RAPPING SEVENS STAR
WELSH rugby has got a rapper in its midst, with Wales Sevens star Lloyd Lewis releasing his first songs after recording them in a converted garage.
The 21-year-old Dragons winger, who is on course to appear at next year’s Sevens World Cup and the Commonwealth Games, has had more than 36,000 listeners of his EP SMS on Soundcloud.
Lewis has written and performed seven tracks, which have been mixed by Aron B, and they have been given the thumbs-up by rugby-playing pals Keelan Giles, Great Britain’s Rio Olympics silver medallist Sam Cross, Tom Habberfield and Billy McBryde, among others.
The talented Lewis, who is also studying for a degree in journalism, media and English literature at Cardiff University, spent months of his spare time working on his musical dream.
“I went to Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw in Pontypool and music is a big part of life at Welsh schools,” he said.
“I also went to stage school until I was about 12 and my group of friends in Cwmbran were all into music.
“One of my schoolfriends converted his garage into a studio and I just thought: ‘Let’s make some songs.’
“I thought I may get some stick from the rugby boys with Wales and the Dragons but, fair play, they’ve been really sound and supportive of what I’ve made.
“I was really nervous about the reaction from people when it came out, but I’ve hardly had any stick. It’s gone down really well with them and on the Soundcloud app.
“I wrote the lyrics myself and my friend Aron B, who did a music course in college, mixed them.
“I didn’t really sit down and write – I just grab a piece of paper when something comes to me or go to the studio. It was quite a chilled-out process and I’m really happy with the outcome.
“I’ve enjoyed doing it and in the next few months I may try and do a few more, rugby and university commitments permitting.
“It’s just a hobby and I’ve never thought about it leading to anything. I’ve done it because I like music and chilling with my friends in the studio.”
But Lewis stressed: “Rugby comes first. I missed most of last season through injury but my aim is to remain in the Wales Sevens squad for the Commonwealth Games in Australia and the World Cup in the United States.”
The Croesyceiliog product, who was Singha Premiership Rugby 7s man of the round in the Welsh round at Cardiff Arms Park last year, added: “I’ve been capped at Under-16, 18, 20 and sevens level. What the future holds I don’t know – we’ll have to see.”