POETIC VISION S
HE’S known for his insightful indie pop offerings butformer Race Horses frontman M eilyr Jones has revealed a rather differentinspiration for his debutalbum.
The Welsh musician says his new record,2013,has been heavily influenced by some of history’s most influentialpoets,including none other than Robert Burns.
“The album was inspired by Shelly,Keats,Byron, Robert Burns,and a lot of sculpture”,Meilyr says. “Kate Bush,or some of the feeling in her music,too as wellas Berlioz.”
Beyond the Scottish Bard,the album,which was recorded in Rome,has also taken inspiration from changes in Meilyr’s life, tracking the singer songwriter’s escapades in 2013,the year following his split from the Race Horses.
Meilyr says that he originally had no plans to turn his new tracks into a record,however,after a trip to Rome,he decided to pullhis compositions together into a solo collection. The beautiful album showcases the first songs he wrote as a solo artist and it’s clear that his surroundings and the seasons have played a big part in the end product.
“It has been fun,and varied”,he says. “A realchallenge. I was in Rome for the start, the music that came through me there was light and carefree. On returning home and approaching winter,it took a heavier feeling. It changed according to the season and mood of my surroundings,which varied throughout the year.
“I chose 2013 as it was the first year of being on my own,and that’s when I started writing without a band. Also it felt nice as I am born on January 1,to have a year to start and end with.” However,despite embarking on a new musicalpath by himself, Meilyr’s old band mates were there to give him a helping hand as he took his first steps as a solo artist.
“Danielfrom the band played percussion and drums on the record with me”,Meilyr says. “And Gwion,who played drums in Race Horses,plays live with me. We are good friends.”
The record is incredibly personal, providing a musicaldiary fullof upbeat indie pop and emotionalballads that follow Meilyr’s transformation into a solo artist. It’s not a path that Meilyr had intended to follow from the outset.
“It just happened that way”,he says. “I wanted to put every different angle and show alldifferent and various sides of myself,and my different interests. On one hand I am the observer,hearing sounds,on the other,I am part of the group playing,then those songs come from me. There’s a feeling of a shifting voice.”
It also incorporates every day sounds such as bird song to give it a grounding in reality,something that Meilyr says was crucialto give it a natural,honest feel. “It was important to me as it was a way of grounding the piece”,he says. “And giving a freeness and a perspective,like the feeling of going outside and feeling fresh air and the wildness of the world when you have been stuck in your thoughts.”
The new album even has a nod to Glasgow in it,with Glad Cafe,a community choir based in the city, making a guest appearance.
Meilyr says he fellin love with the group the moment he heard them and knew he had to have them on the album. “I loved what I heard and they seemed like a really nice and varied group of people.” Meilyr Jones will play King Tut’s tonight.