Mentors announced for Music Futures 2021
Following a successful pilot project in 2019, National Youth Arts Wales’ contemporary music development project Music Futures is underway for 2021.
Music Futures is a collaborative, creative experience for young musicians and artists aged 16-18, aiming to uncover and develop the next generation of emerging music talent in Wales.
Through an intense series of digital masterclasses and workshops, these talented and passionate young people will work alongside a group of industry mentors based across Wales, developing contemporary song-writing and music-making skills, learning about routes into the industry, while creating exciting new work.
National Youth Arts Wales are pleased to announce the mentors for Music Futures 2021. Ranging in genre from hip-hop and soul to indie, folk and electronica, we’re proud to be working with a cohort of creatives representing the best of the contemporary music landscape in Wales.
Heledd Watkins
Heledd studied as a theatre maker before moving on to work as a session bass guitarist, touring with Emmy the Great, Chloe Howl and Paper Aeroplanes. She started writing her own music as the front woman of art-rock band, HMS Morris with highlights including, performing at Glastonbury, releasing two albums and gaining two Welsh Music Prize nominations. She has also dabbled in radio and TV presenting.
Osian Huw Williams
Osian studied Music at Bangor University and stayed there to do his Masters in composition. He now plays for Candelas, Blodau Papur, Siddi and Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog which means he is usually gigging all year round. Osian won the composers medal at the National Eisteddfod in Meifod back in 2015 and is still in the process of developing the musical with his brother and sister. He counts himself very lucky having orchestrated and played three gigs with the Welsh Pops Orchestra, these gigs with Candelas, Blodau Papur and Geraint Jarman.
He has composed numerous arrangements and theme tunes for television and now runs Stiwdio Sain, Llandwrog with two other engineers and has produced artists such as Mared Williams, Y Cledrau and Rhys Gwynfor.
Tumi Williams (Skunkadelic)
Following his debut album release ‘Musically Drifting’ in 2010, Skunkadelic has racked up an impressive number of accolades including live shows alongside Talib Kweli, Chali 2na, The Pharcyde, Jehst, Rag n Bone Man, Blackalicious, Ugly Duckling, Jungle Brothers, Ocean Wisdom…. As well as collaborations with the likes of The Allergies, Mr Woodnote, Dr Syntax, TY, Sparkz, Truthos Mufasa, Twogood, Band Pres Llaregubb amongst a host of others. The hunger to create and share is the driving force that influences every move he makes. 2020 has seen his music really gain traction with heavy rotation from Lauren Lauverne (BBC6 music), Adam Walton (BBC Radio Wales), Jo Wiley (BBC Radio 2), Tom Robinson (BBC6 music) & the ITV ident theme tune 2021.
Aside from solo work, Skunkadelic has a resident post at the helm of 9-piece monster funk collective Afro Cluster and has written, recorded and toured extensively with the group over the last decade. They’ve appeared at numerous high profile festivals and events including Glastonbury, Womad, Greenman, Boomtown & Festival Of Voice and toured alongside the likes of Ibibio Sound Machine, Craig Charles, Gilles Peterson and Hot 8 Brass Band.
Gwion ap Iago
When a DJ didn't turn up to play a set, that's when Gwion's electronic music journey started. Having done musical theatre whilst in school and being in a production for Youth Music Theatre UK in Aberdeen at the age of 16, music was always somewhere in Gwion's life but only at the University of Aberystwyth the love for the 'untz untz' the 'wobs' and the 'boots and cats' came to fruition. Since that fateful night Gwion has played all over the uk in countless main rooms, numerous festivals, dingy bars and the occasional live stream with his electronic outfit Roughion. Gwion also runs an electronic label for artists based in Wales, aptly named Afanc after the underground beaver in the Mabinogi. His role here is to represent up and coming artists and to give advice on their sounds and help them along their way, and he is currently working with Welsh hip hop royalty MR Phormula on a remix album for Tiwns. He says - "I'm working on lots of exciting projects at the moment but i'm by far most excited about Mentoring with NYAW. I can't wait to get stuck in to learn and evolve with the next potential 'Bicep', 'Goldie' or Charlotte de Witte."
Dionne Bennett
Dionne Bennett is a multi-genre vocalist, songwriter, voice-over artist, music producer and performer. She also lectures at degree level, specialising in vocal performance, and technique. Dionne is a former Welsh Music Prize nominee who began gigging regularly at the age of 14, released her first record at 15, and has since continued to work successfully in the industry.
Dionne has an extensive and varied body of work that crosses many musical styles. This has led her to work with some of the most respected and talented musicians in the industry, from 5-time Grammy award winner Dr John, the immensely talented Jazz Pianist Jason Rebello, and solo winner of the Blues Foundation’s International Blues Challenge Gee Weevil, to Welsh music royalty including Daf Ieuan and Gruff Rhys of the Super Furry Animals, Mark Roberts of Catatonia and Grammy award nominee Lincoln Barrett (High Contrast)
Dionne continues to write and release new material here in the UK and abroad, and her creativity and creative output is testament to the importance of ensuring diversity within the music scene. As a multi-genre artist, she has collaborated on numerous albums, creating a fusion of different cultures, musical stylings and traditions with her own cultural influences as a Welsh black woman.
Kizzy Crawford
A Welsh speaker with Bajan heritage, 24 year old Kizzy Crawford has made her mark by fusing bilingual soul-folk jazz. Kizzy has had recognition for her work with airplay on BBC 6MUSIC, BBC Radio 1, 2, 3 & 4, BBC Radio Wales & Radio Cymru plus Jazz FM as well as support on European airwaves and in the US.
Kizzy has played many gigs including shows at the National Assembly for Wales during WOMEX, London Jazz Festival, The Great Escape, UNESCO Berlin, Hay Festival, Dinefwr Festival, the Plaid Cymru Conference, Blissfields, Wakestock, Celtic Connections, L’Orient, Abergavenny Food Festival (where she performed her single Golden Brown live on BBC Radio 4) and the Prince Edward Island Festival, Canada. Kizzy also performed as guest artist with BBC National Ochestra of Wales and has played as support artist for Gruff Rhys, Newton Faulkner, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, she also performed alongside Cerys Matthews at the House of Commons, Westminster and more recently as guest artist with Omar on his track ‘Be Thankful’ at his sold out London show.
The Production team for Music Futures 2021 consists of Elen Roberts (Producer) and Eadyth (Assistant Producer).
Eadyth
For Music Futures 2021, National Youth Arts Wales have teamed up with bilingual electronic musician and sound designer Eädyth, who is fast becoming a household name to listeners of BBC Wales and BBC Radio Cymru. Producing her own unique brand of soothing electro soul sound, bilingual lyricism and captivating live shows, she has been part of both the BBC Horizons and Forté Project talent schemes, proving how invested the Welsh music industry is in her musical journey. As Assistant Producer for Music Futures, Eadyth will provide a critical eye over the project and offer insightful structural ideas based on her own experiences as a young emerging Welsh artist living in the Welsh valleys.
Elen Roberts
Elen is a curator and multidisciplinary producer based in Cardiff with 10 years’ experience in the international arts industry. She’s worked with musicians at varying stages of their career, particularly in helping them optimise international showcasing opportunities and developing new markets for their work. She’s worked with artists showcasing at SXSW, Indie Week Toronto, POP Montréal, WOMEX and Folk Alliance International to name a few. Music Futures is an exciting opportunity to work with young people at the start of their creative journey to becoming professional musicians.
