THE ALTERNATIVE WALES SOUNDTRACK #20
ffion wyn (ladies of rage)
All-time favourite album:
Ask me this question every 6 months and you’ll get a different answer. A couple that will always be in my Top 5 though are Prince’s ‘Purple Rain’ and Big Mama Thornton with the Muddy Waters Blues Band.
Favourite Welsh language album:
A toss up between Hei Vidal! by Ffa Coffi Pawb, and Hen Gelwydd Prydain Newydd by Tystion.
Favourite record by a Welsh band/artist:
Pop Negatif Wastad – big up my mate Efa for managing to get me a copy of this legendary record when I moved to Cardiff around 2013/14. It’s one of my most prized possessions. A Welsh cult classic. I’ve also got to mention ‘Care City’ by Deyah.
Favourite new Welsh band/artist:
I know she’s not necessarily new to the scene, but I do feel like she consistently re-invents herself and for that I have to say Eadyth! Not only that but have you heard the Mas o Ma EP with Izzy Rabey? Welsh neo-soul at its finest! Also, Demzie - a rapper from Pwllheli with the quickest flow. She's one to watch!
3 dream festival headliners:
Prince, Janis Joplin, Joy Division
An underrated band/artist:
Noname – lyrically heads and shoulders above the rest. Every track she puts out makes me fall in love with her all over again.
A song that reminds you of a particular memory:
Professor Longhair’s ‘Going to the Mardi Gras’ reminds me of my time in the Deep South in 2015, I managed to land in New Orleans as Mardi Gras was kicking off and I’ve never experienced anything like it.
Go to album when you’re down:
The second half of Gladys Knight & the Pips’ ‘Feelin’ Bluesy’ album. Those songs really let me marinate in my sadness. Proper catharsis. Also, Madlib sampled my favourite song off the album ‘Don’t Turn Me Away’ on his track ‘Anthenaginao>> (?)’ and it’s the best 1 minute 34 seconds of my life.
Go to record to get you worked up:
This frequently changes too. I tend to get fired up by new music that captivates me. Currently, ANYTHING by Coventry rapper Pa Salieu gets me gassed. His debut mixtape ‘Send Them to Coventry’ was my favourite release of last year.
A lyric that resonates with you:
’Queens come in all shapes and colours, though we sit on thrones we don't look down on each other’ a line from the Rapsody x Queen Latifah track ‘Hatshepsut’ and a motto to live by!
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