Debut wins album award for Mared
MARED wins this year’s Albwm Cymraeg y Flwyddyn (Welsh Language Album Awards) for her album, Y Drefn, on the I KA CHING Records label.
The win was announced on BBC Radio Cymru by Siân Eleri and Ifan Davies, as part of the Eisteddfod AmGen programme.
Y Drefn, Mared’s debut solo album, is a fusion of many genres, with elements of jazz, folk and pop mixing to create a beautiful album that puts the singer’s unique voice front and centre.
It’s a touching and emotional album that grabs the listener from Mared’s first vocal line in Y Reddf all the way to the epic conclusion of Dal ar y Teimlad.
Mared said: “My heart is full! Thank you so much for making my year a thousand times better!
“This album means the world to me and getting this response has been so special. Thanks for all the support I’ve had, and especially to I KA CHING, Branwen, Osian and Ifan for being the best team in the world!”
Speaking on behalf of I KA CHING Records, Branwen Haf Williams, said: “Mared Williams is the most genuinely talented, fantastically productive and industrious musician I’ve come across. She deserves all the attention and success, and this important prize is worthy recognition of her work and of her standing as one of the real stars of the Welsh language music scene.”
Betsan Moses, Eisteddfod chief executive, said: “I’m delighted that Mared has won this year’s award.
“As someone who started her career competing on our stage, it’s been wonderful to follow her success over the past few years.
“It was great to welcome her back again to the Eisteddfod this year, as part of the Eisteddfod Gudd last weekend and Gig y Pafiliwn. We wish her every success in the future.”
Mared receives a special award designed and created by the Eisteddfod’s craftsman Tony Thomas.
Like much of Tony’s work, including the large letters spelling the word “Eisteddfod”, the Albwm Cymraeg y Flwyddyn trophy has been created from an old Eisteddfod relic. This time, Tony has used a cog from an old JCB which was last used at the Bro Madog Eistedfod in 1987, to represent the record as part of this unique prize.
■ Watch Mared perform on Cyngerdd yr Eisteddfod Gudd tonight at 8pm on S4C, and catch her on Gig y Pafiliwn, available on the Eisteddfod website, www. eisteddfod.wales and on YouTube