Hubbry Logo
AdwaithAdwaithMain
Open search
Adwaith
Community hub
Adwaith
logo
8 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Adwaith
Adwaith
Adwaith
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Adwaith (transl. 'Reaction')[1] are a Welsh language indie rock group from Carmarthen in West Wales, formed in 2015. The group consists of Hollie Singer (vocals, guitar), Gwenllian Anthony (bass, keys, mandolin) and Heledd Owen (drums). Signed to Libertino Records, they released their first album Melyn in 2018. Both Melyn and its follow-up Bato Mato (2022) won Welsh Music Prize awarded for the best album from Wales, making Adwaith the first act to receive the award twice. A third album, Solas, was released in February 2025. They are currently on a performing break.[2]

Key Information

History

[edit]
Adwaith performing at Welsh Language Music Day 2017

Band members Hollie Singer and Gwenllian Anthony grew up together in Carmarthen and have known each other since the age of three.[3] After forming a band and performing in the town, they remained without a drummer, and met current drummer Heledd Owen at their first performance.[3] The band were taken on by head of Libertino Records, Gruff Wyn Owen.[3] Singer and Owen study music at universities in south Wales and London respectively, while Anthony works at Carmarthen venue the Parrot.[4] "Adwaith" means reaction in Welsh. In an interview, Singer said, "One of our mothers asked what reaction was in Welsh, and we just thought 'Oh, that would make a cool band name!'"[5]

Adwaith first appeared on the Welsh language music scene to a wide audience at Welsh Language Music Day 2017, where the group performed at Womanby Street's Castle Emporium, releasing new music and joining a number of other up and coming Welsh artists as part of the organisation's promotional campaign.[6] As part of the day, Wales Online author David Owens names the band in his "75 songs to celebrate Welsh Language Music Day" list.[6]

In July 2017, the group were named in the lineup for the 2017 Festival N°6 in Portmeirion.[7] The "post-rock girl group" were billed as part of the BBC Wales and Arts Council Wales’ music project Horizons Gorwelion[8] which each year promotes 12 selected contemporary independent musicians in Wales. The group also appeared on the BBC Music Introducing stage at Latitude Festival in 2017.[9]

The group were again listed in September 2017, this time for Swn Festival in Cardiff. The band played the event's Discovery Day at an event which included names such as Courtney Barnett and Boy Azooga.[10] David Owens of Wales Online again praised the band with inclusion in his "The 57 greatest songs from Wales in 2017" list.[11]

Adwaith playing in Rockaway 2020

In December 2017 the band were announced as recipients of BBC Cymru Wales and Wales Art Council funding under the Horizons Gorwelion scheme, receiving part of the £35,000 fund shared among contemporary independent Welsh musicians.[12] That same month, the group launched their debut music video, "FEMME",[9] which combined a "jangly C86 indie pop sound" with the "cheeky and bold [video] with an important message".[9] The band were named as part of the 12 name shortlist for the 2018 edition of Horizons Gorwelion.[13]

In 2018 the group performed at Welsh music showcase FOCUS Wales, held at Wrexham's Tŷ Pawb venue, performing a "stripped-back" set including a cover of a song by Childish Gambino.[14] The event has been described as Wales' biggest music industry event led by talks and advice from industry figures.[15] The group also supported Gwenno at Islington Assembly Hall.[16][17]

Adwaith performing at Clwb Ifor Bach in Cardiff, 2022

The band also featured on the Green Man Rising Stage in the Brecon Beacons for Green Man Festival 2018,[18] and launched their single "Gartref" at Cardiff's Clwb Ifor Bach.[3] The band describe the single (written while travelling home from Italy) as relating to "a longing and not having a home, and not having a safe space".[3]

The band have performed at Wales Goes Pop[3] and Future is Female festival,[3] and started their own FEMME nights intended to offer a safe space to women.[3] Performers at FEMME have included Ani Glass, Chroma, Serol Serol, Gwenno and Patricia Morgan from Datblygu.[3]

The band's single "Fel i Fod" was used by the Football Association of Wales women's team in the build-up to their fixtures.[3]

Adwaith released their debut album, Melyn,(transl. Yellow) in October 2018, It was recorded at Giant Wafer Studios in Powys and at Music Box in Cardiff, and produced by Estrons bass player Steff Pringle.[3][19] The album's visually striking sleeve was designed by H. Hawkline.[20] The band's single, Gartref, was remixed in 2018 by Manic Street Preachers member James Bradfield,[21] and their defiant post-punk track "Y Diweddaraf" was named Clash Magazine's Track of the Day for the 1st of October.[19] The band were featured in The Guardian for a piece on the growth of Welsh language pop culture.[22]

One week after releasing their album, the band performed their work at Sŵn Festival at Clwb Ifor Bach in Cardiff.[23]

The band again participated in Welsh Language Music Day in February 2019[24] and in June at the Tafwyl festival at Cardiff Castle, a three-day "celebration of Welsh music".[25]

In April 2019 the band appeared at Diverse Records' special event in Newport for Record Store Day 2019, performing at McCann's Rock and Ale Bar in the city.[26] In July they launched a new double A-side with the title track, "Hey!".[27] The band's tracks were further promoted when Gizmodo reported on the Cân y Cymry playlist on Spotify, where the band were named in the top 5.[28] Huw Stephens covered the band in his Cymru Rising programme for BBC Radio 4.[29] In July the band performed at Cardigan Castle,[30] and announced an October tour of independent UK venues including Poetry Club (Glasgow), Yes (Manchester), and The Victoria (Dalston, London), alongside Mellt and Papur Wal.[31] The band will perform in January 2020 at Rockaway Beach festival, alongside The Jesus and Mary Chain and Fontaines DC, in Bognor Regis.[32]

In November 2019, the band were announced as winners of the Welsh Music Prize for Melyn.[33]

In June 2022, Adwaith performed at the historic Glastonbury Festival on the BBC introducing stage.[34] They released their second album, Bato Mato, in July 2022. The album won them the Welsh Music Prize in October 2022, making them the first act to receive the award twice.[35]

Adwaith's third album, titled Solas, was released in February 2025. The album was recorded in West Wales, Lisbon and the Outer Hebrides. It includes 23 songs making it a double album.[36][37] The album was released on the 10th anniversary of Welsh Language Music Day. It was also announced that Adwaith had won two Sound of Miwsig awards, namely the best song of the decade (Eto) in addition to the most influential Welsh language band of the last decade.[38] To coincide with the realising of the album Adwaith participated in a UK and European tour.[36]

In September 2025 the band announced that it would have a performing break to 'take a little time to write, to reinvent and to figure out which direction we want to go in'.

Politics

[edit]

Adwaith are supporters of Welsh independence. They told Yes is More: "Britain are relying on Westminster and England too much, people from Scotland and Wales are quickly starting to realise that independence is a great option. We need a leader who puts Wales first and has a genuine care for the culture and language."[39]

Band members

[edit]
  • Hollie Singer - vocals, guitar (2015–present)
  • Gwenllian Anthony - bass, keys, mandolin (2015–present)
  • Heledd Owen - drums (2015–present)

Supporting

[edit]
  • Gillie Rowland - guitar (2023)
  • Rhys Grail - guitar (2023–present)

Discography

[edit]

Singles

[edit]
Year Title Label Album
2018 "Fel i Fod / Newid" Libertino Records Melyn
2018 "Pwysau" Libertino Records Melyn
2018 "Haul" Libertino Records
2018 "Femme / Lipstick Coch" Libertino Records Melyn
2018 "Gartref / James Dean Bradfield Remix" Libertino Records Melyn
2018 "Y Diweddaraf" Libertino Records Melyn
2019 "O Dan Y Haenau" Libertino Records Melyn
2019 "Wine Time"/"Hey!" Libertino Records
2020 "Orange Sofa"/ "Byd Ffug" Libertino Records
2020 "Lan Y Môr" Libertino Records
2022 "Eto" Libertino Records Bato Mato
2022 "Wedi Blino" Libertino Records Bato Mato
2023 "Addo" Libertino Records Solas
2024 ''MWY'' Libertino Records Solas
2024 ''Miliwn'' Libertino Records Solas

Albums

[edit]
Year Title Label
2018 Melyn Libertino Records
2022 Bato Mato Libertino Records
2025 Solas Libertino Records

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Adwaith

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia

Adwaith is a Welsh-language post-punk band from Carmarthen, South West Wales, formed in 2015 by Hollie Singer (vocals and guitar), Gwenllian Anthony (bass), and Heledd Storm (drums).
The band gained prominence through their advocacy for Welsh-language music, releasing their debut album Melyn in 2018, which won the Welsh Music Prize in 2019. Their sophomore effort Bato Mato followed in 2022, securing the prize again and marking Adwaith as the first band to win it twice. In 2025, they released the double album Solas, shortlisted for the award and continuing their push to elevate Welsh music internationally through performances and recordings primarily in the Welsh language.

History

Formation and early career (2015–2017)

Adwaith, a Welsh-language indie rock trio from Carmarthen, was formed in 2015 by Hollie Singer (vocals and guitar), Gwenllian Anthony (bass and keys), and Heledd Owen (drums). The band members, who had known each other since childhood, were inspired to start writing and performing music in Welsh following attendance at a Welsh-language festival. This formation occurred while the members were still young, with Singer and Anthony having grown up together in the local area. In 2016, Adwaith signed with the Carmarthen-based independent label Libertino Records and released their debut single "Pwysau" toward the end of the year. The track introduced their raw, post-punk-inflected sound, characterized by Welsh lyrics addressing personal and social themes, and garnered initial attention within the Welsh music scene. The band's early momentum continued into 2017 with their first notable public performance at Music Day, held at Womanby Street in , which marked a breakthrough in visibility and led to a series of subsequent gigs. During this period, Adwaith focused on developing their live presence and building a following through local shows, setting the stage for broader recognition.

Debut and breakthrough with Melyn (2018–2019)

Adwaith announced their debut album Melyn on 10 September 2018, with a digital release scheduled for 12 October via Libertino Records; limited edition red vinyl followed on 1 December. The album, translating to "Yellow" in Welsh, was recorded at Giant Wafer Studios in Powys and Music Box in Cardiff, featuring tracks such as "Lipstick Coch," "O Dan Y Haenau," and "Yn Fy Mhen." To promote the release, the band shared a remix of their track "Gartref" by James Dean Bradfield of Manic Street Preachers and toured as support for Gwenno in October. In 2019, Adwaith released the single "Hey!" on 28 June, expanding visibility beyond the album launch. The band's breakthrough came with Melyn securing the Welsh Music Prize on 27 November 2019, the ninth edition of the award recognizing outstanding Welsh-language music. Judges praised the record as "sharp, urgent and contemporary," with the win announced by 1's during a ceremony at The Coal Exchange in . This accolade marked a pivotal moment, affirming Adwaith's position in the Welsh scene and leading to increased festival appearances and recognition.

Bato Mato era and growing recognition (2020–2022)

In early 2020, Adwaith undertook a formative trip to Siberia, which profoundly influenced their sophomore album Bato Mato; the title derives from their local guide's name, reflecting encounters with diverse cultures amid the region's harsh landscapes. This experience, occurring before widespread COVID-19 restrictions, provided thematic depth to the record, blending post-punk urgency with dream pop expansiveness while maintaining Welsh-language lyrics. The band announced Bato Mato on February 25, 2022, with a scheduled release for July 1 via Libertino Records, marking a shift toward broader sonic explorations inspired by the journey's limitless possibilities. Recorded in Wales with collaborators, the album features 10 tracks, including "Cuddio" and "Nid Aur," which evoke psychedelic swirls and indie rock drive. Critics praised its maturity as a post-coming-of-age narrative, grounding personal growth in poignant, culturally convergent storytelling. Upon release, Bato Mato garnered significant acclaim, winning the Welsh Music Prize on October 26, 2022, at the ; this £10,000 award made Adwaith the first band to secure the honor twice, following their 2019 victory for Melyn. The album also claimed the Neutron Prize from God Is In The TV in October 2022, underscoring its status as a standout long-player. These accolades, alongside positive reviews highlighting its genre-defying Welsh indie prowess, elevated Adwaith's profile within and beyond, solidifying their reputation as trailblazers in the local scene.

Solas release and recent activities (2023–2025)

Adwaith announced their third studio album, Solas, on November 27, 2024, marking their first double LP comprising 23 tracks and their return following the 2022 release of Bato Mato. The album was recorded across locations including , , and the , reflecting an expansive creative process that incorporated diverse moods and textures. Solas was released on February 7, 2025, via Libertino Records, available in formats such as milky clear vinyl and digital. Leading singles included "Miliwn" on November 29, 2024, "MWY" earlier in 2024, and post-release tracks like "Aros Am Y Chwiban" and "Heddiw / Yfory" in 2025. The album received critical acclaim for its ambition and emotional depth, with Uncut awarding it 8/10 and praising Adwaith as a band at their "creative peak—empowered, atmospheric and celebratory." God Is In The TV gave it a perfect 10/10, highlighting it as a "document to literal and creative growth" that enchants across its varied sonic palette. Reviewers noted its significance as the first by an all-female Welsh-language band, emphasizing themes of conflicting emotions and mental states delivered without muddled focus. To promote Solas, Adwaith launched the Taith Adwaith Tour in February 2025, commencing with a show at Neuadd Ogwen in Bethesda on February 8, followed by dates at venues like The Lyric and extending across the and . Live performances included a support slot for at Arena on May 10, 2025, where the trio delivered a "tight and atmospheric" set with soaring vocals and shimmering guitars. Earlier in the year, they headlined a pre-festival gig at Theatr Gwaun on September 13, 2025, as part of ongoing activity building on the album's momentum. A March 2025 concert at The Cluny in Newcastle drew praise for drawing deeply from Solas' material, showcasing the band's pioneering Welsh-language indie sound.

Hiatus announcement (2025)

On September 10, 2025, Adwaith announced an indefinite hiatus, stating their intention "to live a normal life for a little while" after a decade of activity as a band. The decision followed the February 2025 release of their third studio album, Solas, which received a for the Welsh Music Prize, continuing the band's streak of critical recognition in Welsh-language music. The announcement emphasized a pause from touring and performances rather than a permanent dissolution, with the band confirming limited upcoming gigs before suspending live activities. As of October 22, 2025, Adwaith listed remaining shows, including an October 11 performance at the in as part of the Cardiff Music City Festival, signaling a gradual wind-down. This hiatus comes amid the band's established success, having built a reputation for Welsh-language since their 2015 formation in .

Musical style and influences

Core characteristics and evolution

Adwaith's music is defined by its exclusive use of the , with that serve as personal reactions to life experiences, relationships, and travels, often conveying raw emotion and introspection. The band's core sound draws from and traditions, characterized by angular guitar riffs, pulsating bass lines, and Hollie Singer's versatile vocals that shift between defiant shouts and melodic introspection, creating a beguiling yet confrontational energy. Experimental elements, such as unconventional structures and textural shifts, underpin their guitar-driven trio format, influenced by the tight-knit Welsh indie scene and a broader palette accessible via digital music discovery. Initially, Adwaith's early output in 2015–2017 leaned toward delicate sensibilities with punk edges, reflecting their formation at a Welsh and inspiration to create accessible Welsh-language songs. By their debut Melyn in 2019, the style had sharpened into a more robust framework, rich with lyrical naturalism and sonic depth that transcended genre boundaries, emphasizing catchy hooks alongside dissonant tension. The 2022 Bato Mato marked a shift toward greater expansiveness, with production influenced by the band's Siberian and Mongolian travels yielding "open and big" atmospheric layers, heightened intensity in darker tracks, and more pronounced pop contrasts against . Their third album, the 23-track double Solas released in February 2025, represents further evolution into a hybrid of alternative rock, art rock, punk, folk, and synthpop, incorporating dreamier textures, brooding bass, and varied moods that evoke emotional push-pull without losing focus. This progression reflects creative maturation, blending sincerity with spaced-out experimentation, while retaining Welsh lyrical reactivity as a constant amid diversifying influences and production sophistication.

Key influences and Welsh language role

Adwaith's musical influences initially drew from folk traditions, with band members citing and as formative early inspirations that shaped their harmonious vocal arrangements and acoustic leanings. As their style evolved toward and , they incorporated punk and experimental elements from , whom they credit as trailblazers for female-fronted bands and a key motivator for entering the male-dominated Welsh music scene. Additional influences include the baggy grooves of , the avant-garde edge of , the grunge-infused indie of , and the motorik rhythms of pioneers Can and NEU!. The band also draws from global sounds, including Turkish psychedelia, North African blues, and Latin pop, reflecting a broad, internet-enabled palette that distinguishes their eclectic jams from conventional indie fare. Within Welsh music, they reference the experimental legacy of 1980s acts like Datblygu, Traddodiad Ofnus, and Fflaps, which informed their raw, boundary-pushing approach to indie rock. The , or Cymraeg, forms the core of Adwaith's lyrical and cultural identity, with all songs sung exclusively in Welsh to affirm its expressiveness and counter its marginalization in global music. Formed in 2015 after attending a Welsh-language festival, the trio sought to create Cymraeg music amid a scarcity of female-led options, positioning themselves as catalysts in the language's modern revival. This commitment has elevated Cymraeg to international stages, including their historic 2023 performance as the first Welsh-language band to open Glastonbury's Park Stage, and earned them recognition as Welsh music's most influential artist in a 2025 poll by Nation.Cymru. Their work underscores Cymraeg's melodic potential, contributing to a surge in young artists using the language amid ' cultural shifts.

Band members

Current lineup

Adwaith's current lineup consists of three core members who have performed together since the band's formation in 2015. Hollie Singer serves as the and , providing the band's primary melodic and lyrical drive through her Welsh-language songwriting. Gwenllian Anthony handles bass and keyboards, contributing to the rhythmic foundation and atmospheric layers in their sound. Heledd Owen plays drums, delivering the energetic propulsion that defines their live performances and recordings. This trio configuration remained unchanged as of the band's announcement of a hiatus in September 2025, following the release of their Solas earlier that year. No personnel departures or additions have been reported, maintaining the original lineup responsible for their trilogy of albums and Welsh Music Prize nominations.

Supporting and former members

Adwaith has expanded its core trio for select live performances to enhance their stage presence. In 2023, guitarist Gillie Rowland, a fellow native, joined as a supporting member specifically for touring and shows tied to the promotion of the band's third album Solas. From late 2023 onward, Rhys Grail has served as the primary live guitarist, also providing backing vocals; he appeared with the band at their debut concert on March 27, 2024, and contributed guitar parts to tracks 12 ("Miliwn") and 18 on Solas. No former core members have departed the band since its formation in 2015, maintaining continuity in the lineup of Hollie Singer, Gwenllian Anthony, and Heledd Owen.

Discography

Studio albums

Adwaith's debut studio album, Melyn (Welsh for ""), was released on 12 2018 via the Welsh independent label Libertino Records. Recorded at Giant Wafer Studios in and Music Box Studios in , it comprises 10 tracks, including "Lipstick Coch" and "O Dan Y Haenau", blending energy with introspective Welsh-language lyrics centered on and identity. The album earned the Welsh Music Prize in the album of the year category, recognizing its impact on the Welsh music scene. The band's sophomore effort, Bato Mato, arrived on 1 July 2022, also through Libertino Records. Featuring 13 tracks such as "Cuddio", "Sudd", and "Lan y Môr", the album draws thematic inspiration from the band's travels, with its title referencing a Russian guide named Bato Mato encountered during a trip, symbolizing themes of displacement and resilience. It secured the Welsh Music Prize for album of the year, affirming Adwaith's consistent critical acclaim within Welsh-language music. Adwaith's third studio album, Solas (Irish Gaelic for "light" or "enlightenment"), was issued as a on 7 February 2025 by Libertino Records. Spanning 23 tracks including "Planed", "Tristwch", and "Pelydr-X", it forms the concluding part of a trilogy that traces the band's evolution from adolescence to maturity, incorporating experimental elements alongside core structures and explorations of and .

Singles and EPs

Adwaith released their debut single "Pwysau" in October 2016 through Decidedly Records, marking their initial entry into the Welsh indie scene with lyrics entirely in Welsh. Following their signing to Libertino Records, the band issued additional singles preceding their studio albums, often as digital releases promoting album tracks. In preparation for their Solas, Adwaith released "Addo" on November 3, 2023, featuring guest vocals from of , described by the band as one of their darkest compositions. This was followed by "MWY" in 2024. The lead single "Miliwn" arrived in late November 2024, ahead of the album's February 2025 release. Post-album promotion in 2025 included the double single "Heddiw / Yfory" and "Aros Am Y Chwiban". The band's output consists primarily of digital singles rather than extended plays, with cataloging 18 such releases as of 2025, though many serve as non-album previews or album teasers without physical formats. No standalone EPs have been prominently documented in major releases.

Awards and achievements

Welsh Music Prize wins

Adwaith secured the Welsh Music Prize in 2019 for their debut album Melyn, an accolade recognizing outstanding Welsh music releases. The band repeated this achievement in 2022 with their sophomore album Bato Mato, marking them as the first act to win the prize twice and receiving £10,000 in funding. This dual victory underscores their prominence in the Welsh indie and scenes, with both albums praised for their Welsh-language lyrics and raw energy.

Other recognitions and nominations

Adwaith was shortlisted for the 2025 Welsh Music Prize with their double album Solas, released in 2024, but the award was ultimately given to Don Leisure for Tyrchu Sain. In February 2025, during Welsh Language Music Day, Adwaith was named Welsh music's most influential artist, receiving the honor from Steps singer Ian "H" Watkins at an event highlighting the band's contributions to the scene. The band was also recognized as the most influential Welsh act of the past decade, with their 2019 single "ETO" designated the decade's most impactful track, in a retrospective by music publication God is in the TV Zine. In the same month, Adwaith achieved a milestone as the first Welsh-language band to perform a live session on BBC Radio 1, marking a breakthrough for non-English language music on the platform.

Political engagement

Advocacy for Welsh independence

Adwaith members have openly voiced support for , framing it as a response to perceived under-representation and neglect by the government. In a June 2023 interview, bassist Gwenllian Anthony articulated this position, stating, "I want because I feel majorly under-represented in parliament. People are sick of voting for the same party and getting nothing in return." This reflects a sentiment among younger Welsh artists who view as insufficient for addressing regional disparities. The band's live performances have featured direct critiques of Westminster's influence on , integrating political messaging into their sets. At a sold-out show in 2020, vocalist Hollie Singer introduced a track by declaring, "This one's about how Westminster keeps fucking over," highlighting frustrations with centralized decision-making that impacts Welsh affairs. Such statements underscore Adwaith's alignment with independence advocates who prioritize local control over economic and cultural policies. In early 2020, amid rising interest in Welsh-language music tied to nationalist themes, Adwaith revealed plans to include a song explicitly addressing on their forthcoming album, signaling intent to channel political advocacy through their . This creative approach mirrors a trend in contemporary Welsh indie scenes, where bands use music to amplify calls for without formal affiliation to groups like .

Broader cultural and political themes in music

Adwaith's music frequently incorporates themes of , reflecting a commitment to revitalizing the amid its historical marginalization within the . By composing predominantly in , the band contributes to a broader resurgence in Welsh-language music, which has gained traction since the through indie and scenes, challenging perceptions of the language as outdated or insular. Their lyrics often evoke everyday rural life in , embedding subtle assertions of regional identity against anglicization pressures, as seen in tracks like "Mwy," which yearns for simplicity and belonging in a native context. Feminist perspectives emerge prominently in Adwaith's work, addressing gender dynamics and equality within both personal narratives and the music industry. The English-language single "Femme" (2017) critiques superficial empowerment tropes, layering pop melodies over lyrics decrying unequal treatment of women, with vocalist Hollie Cookson-Reid expressing frustration at pervasive sexism. This aligns with the band's initiatives, such as organizing FEMME nights to promote female artists in the male-dominated Welsh scene, fostering a platform for underrepresented voices. Interviews reveal their view that political engagement in music, including feminist advocacy, is essential for authenticity, though they approach it indirectly to avoid didacticism. Broader themes extend to universal and reaction against complacency, encapsulated in their band name meaning "reaction" in Welsh, symbolizing responsive creativity to societal . Albums like Bato Mato (2022) blend dissonance with introspective lyrics on , linking personal agency to cultural resistance without overt . This approach positions Adwaith within an international indie , where Welsh specificity informs global critiques of , as evidenced by their evolving sound from folk-infused beginnings to influences.

Reception and impact

Critical reviews

Adwaith's music has generally received positive critical acclaim, particularly for its innovative fusion of , , and psychedelic elements delivered in the , which reviewers often highlight as a strength in preserving cultural authenticity amid broader indie scenes. Their debut album Melyn (2018) was praised for its raw energy and thematic depth addressing Welsh youth experiences, with Louder Than War describing it as "welcoming, warm, sarcastic and funny" and emblematic of the band's unashamed identity. However, some critiques noted inconsistencies, such as The Wee Review observing that "some of the most interesting bits didn't make it into full songs," suggesting untapped potential in fragments like the arena-rock intro. The album's win of the Welsh Music Prize in 2019 underscored its impact, with presenter deeming it "a very exciting and deserved winner from an exceptional shortlist." The follow-up Bato Mato (2022), a double album, expanded on these foundations with more experimental and visceral soundscapes, earning high marks for its ambition and melodic hooks. Clash Magazine characterized it as embarking on "an ambitious trip across a visceral, oft-psychedelic landscape, each track a mesmerising stop on the way to its cathartic destination." God Is In The TV rated it 9/10, applauding tracks like the title song for their excellent songwriting on themes of life's pace and relational anxieties. Joyzine echoed this enthusiasm, calling it "immense and exciting" with "more hooks than the cloakroom of the Millennium Stadium," while emphasizing the band's prowess in constructing robust indie walls of sound despite language barriers for non-Welsh speakers. Subsequent releases, including the 2025 double album Solas, have continued this trajectory of favorable reception, with Cryptic Rock commending its "filler-free" packed with "infectious melodies, spine-tingling moments of and some charmingly oddball experimentation." Live performances have also drawn for translating studio to , as in a 2025 Underture review of their Cluny show, which positioned the trio as a "Welsh indie trio...worth rooting for" with quality material from recent works. Overall, critics from outlets like these consistently attribute Adwaith's appeal to their melodic innovation and cultural rootedness, though aggregate user ratings on platforms such as place Melyn at a moderate 3.29/5, reflecting varied listener engagement beyond professional consensus.

Cultural significance and legacy

Adwaith's commitment to performing exclusively in Welsh has positioned them as a pivotal force in the resurgence of Welsh-language music, particularly among younger audiences in the and . By blending , , and experimental elements with lyrics addressing personal and societal frustrations, the band helped modernize the genre, making it accessible and defiant rather than traditional or folk-oriented. Their debut album Melyn (2018) and follow-up Bato Mato (2022), both winners of the Welsh Music Prize—the only act to achieve this twice—underscored their role in elevating contemporary Cymraeg music from niche to mainstream within . The band's international breakthrough came in 2023 when they became the first Welsh-language act to open Festival's Park Stage, exposing Cymraeg lyrics to a global audience of over 200,000 attendees and broadening perceptions of minority languages in indie music. This milestone, combined with tours supporting acts like and festival appearances across , contributed to a measurable uptick in Welsh music exports; for instance, Welsh Language Music Day events saw increased participation post their rise, reflecting heightened youth engagement with the language. In a 2025 poll by BBC Radio Cymru, Adwaith was voted the most influential Welsh-language artist of the 2015–2025 decade, with their track "ETO" named the era's standout song, highlighting their enduring stylistic and thematic imprint on emerging bands. Their legacy also encompasses cultural advocacy, intertwining music with efforts to preserve and globalize Welsh identity amid declining native speakers (from 29% in to 17.8% in 2021 per UK Census data). Adwaith's unapologetic use of Welsh challenged English-dominant indie norms, inspiring a wave of bilingual and monolingual Cymraeg acts, while their indefinite hiatus announced on September 10, 2025, prompted reflections on their decade-long acceleration of the scene's vitality. Critics and peers attribute to them a "new vital Welsh language scene," evidenced by doubled entries in Welsh Music Prize categories for non-traditional genres since 2018.

References

  1. https://www.adwaithmusic.com/
  2. https://ebbmusic.eu/artists/adwaith/
  3. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/nov/27/welsh-music-prize-won-by-adwaith-post-punk
  4. https://www.prsformusic.com/m-magazine/news/welsh-music-prize-2019-winner-announced
  5. https://www.southwales.ac.uk/news/2022/october/adwaith-make-history-by-winning-welsh-music-prize-for-a-second-time/
  6. https://nation.cymru/culture/welsh-music-prize-winners-2022-adwaith/
  7. https://www.wales.com/news/united-kingdom/2025-welsh-music-prize-shortlist
  8. https://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/2025/08/26/welsh-music-prize-2025-shortlist-adwaith-the-gentle-good-keys-don-leisure-sage-todz/
  9. https://emerged-agency.com/portfolio/adwaith
  10. https://www.analoguetrash.com/blog/introducing-adwaith
  11. https://nation.cymru/culture/profile-adwaith-one-of-wales-best-loved-indie-bands/
  12. https://earth-agency.com/artist/adwaith/
  13. https://www.bodeganottingham.com/gigs/adwaith/
  14. https://fortherabbits.net/2017/07/27/adwaith-in-their-own-words/
  15. https://www.prsformusic.com/m-magazine/features/interview-adwaith
  16. https://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/2018/09/10/news-adwaith-announce-debut-album-melyn-james-dean-bradfield-remix-of-gartref/
  17. https://www.discogs.com/release/12894160-Adwaith-Melyn
  18. https://tangledparrot.com/products/adwaith-melyn-lp
  19. https://adwaithmusic.bandcamp.com/album/melyn
  20. https://circuitsweet.co.uk/2018/10/adwaith-share-new-track-y-diweddaraf-debut-album-melyn-due-oct-12th-on-libertino-records/
  21. https://music.apple.com/us/album/hey-single/1473621037
  22. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-50573118
  23. https://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/2019/11/28/news-adwaith-win-the-welsh-music-prize-2019/
  24. https://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/2022/07/19/in-conversation-adwaith-on-mummified-bodies-trailblazing-album-bato-mato/
  25. https://joyzine.org/2022/07/03/album-review-adwaith-bato-mato/
  26. https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/adwaith/bato-mato/
  27. https://repeatfanzine.wordpress.com/2022/02/
  28. https://onebeatpr.com/artist/adwaith/
  29. https://adwaithmusic.bandcamp.com/album/bato-mato
  30. https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/adwaith-bato-mato/
  31. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-63399521
  32. https://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/2022/10/19/news-adwaiths-bato-mato-wins-the-neutron-prize-2022/
  33. https://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/2022/07/04/adwaith-bato-mato-libertino-records/
  34. https://totallywiredmag.com/adwaith-bato-mato/
  35. https://nation.cymru/culture/adwaith-announce-new-single-album-and-tour-dates/
  36. https://www.brooklynvegan.com/adwaith-announce-new-album-hear-miliwn/
  37. https://adwaithmusic.bandcamp.com/album/solas
  38. https://open.spotify.com/artist/40gm6Qd1XrQrLlJNjujjdU
  39. https://www.facebook.com/Libertinorecords/posts/-the-first-review-for-solas-is-in-the-adwaith-of-solas-is-a-band-hitting-their-c/1462479724939344/
  40. https://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/2025/02/07/adwaith-solas-libertino-records/
  41. https://www.theskinny.co.uk/music/interviews/the-age-of-enlightenment-adwaith-on-solas
  42. https://joyzine.org/2025/02/06/album-review-adwaith-solas/
  43. https://uber-rock.co.uk/manic-street-preachers-adwaith-swansea-arena-10-may-2025/
  44. https://onlandsedge.co.uk/blog/
  45. https://undertonereviews.wordpress.com/2025/03/05/awaith-live-at-the-cluny-review-welsh-indie-trio-are-worth-rooting-for/
  46. https://nation.cymru/culture/adwaith-announce-indefinite-break/
  47. https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/one-wales-biggest-bands-right-32447974
  48. https://www.instagram.com/p/DQHJn_1jPzV/
  49. https://www.wmc.org.uk/en/whats-on/2025/adwaith
  50. https://fortherabbits.net/2021/10/25/adwaith-in-their-own-words-2/
  51. https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-unstoppable-rise-of-welsh-language-music/
  52. https://crypticrock.com/adwaith-solas-album-review/
  53. https://www.albumoftheyear.org/album/1147037-adwaith-solas.php
  54. https://www.buzzmag.co.uk/adwaith-solas-album-review/
  55. https://www.musicmusingsandsuch.com/musicmusingsandsuch/2022/4/18/feature-modern-heroines-part-eighty-nine-adwaith
  56. https://joyzine.org/2025/03/30/my-life-in-10-songs-adwaiths-heledd-hollie-gwenllian/
  57. https://www.bodeganottingham.com/blog/meet-em-adwaith/
  58. https://www.facebook.com/groups/welshduolingo/posts/2854077131393557/
  59. https://nation.cymru/culture/adwaith-named-welsh-musics-most-influential-artist/
  60. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/jan/01/welsh-language-double-album-adwaith-solas
  61. https://www.musicmusingsandsuch.com/musicmusingsandsuch/2019/11/28/feature-spotlight-adwaith
  62. https://eisteddfod.wales/festival/2025/programme/adwaith
  63. https://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/2024/11/27/news-adwaith-new-single-miliwn-out-today-new-album-solas-in-2025/
  64. https://www.salonfutura.net/2025/03/adwaith-solas/
  65. https://www.instagram.com/adwaithmusic/?hl=en
  66. https://www.othervoices.ie/artists/adwaith
  67. https://www.brightonandhovenews.org/2024/03/27/welsh-singing-indie-band-adwaith-play-debut-brighton-concert/
  68. https://www.discogs.com/release/33155751-Adwaith-Solas
  69. https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/adwaith-detail-their-third-studio-album-solas
  70. https://www.yahoo.com/news/adwaiths-new-single-pwysau-211432299.html
  71. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=806922784772512&id=100063643933165&set=a.503943085070485
  72. https://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/2023/10/19/news-adwaith-announce-details-of-new-single-addo-featuring-james-dean-bradfield-manic-street-preachers/
  73. https://www.discogs.com/artist/6271350-Adwaith
  74. https://louderthanwar.com/adwaith-win-the-welsh-music-prize/
  75. https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2022-10-27/adwaith-the-all-female-welsh-language-band-making-history-with-their-music
  76. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/oct/07/welsh-music-prize-don-leisure-winning-album-tyrchu-sain
  77. https://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/2025/02/17/news-adwaith-continue-year-of-ground-breaking-firsts-with-historic-bbc-radio-1-session/
  78. https://www.dazeddigital.com/life-culture/article/60130/1/gen-z-young-people-wales-welsh-independence-movement
  79. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/feb/07/welsh-language-music-day-dydd-miwsig-cymru-celebrates-cool-cymru
  80. https://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/2018/08/13/in-conversation-adwaith/
  81. https://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/2018/10/12/adwaith-melyn-libertino/
  82. https://urbanistamagazine.uk/adwaith-talk-feminism-debut-album-welsh-language-music-and-james-dean-bradfield/
  83. https://fortherabbits.net/2022/06/22/adwaith-in-their-own-words-3/
  84. https://louderthanwar.com/adwaith-melyn/
  85. https://theweereview.com/review/adwaith-melyn/
  86. https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/adwaith/melyn/
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.