Aleighcia Scott, a Welsh reggae artist and DJ, has claimed the no. 1 spot on the iTunes Reggae Chart. Her song, ‘Dod o’r Galon’ (meaning “from the heart”), is a sweet lovers-rock style song, sung in the Welsh language. It took to the top of the chart on Friday (March 21), marking the first time a Welsh-language song has reached the no. 1 on the worldwide reggae chart.
Her album, ‘Windrush Baby’ released in 2023, also made number one in the UK iTunes Reggae Chart upon its release.
In an interview with the BBC, she said it was “an honour” to have topped the chart, and that it was “unreal” that she’s made “music history with my reggae roots and passion for mother tongue”. She added that “It’s wild that it’s getting plays all over the world, in Italy, America, Japan, Germany,”
Aleighcia currently hosts the Thursday evening show on BBC Radio Wales, playing a mix of reggae, dub and other music from the 60’s until now. She says music has always been a part of her life: “My parents loved music, neither can sing, but music was always around me, and growing up in a partly Jamaican household, it’s part of their culture, so it was naturally embedded for me.”
She further realized her passion while attending her local youth club, Riverside Warehouse in Cardiff. After going down the typical education route, going to college, university and getting a 9-5 afterwards, she was inspired to invest more into music after an impromptu set at a big gig in Cardiff.
“Whenever I went to shows, I always carried a backing CD with me, and my friends knew this, one of them was DJing and asked if I had any CDs, I did, and I opened the show.
“The next day I handed my notice in, as I realised music was what I wanted to do full-time, and I have been doing it ever since.”
There have been a few reggae events that take place in Wales, such as Reggae Sunday at Clwb Ifor Bach in Cardiff, a popular reggae/dub night. The Reggae & Riddim Festival has been around since 2022 – taking place in Newport, the festival is organized in collaboration with the Rastafari Indigenous Village from Montego Bay. It’s billed big names in reggae such as Maxi Priest, Richie Spice and Gyptian.
Scott herself talked about the surprise people may feel when hearing her, a reggae artist and woman of colour, speaking in a Welsh accent.
“People can’t believe I am a black person with a Welsh accent, because music is so English centred, or London centred,” she said.
“I know what it’s like to be a Welsh artist, and a Welsh artist of colour, and neither is an easy thing so if I can help the next artists coming up, then that’s what it is about.
“West Indian culture has had such an influence on British culture, from the Windrush, which is everything I stem from, so for me to have achieved this is huge, because it’s everything that came before me.
“To have the first Welsh language number one on the iTunes Reggae chart is amazing. From singing at a youth club to having a number one, and proudly placing Welsh-language reggae on the international stage.”
You can listen to Aleighcia’s new single here.
WE DID IT!!!!!!!
First Welsh language song to reach number one on the iTunes Reggae chart!!!!!! Ahhh!!!!!
Diolch o galon pawb
— Aleighcia Scott (@AleighciaSings) March 21, 2025
