The point of The Welsh Music Prize is a simple one, bring together as much good music as possible to show off the sounds of Wales. This year’s nominees include Super Furry Animals own Gruff Rhys, 60’s psychedelic revival El Goodo, and Music Export Growth Scheme recipients The Anchoress. But the prize this year goes to Wales own techno singer, songwriter, and producer Kelly Lee Owens, for her sophomore record Inner Song.
“DIOLCH YN FAWR!!!!” screams Bagillt born Owens as she takes to Twitter after her win. “I am absolutely over the moon to have won the 2021 Welsh Music Prize! Being recognised by my homeland in this way is so so special!”, she continues, “Wales has shaped me as an artist & continues to be a place of inspiration to me. My nana Jeannette would be so proud.”.” Diolch yn fawr” means “Thank you very much” by the way.
DIOLCH YN FAWR!!!! I am absolutely over the moon to have won the 2021 @welshmusicprize ! Being recognised by my homeland in this way is so so special! Wales has shaped me as an artist & continues to be a place of inspiration to me. My nana Jeannette would be so proud pic.twitter.com/2rtkoo7uHd
— Kelly Lee Owens (@kellyleeowens) November 23, 2021
2020’s Inner Song is an incredible piece of art from front to back, allowing for some moments of her Welsh heritage to shine, like on single “Corner of My Sky” featuring John Cale, has passages sung in Welsh by Cale himself. Sections of thumping techno beats blend into sweet effervescent instrumentals that feel no way out of place. The LP even opens with a cover of Radiohead’s 2007 classic “Weird Fishes/Arpeggi” from In Rainbows. As if there wasn’t already enough going on.
“Inner Song” has been described as: “a tribute to the loner in everyone. Through a batch of loop-heavy tracks, Owens conveys an overarching sense of solitude and allows the listener to explore that feeling in each song. She guides the listener through each song with ease, throwing out the conventions of electronic music in favour of a cerebral journey through a computerized stew of glitchy, elegant beats”. You can read the full review of the album here.
As the winner of the prize, Owens is also awarded £10,000, some of which she has pledged to donate to welsh charities.
Owens is also currently touring the UK. After already completing dates in Belfast, Dublin, Glasgow, Newcastle, Leeds, and Birmingham; you can still get tickets to a few of the remaining shows here. There were a host of European tour dates also set for 2021 that have all been cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions in Europe.
See below the remaining dates on Owens UK Tour.
25/11/2021 – Y Plas – Cardiff
27/11 – Patterns – Brighton
30/11 – The Ritz – Manchester
02/12 – Earth – London
