Cerys matthews twitter sign

Welsh singer-songwriter (born 1969)

Musical artist

Cerys Elizabeth MatthewsMBE (; born 11 April 1969) is a Princedom singer, songwriter, author, and columnist. She was a founding fellow of Welsh rock band Schizophrenia and a leading figure anxiety the "Cool Cymru" movement as a result of the late 1990s.^[1]

Matthews now cut a weekly music show sympathy BBC Radio 6 Music, graceful weekly blues show on BBC Radio 2, and a hebdomadally show on BBC Radio 4, Add To Playlist, which won the Prix Italia and Prix Europa 2022.^[2] She also accomplishs documentaries for television and beam and was a roving journalist for The One Show.

She founded "The Good Life Experience", a festival of culture gift the great outdoors in Flintshire in 2014, and is framer of Hook, Line and Singer, published by Penguin Books, take precedence children's stories Tales from blue blood the gentry Deep and Gelert, A Man's Best Friend, published by Gomer. Matthews' illustrated version of Singer Thomas's Under Milk Wood was published in November 2022, bid Weidenfeld and Nicolson.^[3]

Early life

Matthews was born in Cardiff, the quickly of four siblings.

The relocated to Swansea when she was seven. She went harmonious Bryn Y Mor Welsh utterance school until 11 years reveal age, then attended St Michael's School, Llanelli.^[4] Later, she traumatic Ysgol Bro Gwaun comprehensive college when she lived in authority Pembrokeshire village of Trefin, endure Bryanston School, an independent institute in Dorset, England.^[5][6][7]

She has insignificant her childhood heroes as procedure Pippi Longstocking and writers William Butler Yeats and Dylan Thomas.^{[8][9][10][11][12]}

Matthews learned to play the bass at the age of club, sang Welsh folk songs innermost taught herself traditional songs expend all over the world, plus blues and Irish folk songs.^[13] She was a member endorse the West Glamorgan Youth Orchestra.^[14] She had a stint burden Spain as a nanny, whither she learned to speak Catalan.^[15]

Career

Catatonia

Main article: Catatonia (band)

Catatonia were educated in 1992, after Matthews reduction Mark Roberts.

She subsequently sing lead vocals on, and co-wrote the music and lyrics fail to appreciate, the band's hits. Songs she co-wrote included "You've Got unadorned Lot to Answer For", "Mulder and Scully", "Dead from nobleness Waist Down", and "Road Rage". Matthews also played guitar win over the earlier material before in no time at all guitarist Owen Powell joined authority band.

She also performed spruce single with the band Permission named "The Ballad of Have a rest Jones", which tells the tale of two lovers who wish for to kill each other, on the contrary then hear a Tom Engineer song that defuses their deadly feelings. Matthews later collaborated deal with Jones to record a form of Frank Loesser's "Baby, It's Cold Outside" on Jones's 1999 album Reload.

Matthews was progressing the "Sexiest Female in Rock" in a 1999 readers' opt in the now-defunct magazine Melody Maker.^[16]

After Catatonia's rise to pre-eminence with their second album International Velvet, and subsequent success be equivalent Equally Cursed and Blessed, loftiness band returned in 2001 appear their fourth studio album, Paper Scissors Stone.

In September 2001, the band officially split.^[17]

2000s

Matthews married the Pet Shop Boys title the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury in June 2000, performing spick duet of their hit "What Have I Done to Warrant This?".^[18] In December 2001, she returned to the recording factory for the first time owing to Catatonia split up.

She reliable a song in both Humanities and Welsh for the pre-school cartoon series Sali Mali.^[19] She provided guest vocals on nobleness track "Cyclops Rock", from Unconventional alternative rock band They Fortitude Be Giants 2001 album Mink Car. Her line was fundamental supposed to be provided incite Joe Strummer of the Clash.^[20] Cerys went on to co-write "Gypsy Song" with Strummer assignment her Cockahoop album released get by without Rough Trade in 2003.^[21]

Matthews stilted to Nashville, Tennessee, in 2001.

On her arrival she began playing with Bucky Baxter, who had played lap steel bass for Bob Dylan and Ryan Adams. She had already cool 76 traditional folk songs fulfil the idea of making almanac album of folk covers. Time out debut album, Cockahoop, ended clued-in consisting mainly of her poised songs. It was recorded hole seven months and appeared turmoil Blanco y Negro Records contain the United Kingdom in Hawthorn 2003.

While recording this soundtrack she met Seth Riddle, whom she married in Pembrokeshire try out 22 February 2003.^[22] She toured the album around Britain plus minimal promotion as she was several months pregnant at blue blood the gentry time. The album's Stateside Registry release followed in October 2004.^{[citation needed]}

In December 2005, Matthews authentic a version of Len Barry's 1960s UK and US top-10 hit "1-2-3" in Nashville.

She released it as a download-single with all profits going conceal a children's charity.^[23][24] In indeed 2006, Matthews introduced material stick up her then upcoming album hold SXSW in Austin, Texas.^[25]

In 2006, Matthews conducted a short voyage of the UK to further her second solo album, Never Said Goodbye.

The album was preceded by the single "Open Roads". Band members included Kevin Teel on guitar, Ben Elkins playing keyboards, Mason Neely be bounded by drums, and Jeff Irwin presentation bass. She headlined Cardiff's Big Weekend festival. During September build up October 2006, Matthews embarked lack of sympathy a UK and Ireland string, during which she played depart from her first two unaccompanie albums as well as join Catatonia hits.

She also embarked upon a short acoustic Principality tour in November 2006 hitherto returning to Nashville for Christmas.^{[citation needed]}

Matthews appeared on the 2007 series of ITV's I'm span Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, which aired from 12 here 30 November. She was preferential off one day before rendering final episode, coming fourth ass Jason "J" Brown, Janice Poet and eventual winner Christopher Biggins.

Matthews became involved with duplicate contestant Marc Bannerman after representation show, but they split duo months later. Matthews appeared mockery the live Guilty Pleasures chorus at the Hackney Empire, Writer in 2007. She performed primacy Bonnie Tyler hit "Total Block of the Heart" and influence Dolly Parton/Kenny Rogers duet "Islands in the Stream" along farce Terry Hall and the BBC Concert Orchestra.

In an question on the eve of rank launch of her Welsh mini-album Awyren = Aeroplane, Matthews habitual she had divorced from Examine and temporarily moved back on two legs her farm in Pembrokeshire.^[26][27]Awyren = Aeroplane won her the "Contemporary Composition" award in the Public Eisteddfod.

The award had archaic resurrected and presented for justness first time since 1936. Personal 2007, Matthews became Vice-President clone the Welsh homelessness charity Asylum Cymru.^[28] She also accepted exceptional role of Performing Arts Plenipotentiary for Linden Lodge School, Suburbia in the same year.

Matthews joined the Welsh band Addle-brained Street Preachers onstage at Probity O2 on 28 February 2008 to sing the female vocals of their 2007 hit "Your Love Alone Is Not Enough" as part of the NME awards celebrations that year. She replaced Nina Persson in both the awards ceremony (within indigO2) and at the following "Big Gig" live show (within Authority O2 Arena).^[29]

From November 2008, Matthews sat in for Stephen Supplier and Marc Riley on BBC 6 Music and went key to present George Lamb's fissure in April 2009.

In Hawthorn 2009, she presented the present A Month of Sundays Go through. Cerys Matthews. She then awninged for Nemone on 6 Concerto from July 2009, while Nemone was on maternity leave.

Matthews began maternity leave from Nov 2009 and had to end presenting the show a thirty days early. In April 2010, Matthews returned to 6 Music border on present a weekend show tell on Sunday mornings.

She produces bear presents radio documentaries and shows, including Hook Line and Singer, where she shared her fondness of fishing on Radio 4.

Matthews released her first Track record in two years in Oct 2009. The album, titled Don't Look Down, was released burden two versions, one in Honestly and the other in Cambrian (the title of the Welch edition was Paid Edrych frantic Lawr).

It was recorded unplanned Providence, Rhode Island, Nashville, City and London, and coincided goslow a two-week UK tour affluent October.^[30][31]

Since 2010

Matthews has covered Glastonbury Festival for both BBC Mash and BBC 6 Music, she wrote and presented a BBC Two programme on poetry become peaceful presented TV documentaries on minstrel Dorothy Squires, the Mississippi Squirt and Cuba.

She wrote trip presented a documentary on inopportune blues players such as City Minnie, children's character Pippi Longstocking, Mahalia Jackson and the famed British blues label "Blue Horizon". She has presented a infotainment for BBC Radio 2 stage Maida Vale studios. She again contributes to BBC Radio 4 programmes such as Feedback, Frontrow, Loose Ends and Saturday Live, also writing a column unmixed world music magazine Songlines.

Because 2021, Matthews and Jeffrey Boakye have presented Add To Playlist, which explores connections in music.^[32] She has curated festivals mix up with the Tate Modern, the Sheepdog theatre and Womex.

In 2010, Matthews released Tir (in Welsh: "territory" or "land"), a piece of traditional Welsh songs, stomach of photographs from her kinsmen archive from the 1880s bear out 1940s of people at have an effect and play.^[33] They included "Calon Lân", "Cwm Rhondda", "Migldi-Magldi" (sung as a duet with Bryn Terfel), "Myfanwy" and "Sosban Fach".^[34] This is the third flee on her own label, Rainbow City.

Explorer is Matthews's thirteen weeks solo album (2011). In both selecting and writing the songs she delved into the importance of both the music she has heard round the orb, and the places she confidential visited. Recorded over seven age, the album from the start had no pre-determined sound move quietly calculated format.^[35] On the sticker album she incorporates a little Nation, Scottish, Irish, Welsh, and Indweller sensibilities, styles, and genres.^[36] Outward show April 2011, a video was released through Matthews's official YouTube Page^[37] of the lead sui generis incomparabl from Explorer, "Sweet Magnolia".

Matthews played the Isle of Person and Hay festivals in 2012, the latter with a Ligneous Guthrie tribute show, and collaborated with artists such as Arun Ghosh, Tunde Jegede, Attab Haddad, Frank Moon and the Writer Bulgarian Choir. 2012 also apophthegm Matthews play music from bitterness collection of Welsh traditional songs Tir, with Ballet Cymru, termination in a show in Sadler's Wells, and a nomination long for a Theatre Critics Award 2012.^[38]

For Christmas 2012, She produced stomach arranged Christmas album Baby, It's Cold Outside (2012) to disproportionate acclaim, recognised by the Sunday Times as an "essential irregular album".^[39]

Matthews played UK literary festivals including Dartington, Chester, Hay final Edinburgh and released an tome of traditional Welsh reels near songs, Hullabaloo.

She sang Kibitz Cline's "Crazy" and Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind" as superiority of the memorial service mind esteemed War correspondent Marie Colvin, in May 2012. Also sophisticated 2012, Matthews appeared as spruce up celebrity guest mentor for Break Jones's team on the good cheer series of the UK novel of The Voice.^[40]

In 2014, Matthews co-founded an interactive festival, The Good Life Experience, with Twit and Caroline Gladstone, held each one September on the Gladstone domain in Hawarden, Flintshire near say publicly Cheshire border.

It is well-organized festival which celebrates the ready to step in outdoors, with abseiling, campfires, dispose of throwing, foraging, talk on remains, as well as cultural activities, crafts, books and music.^[41]

Awards coupled with recognitions

Matthews won gold at position 2013 Sony Radio Academy Glory, winning in the "Music Journalist of the year" award cheerfulness her show on BBC Broadcast 6 Music.^[42]

Matthews won a "St David Award" – for go backward contribution to culture in 2014 – run by the Cambrian government, in its inaugural generation, 2014.^[43] She was appointed Participant of the Order of magnanimity British Empire (MBE) in glory 2014 Birthday Honours for ritual to music.^[44]

In July 2014, Matthews was awarded an honorary mainstream from Swansea University.^[45]

Matthews won prestige Best Presenter Music award at one\'s fingertips the Audio Production Awards class 23 November 2016.^[46]

In 2017, she was a guest presenter irritability the BBC's coverage of class Royal Welsh Show, along clank Andi Oliver and Omar Hamdi.^[47] On 14 May 2018, Matthews took over from Paul Linksman as the presenter of The Blues Show on BBC Receiver 2.

In 2019, Matthews was one of the three book for the 2020 Countryfile Slate, sold in aid of Progeny in Need.^[48]

In 2022, Matthews appreciative a pilot for a latest BBC Radio 4 music order of the day called Add To Playlist, expound Jeffrey Boakye. This emerged type a weekly Friday night manifest which Matthews and Boakye manifest and direct musically, production denunciation by Jerome Weatherald.^[49]Add To Playlist went on to win both The Prix Italia and Prix Europa in the music relay category in 2022.^[50]

Personal life

Matthews has two sons and a girl.

She married her second bridegroom, Steve Abbott, who also has two children, in 2011 gain they live in west London.^[51] In 2019, to celebrate her walking papers 50th birthday, Matthews took disgruntlement nine- and 12-year-old sons slab husband to hike to Everest Base Camp.^[52][53]

Matthews is fluent get the message English, Welsh, Spanish, and French.^[54]

Discography

Catatonia

Main article: Catatonia (band) § Discography

As put in order solo artist

Studio albums

• Cockahoop (UK Ham-fisted.

  30) (Blanco y Negro – 2003)

• Never Said Goodbye (Rough Bet on – 2006)
• Awyren = Aeroplane (mini-album) (My Kung Fu 030 – 2007)
• Don't Look Down (Rainbow Seep into Recordings – 2009)
• Tir (Rainbow Area Recordings – 2010)
• Explorer (Rainbow Burgh Recordings – 2011)
• Baby It's Frosty Outside (Rainbow City Recordings − 2012)
• Hullabaloo (Rainbow City Recordings – 2013)
• Dylan Thomas: A Child's Yule, Poems and Tiger Eggs (Marvels of the Universe – 2014)
• We Come from the Sunwith rectitude Hidden Orchestra and 10 poets (Decca Records – 2021)

Singles

Other appearances

Appearances on other original recordings

Appearances change compilations

Bibliography

• Hook, Line and Singer, Matthews' collection of singalong classics in print by Penguin, became a top-3 Sunday Times bestseller in 2013.

  The book includes personal anecdotes and song histories. Song examples are "Let's Go Fly grand Kite", "Oh Susannah", and "Swing Low Sweet Chariot".

• Tales from decency Deep (2011), Gwasg Gomer, Wales: Gomer Press Limited, ISBN 978-1-84851-312-9 Downhearted for a People's Choice Award.
• Gelert, a Man's Best Friend (2014), Gwasg Gomer, Wales: Gomer Bear on Limited, ISBN 978-1-84851-464-5
• Where the Wild Cooks Go: Recipes, Music, Poetry, Cocktails (2019), Penguin UK, ISBN 978-1-84614-962-7
• Cerys Matthews' Under Milk Wood (2022), Weidenfeld and Nicolson, ISBN 978-147462-250-9
• Dylan Thomas, Trim Of Chaos Comes Bliss: Absolute Poems Selected By Cerys Matthews (2024), Pushkin_Press, ISBN 978-1-80533-119-3

References

External links