Adwaith

Hailing from the Welsh town of Carmarthen, Adwaith grew up surrounded by a rich tradition of Welsh-language indie-rock, and a tight-knit scene of experimental, artistically-minded bands.

When Hollie Singer, Gwenllian Anthony and Heledd Owen first went about founding their own band in 2015 they were uncompromising in their vision of wielding Welsh as an exciting musical instrument.

After signing to Carmarthen-based indie label Libertino, Adwaith released their debut single ‘Pwysau’ in 2016, and steadily built on these promising foundations as they delved into mangled, free-wheeling post-punk recalling just some of their heroes: CAN, The Breeders, and NEU! That same year, debut album ‘Melyn’ perfectly skewered the anxiety and unease of becoming an adult in a fraught political climate, in a region too often sidelined and ignored by Westminster. The record went on to win the prestigious Welsh Music Prize, and the likes of BBC Radio 1, BBC 6 Music, KEXP, NPR and BBC Introducing’s Huw Stephens all threw their support behind the group along the way. In 2022, meanwhile, the band released their widescreen follow-up ‘Bato Mato’ – inspired by illuminating train journey into the remote rural reaches of Siberia aboard the Trans-Siberian Express to play UU.Sound festival in Ulan-Ude. In a historic first, the band became the first act ever to win the Welsh Music Prize twice over, and now have three headline tours, an acclaimed Glastonbury set and Manic Street Preachers and IDLES support slots under their belts. As Adwaith record and plan for their third album in the summer of 2023 they announce that fellow Carmarthenshire guitarist Gillie Rowland will be joining the band.

Adwaith might be a band with clear roots set down in Wales – but looking towards the future, they’re now keenly focused on taking the language worldwide.

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Traddodiad cyfoethog o roc-indi Cymraeg, a sîn glos o fandiau artistig, arbrofol oedd cefndir ieuenctid Adwaith, sy’n hanu o Gaerfyrddin.

Pan aeth Hollie Singer, Gwenllian Anthony a Heledd Owen ati i sefydlu eu band eu hunain am y tro cyntaf yn 2015 roeddent yn ddigyfaddawd yn eu gweledigaeth o ddefnyddio’r Gymraeg fel offeryn cerdd cyffrous.

Ar ôl arwyddo i’r label indi Libertino o Gaerfyrddin, rhyddhaodd Adwaith eu sengl gyntaf ‘Pwysau’ yn 2016, gan adeiladu’n raddol ar y seiliau addawol hyn wrth iddyn nhw archwilio i ôl-pync troellog, penrhydd, gan ddilyn trywydd rhai yn unig o’u harwyr: CAN, The Breeders, a NEU! Yr un flwyddyn, fe wnaeth eu halbwm cyntaf ‘Melyn’ fynd i’r afael yn berffaith â’r gorbryder a’r anesmwythder o ddod yn oedolyn mewn hinsawdd wleidyddol anodd, mewn rhanbarth sy’n cael ei wthio i’r cyrion a’i anwybyddu’n rhy aml gan San Steffan. Aeth yr albwm ymlaen i gipio’r Wobr Gerddoriaeth Gymreig fawreddog, gan ennill cefnogaeth i’r grŵp ar hyd y ffordd gan rai fel BBC Radio 1, BBC 6 Music, KEXP, NPR a Huw Stephens o BBC Introducing.

Yn 2022, rhyddhaodd y band eu dilyniant sgrin lydan ‘Bato Mato’ – a ysbrydolwyd gan daith trên dadlennol i ardaloedd gwledig anghysbell Siberia ar fwrdd y Trans-Siberian Express i chwarae yng ngŵyl UU.Sound yn Ulan-Ude. Y band oedd yr act gyntaf erioed i ennill y Wobr Gerddoriaeth Gymreig ddwywaith, llwyddiant unigryw, ac erbyn hyn maen nhw wedi perfformio tair prif daith, set glodwiw yn Glastonbury a slotiau cefnogi gyda’r Manic Street Preachers ac IDLES. Wrth i Adwaith recordio a chynllunio ar gyfer eu trydydd albwm yn haf 2023, cyhoeddir ganddynt y bydd cyd-gitarydd o Sir Gaerfyrddin, Gillie Rowland, yn ymuno â'r band.

Efallai bod Adwaith yn fand a’i wreiddiau’n gadarn yng Nghymru – ond wrth edrych i’r dyfodol, maen nhw bellach yn canolbwyntio’n frwd ar gyflwyno’r iaith ar lwyfan fyd-eang.

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