Eye
Wrexham band, EYE, deliver gothic electro-doom not be missed at this years’ festival.
Wrexham band, EYE, deliver gothic electro-doom not be missed at this years’ festival.
Kima Otung, the exciting Welsh-Nigerian Pop/R&B artist, had a breakout year in 2022, highlighted by her showcase at the FIFA World Cup 2022 as a “Best of British” representative for UK music. This propelled her into the global spotlight alongside notable figures like Basement Jaxx.
In 2023, Kima continued her ascent by headlining Budweiser’s BRIT Awards showcase and performing at BAFTA. Her live sets on prominent platforms like BBC Radio and appearances at venues like the VIP Stage at Wembley Stadium and The Ballroom at The O2 Arena, have fortified her reputation as a captivating live performer.
Recognised by Google Arts & Culture and TRENCH as a Future Leader in Black British Music and Culture, Kima’s music aims to empower women and girls to be delusional when it comes to their self-belief, a message that has resonated in mainstream media with her tracks featured on ITV’s hit show, Love Island, and shows on MTV, Amazon Prime, BBC, Channel 4 and more.
Her rising prominence is underscored by accolades such as the PRS Momentum award and collaborations at Abbey Road Studios with notable figures like Michael Gracey, the director of “The Greatest Showman” who describes her as “stupidly talented”.
Kima’s musical journey, which began at the Welsh National Youth Opera at age 14, has matured into a multi-instrumental talent with a sound enriched by classical and gospel influences. Her growing acclaim is mirrored by extensive media coverage in Metro, Google, Wonderland, Refinery29, BBC News, Wales Online and more.
Hailing from North Wales, Mared first started performing as a Welsh language musician on the Welsh language music scene, winning the Welsh Album of the Year 2021 for her release, Y Drefn (I KA Ching Records).
Mared has performed her original music all across the world, including recently in New York (Sofar Sounds Brooklyn + Sony Hall, Times Square).
Her latest bilingual, 6 track, soul-pop EP, released Autumn 2023, was made with producer Nate Williams following the success of their June 2022 EP collaboration.
Mared’s music is influenced by the likes of Emily King, Sara Bareilles, Lianne La Havas, and Madison Cunningham.
Cluj Napoca based, Musspell, are a band not to be missed at FOCUS Wales 2024.
Dawnesha Williams widely known as Nesha Nycee is a well known international artist, songwriter, creative director, and philanthropist whose face card is one to be remembered. With a unique unorthodox style, and one of a kind flow, Nesha’s energy can be felt in any room she walks into. Rapping since the age of 9, Nesha was born in St. Louis Mo and raised in Atlanta Ga. Nesha has opened up and worked with a list of entertainers including Kurtis Blow, Zaytoven, Dungeon Family, Lil Kim, Monica, Organized Noize, Brandy, Young MA, and more. Her hit single ‘2 True’ debuted on HBOs Emmy Award-Winning TV show Euphoria and the STARZ hit show P-Valley. She’s been seen and heard on multiple platforms including Revolt Black News, MTV, BET Jams, ABC, Sirius XM, BBC Radio London, and more. With over 1.2 million streams, and half a million followers across all platforms, Nesha continues to create her own lane making worldly music that truly touches the masses. With an unstoppable mindset, Nesha Nyceeis soon to be a household name.
Nesha is heavily involved in Community outreach, youth development, activism and philanthropy. Kid zone youth church camp counselor and the age of 17 2010-2015 Boys and girls club 2016-2018 speaking engagements, protesting for the unlawful killings day in and day out with her peers, being apart of Upward bound program 2022 Morehouse College, Breaking the Chains of hiphop Talent show giving kids the support and platform they need to stay away from the negativity in their surroundings. Giving back and feeding the homeless for the past 10 years on my own accord. It’s imperative that I do the work on and off the stage through HIPHOP higher, infinite, Power, Healing our People. Showing the youth through positivity there are no limits to what you can do. Nesha is no stranger to the international festival market having toured in the UK as of recent, playing in places such as The Ministry of Sound, Queen of Hoxton, Wales, New Skool Rules, Pitch Scotland and so many others to come as she see’s absolutely no limits.
Agnostic of eras and genres, UK based singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Otto Aday’s music could be uncorked in any decade and still resonate. Sailing across an ocean of experience, waves of emotion and memories have molded a signature sound for him. It’s anchored in alternative spirit, yet buoyed by blissfully nostalgic melodies, British rock ‘n’ roll energy, and cinematic scope spiked with a bit of sixties psychedelia. After building buzz independently, Otto attracted international icon , whose short list of accolades include being an inductee of the UK Music Hall of Fame and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame®, four Ivor Novello Awards, four Brit Awards for “Best Producer,” and GRAMMY® Awards — to name a few. With Stewart in his corner, Otto enraptures and fascinates all at once on his 2023 full-length debut album, Persona.
“Each song on the album is about a moment or a person that left an impression on my life,” he affirms. “These songs are the breadcrumbs of these moments that I’m leaving behind.”
Sage Todz is a Rap and R&B inspired artist from North Wales.
“A real beauty” Sian Eleri, BBC Radio 1
“Beautifully propelled along” Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music
“One of my favourite tracks of the year” Adam Walton, BBC Radio Wales
Raised within the Welsh heartlands of Carmarthenshire, music has always been second nature to Gillie Ione Rowland aka Gillie. From picking up the Cello at the age of 7 to leading an Orchestra with her vocals by the time she was 12, her relationship with melody is innate.
Deeply influenced by place, Gillie blends the serenity of the Welsh countryside with the industrial undergrowth of city life, to create something hauntingly serene. Distinct in its simplicity yet vivid in atmosphere, the ease at which she entwines both her silken vocal style with a storytelling charm both striking yet subtle, has seen her draw comparisons to both Elena Tonra (Daughter, Ex:Re) and Tamsin Wilson (Wilsen). Be it through gold-flecked guitar loops or ambient haze, Gillie’s new work harnesses the anxieties, stress and struggles that had congregated within her and weaves them into something unapologetic yet inherently intimate.
‘One of Wales most exciting up-and-comers’ Gigwise
“Beautiful” Huw Stephens, BBC Radio Wales
“She sells her songs with her heartfelt lyrics coupled with a strong intense tone of voice that surely comes with someone twice her age” Entertainment Now SXSW Review
Cara Hammond is an indie singer-songwriter from Wrexham, North Wales. Influenced by female artists such as Lianne La Havas and Lana Del Rey, Cara’s music can be described as an eclectic mix of alt pop, indie folk and neo soul, which blend together through Cara’s honest lyrics and warm vocal tones.
Cara began writing songs when she was 11, going on to self-release 3 EP’s independently and a series of singles through the indie label, Oswaldo. Cara’s music has been featured on 7 Spotify New Music Friday’s across Asia, been A listed on national BBC Radio and featured in the BBC Introducing’s hotlist. During the pandemic Cara learnt how to produce, leading to her first self-produced EP ‘twenty four hours’. The leading track ‘Losing Balance’ has since surpassed 1 million streams on Spotify, and has been performed live on BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Scotland.
Cara’s most recent EP release, Borderlines (released 3rd Nov 23), has gained amazing support from BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Scotland and Radio X, including an ‘Artist of the Week’ feature and adds to Spotify playlists Fresh Finds and Fresh Finds Folk. Following this release, Cara completed her debut UK tour in November 23, selling out shows at Trouabdour, London and Tŷ Pawb, in her hometown of Wrexham. This whole project was done independently, without management, label or live agent.
Since supporting Charlotte Church at 15, Cara has performed at iconic venues The Roundhouse and Ronnie Scotts in London, as well as festivals SXSW, Boomtown, Love Supreme, Green Man, Rock Oyster, The Great Escape and Focus Wales. She is looking forward to performing at Focus Wales and In It together festival next Spring.
Brought together by fate from the rural corners of Wales, Banshi is a celebration of friendship, love and the radicalisation of 4 friends exploring their self-identities and autonomy. Manifested in lyrics that raise eyebrows and heartbeats, the four discuss topics of queerness, love, body image and gender with cut throat honesty. Banshi demonstrates perfection in hypnotic and raucous riffs, skyscraping vocals, earthy grooves and thunderous bass. They are the musical besties you wish you had.
Adjua is a Welsh-Ghanaian alt-rnb vocalist and guitarist, from Splott. She has been making music since 2021 and has recently just released her debut EP, ‘Self’, which is available on all platforms. She writes and produces her own music, drawing inspiration from her life experiences and her spirituality.
‘an incredible international showcase’
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