Adwaith knew that they wanted to be similarly uncompromising in their own vision. When Hollie Singer, Gwenllian Anthony and Heledd Owen first went about founding their own band in 2015, they were also equally influenced by newer acts they’d seen playing at local indie venues and Welsh-Language music festivals, where they bore witness to another new wave of musicians 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 their 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 a 4th member will be joining the band for live shows.
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.