HGG Releases
HIDE
Hide is a collaboration between 2 Welsh artists ‘Nosda’ (Music Producer / DJ) & ‘The Honest Poet’ out 19/11/21 on High Grade Grooves. Nosda is a new alias started by the artist’ Endaf’ who is well known for producing electronic music with Welsh Language Vocalists. This is his venture in to music using English lyrics, Hidden being the 3rd release. Supported by Help Musicians Nosda has proved himself as ‘Endaf’ creating Welsh Language tracks which have earned him 2x Track of The Week (BBC Radio Cymru) plays on BBC Radio 1, BBC 6 Music, Capital, as well as being used by FAW The Wales National Football Team. Notable performances include Gottwood Festival, Maida Vale, BAFTA Wales Afterparty, MIF, Focus Wales and Welsh Sports Awards. With the support of Help Musicians he hopes to emulate this success on an international level. The Honest Poet (THP), South Wales based singer/songwriter, has unique soulful vocals which emanate raw emotion. Drawing his inspiration from his life, cultivating each story from an honest viewpoint. Poetry plays a significant role throughout the entirety of THP’s music. Infusing hip hop, spoken word and soul combining with open and honest lyrics.
Gweld Dy Dun
Gweld Dy Hun is the result of ‘Sbardun Talent Ifanc’ a project lead by Endaf Roberts giving young up and coming musicians the opportunity to collaborate with Endaf to create new Welsh language music. This track is the second and final release from the project, the first being Niwl, a collaboration between Endaf, Dafydd Hedd and Mike RP. Part one of the project has already gained huge support within the Welsh language music scene including interviews on Heno (S4C), Ifan Evans show on BBC Radio Cymru, plays on BBC Radio Wales & BBC Radio Cymru and has featured on the BBC Radio Cymru playlist for 3 consecutive weeks so far. For the second release of the ‘Sbardun Talent Ifanc’ 2 young artists were invited to Endaf’s studio which was set up in Galeri Caernarfon, Skylrk. (Hedydd Ioan) & Fairhurst (Rhys Fairhurst), a vocalist and producer who both feature on this track. Fairhurst is an exceptional young DJ, Producer & Broadcaster rising from the streets of North Wales. The Welshman has recently been landing himself on lineups with some of the industries biggest names including the likes of Eris Drew, Dan Shake & Shanti Celeste. Taking heavy inspiration from the 80s era, Fairhurst specialises in hand picked rarities as well as his favourite club classics across the genres of Disco, House & Techno. Skylrk. is the new musical project from the young director from North Wales, Hedydd Ioan. The work combines his strong passion for very broad types of music with his storytelling skills and aptitude for writing. Through music and collaboration with musical and visual artists he hopes to bring a new energy to the Welsh scene and create something completely unique. Both artists had a significant influence on the sound of this track, Fairhurst bringing inspiration from his eclectic taste as a DJ, coupled with Skylrk.’s eerie vocal performance drawing inspiration from his varied creative experience. Endaf manages to glue these 2 worlds together resulting in an eccentric sound that will surely be included in upcoming DJ sets with news of Covid restrictions easing in Wales. As well as his impressive input towards the track, Skylrk. created the beautiful artwork for this release proving himself capable at multiple creative disciplines. This project was funded by Ty Cerdd, The Arts Council of Wales and hosted by Galeri Caernarfon, a big thank you to these organisations, without which this track would not exist. Also a big thank you to Gorwelion/Horizons for funding High Grade Grooves releases throughout 2021 and for supporting Welsh artists during this difficult time.
Niwl
Niwl is the result of ‘Sbardun Talent Ifanc’ a project lead by Endaf Roberts giving young up and coming musicians the opportunity to collaborate with Endaf to create new Welsh language music. Two of the four successful applicants from the project were Mike RP & Dafydd Hedd, both of which feature on this track. The vocalist Dafydd Hedd is an 18 year old artist based in Bethesda with previous releases in a variety of genres inducing indie rock, blues, pop and punk, this track being his first steps in the world of electronic music. He recently released an EP ‘Yr Ifanc Sy’n Gwneud Dim Byd’ receiving good feedback from BBC Radio Cymru. 19 year old Mike Pritchard or Mike RP as he is known on soundcloud is a DJ / Producer taking influence from artists such as Carl Cox & Jamie Jones working in genres including House, Disco and Tech House. He started DJing at the age of 14 and has progressed to music production. His first two offerings ‘U Got’ and ‘Stop Messin’ have gained traction on soundcloud, catching the attention of Endaf.
The influence of these young artists is clear in ‘Niwl’, from Dafydd Hedd’s soulful vocals and emotive lyrics to Mike RP’s club orientated atmosphere, all glued together by Endaf’s signature sprinkle of Electronic Jazzyness. Comparisons can be made to the sound of Disclosure, this Welsh language release is perfectly timed to enjoy with dose of sunshine, in anticipation of live events on the horizon. This project was funded by Ty Cerdd, The Arts Council of Wales and hosted by Galeri Caernarfon, a big thank you to these organisations, without which this track would not exist. Also a big thank you to Gorwelion/Horizons for funding High Grade Grooves releases throughout 2021 and for supporting Welsh artists during this difficult time. The second track from the project will be released over the coming weeks.
Mesijo x Jon Lilygreen - Running Wild
Mesijo, music producer based in Cardiff, Wales. Creating sounds since 1998 when he purchased Sony Playstations super rudimentary ‘Music’ as well as the subsequent ‘Music 2000’ and ‘Music Generator’ software. These sparked an endless obsession with music production.
Citing an eclectic range of influences: Synkro, Aphex Twin, Squarepusher, Venetian Snares, Hans Zimmer, John Williams, Bill Evans, Enigma, Brian Eno, Chicago, Average White Band. His diverse sound palette ranges from Neo Soul to Drum and Bass, Classical to Jazz, without a foot planted firmly in any camp. In 2020 he self released ‘Dystopian Lullaby’ and ‘The Shadow’. Both tracks suitably moody after finding inspiration in the chaos of the pandemic and racism that had bubbled violently to the surface.
Most recently Mesijo has written and produced an Afro Funk inspired track with Cardiff wordsmith Skunkadelic, and an ambient electronic track with Efa Supertramp, as part of an Arts Council for Wales project organised by Gerard Kilbride (2021) . Running Wild see’s Mesijo collaborating with Jon Lilygreen on vocals, the vocalist based in Newport. Remixing the track is Rustem Rustem, London based producer
Rustem up until 2016 was a part of DJ and production duo Electronic Youth who’s biggest record was a cover of the Angie Stone classic, ‘Wish I Didn’t Miss You’. Along with the other half of the duo Trevor King, EY travelled the world, held two residencies in Ibiza as well as running their successful label Sexy Trash Digital.
Their releases featured on some of the biggest underground labels in dance music and they worked with some of the biggest artists in the world including Roger Sanchez, Todd Terry, Full Intention and Roland Clarke and were supported by the likes of Pete Tong, Annie Mac, B.Traits, Fatboy Slim and Jamie Jones to name just a few. EY also supported everyone from Disclosure to Mark Knight and back again.
After 5 years Rustem decided to stand down from music for a while and concentrate on other things, while Trevor still flies the flag for EY and the label Sexy Trash Records.
Endaf x Eadyth - Mwy o Gariad
For the second time in 2020 Endaf & Eädyth team up again, this time upping the tempo with their Welsh Language single ‘Mwy o Gariad’
Eadyth’s vocal compliments the tracks Nu-Disco vibe, but the pairs usual Downtempo Jazzy influences are clearly heard in the breakdown.
Earlier this year Endaf, Eädyth & Ifan Dafydd combined forces to create ‘Disgwyl’ a track which has been supported by Sian Eleri on BBC Radio 1, Huw Stephens on BBC Radio 6 as well as BBC Radio Cymru / Wales.
Both Endaf & Eädyth this year have been awarded ‘Track of the week’ on BBC Radio Cymru individually with their tracks ‘Dan Dy Draed’ & ‘Tyfu’
Endaf & SERA - Glaw
Welsh pianist, guitarist and singer-songwriter SERA and Music Producer / DJ Endaf virtually came together during lockdown producing this unique blend of Welsh Language Folk / Electronic music titled ‘Glaw’
Although their musical styles are very different they curiously have a lot in common! Both are Caernarfon locals, attended the same primary school, selected as BBC Horizons artists in 2019 and earlier this year shared the same stage as they both performed at the coveted BBC Maida Vale Studios.
Endaf’s last Welsh Language release ‘Dan Dy Draed’ featuring Ifan Pritchard was named BBC Radio Cymru’s ‘Track of The Week’ with Huw Stephens calling it one of the best Welsh tracks of 2020.
Sera has a new single ‘Switch’ out on July 31’st with an album to follow in August, plus the first single with her Americana Band, Tapestri, called ‘Y Fflam’ which is ‘Track of the Week’ on BBC Radio Cymru July 20th.