breakthrough". www.xfm.co.uk. XFM. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  26. ^ "Trwbador – Several Wolves". greedbag.owletmusic.com. Greedbag. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  27. ^ Wodke, Larissa. "TRWBADOR – Several Wolves". www.beardedmagazine.com. Bearded Magazine. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  28. ^ Jennings, Dave (15 August 2014). "TRWBADOR – Several Wolves". www.luderthanwar.com. Louder Than War. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  29. ^ Muggs, Joe (August 2014). "TRWBADOR – Several Wolves". Mixmag. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  30. ^ Turner, Robin (August 2014). "TRWBADOR – Several Wolves". Q Magazine.
  31. ^ Mulholland, Garry (October 2014). "TRWBADOR – Several Wolves". Uncut. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  32. ^ Coppack, Martyn. "ALBUM OF THE WEEK: TRWBADOR". www.artrocker.tv. Art Rocker. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  33. ^ "Trwbador's Several Wolves". www.viaductpromotions.co.uk. Viaduct Promotions. 15 August 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  34. ^ Stone, Aug. "The Quietus Reviews". www.thequietus.com. The Quietus. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  35. ^ "BBC Radio 1 – Huw Stephens". www.bbc.co.uk. BBC. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  36. ^ "Trwbador's "Love & Folly" was used in S1 Ep3 of Channel 4's Raised By Wolves titled 'Mehmesis'". Touch Tones Music.
  37. ^ "RIP". TRWBADOR.co.uk.
  38. ^ "Trwbador – Several Wolves". welshmusicprize.com. Welsh Music Prize.
  39. ^ Turner, Robin (September 2014). "Basement electronics and twisted acoustics from the Garden of Wales". Q (338). A stunning record

External links[edit]

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