The two releases herald a new chapter of AffriCerdd – Tŷ Cerdd’s partnership with the National Eisteddfod, supporting artists of colour to work in Welsh
July sees the release of two new Welsh-language songs by rising Welsh artists Adjua and Aisha Kigs on Tŷ Cerdd’s artist-led label Sionci.
The songs were originally created by the two artists for the 2023 National Eisteddfod as part of an initiative driven by Tŷ Cerdd and the National Eisteddfod, aimed at supporting musicians of colour to create new songs in the Welsh-language. The project grew from both organisations’ commitment to supporting music-creators from all backgrounds to engage with making work in the Welsh-language.
Adjua and Aisha were mentored through the process by leading Welsh artists Eädyth and Aleighcia Scott – who also performed at the project’s culminating concert on the Encore stage at the National Eisteddfod in Boduan. Eädyth worked with the artists (both early in their Welsh-language journey) on developing their confidence in writing and performing Welsh-language lyrics – with support from Aleighcia Scott, herself a new Welsh-speaker.
The initiative had its genesis in 2021 as an Eisteddfod Amgen project (then under the title CoDi Cân) when five artists of colour were supported to write new, Welsh-language songs, and create their own music videos – with mentoring from Lily Beau, Tumi Williams and Jonny Reed.
For the 2024 Eisteddfod, the project is being developed further – now under the AffriCerdd umbrella. This year Eädyth will mentor artists Asha Jane and Frances Bolley to create new songs, and they’ll be performed on the Encore stage at 1200 on Thursday 8 August – alongside Adjua & Aisha Kigs, who will reprise the 2023 songs.
For release on Sionci Records
available to stream and download on all major platforms:
Adjua – Hiraeth TCR046
(duration: 03:09)
Release date: 5 July 2024
Aisha Kigs – Llygaid Cudd TCR047
(duration: 04:01)
Release date: 12 July 2024
Both singles will be distributed by Pyst, under a new relationship that cements Tŷ Cerdd’s commitment to Wales and the nation’s musical infrastructure.
Sionci is a new introduction to Tŷ Cerdd, a digital label sitting alongside our existing marque Tŷ Cerdd Records. Sionci has been conceived to enable creative- and career-development for artists, cross-genre. Artists can take ownership of promotion, approach and design, with Tŷ Cerdd’s support where needed. Crucially, Sionci is based on providing artists with a more favourable royalty split – allowing artists greater ownership and creative freedom.