City Sounds

City Sounds AN INTERVIEW WITH LOCAL BAND CHROMA WHO TO WATCH IN 2019 CARDIFF’S DECLINING INDIE FUNDING BEST CARDIFF VENUES

WINTER #livethescene

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We love Cardiff’s music scene.

Its unique venues.

Its rough-around-the-edges charm.

Its singing-your-heart-out, too-late-to-bothersleeping-tonight passion.

Most of all, we love the people who make it tick.

We are so invested in Cardiff’s music scene, we decided we simply had to tell you about it.

Because, like your annoying little brother who just watched Fight Club for the first time, we want you to love it too.

Below this self-indulgent letter, we decided to find out if you, the people of Cardiff, are as enamoured with the scene as we are.

On page 1 we breakdown where to find the best live music in the city with a handy map.

To find out what our cover’s all about, head to the interview on page 3. Expect alarm bells, Welsh-language music and the sharpest of haircuts with Cardiff’s finest, Chroma.

we get up close and personal with chro ma on pag e3 Page 5 gets a bit news-y as we discuss funding in the arts.

Music photographer Elijah Thomas tells us about Cardiff’s cream of the crop Shoebox Orchestra, Private World and Buzzard, Buzzard, Buzzard - on page 6.

Finally, the team at City Sounds would like to thank everyone who picks up this plucky little music mag.

Tell your friends, live the scene.

All our love, The City

Sounds

team

HAVE YOUR SAY:

WHY IS CARDIFF’S INDIE MUSIC SCENE SO STRONG?

drum-and“It can be a bit ub is good. cl bass-y. Welsh g venue.” gi That’s a proper 19 - Joe,

“Cardiff is fu ll of cultur al diversity, gr eat venues, journalists and commun ities which suppor t indie artist s.”

- Ray, 22

, “It’s very diverse rent fe dif of there are lots . ns tio op the same bar You won’t find twice.”

- Rhys, 23

3

A M O R S H C A LK T

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s elsh W e h ,t work videos r i e h ic tt abou king mus s u ma tells and ble with b e Th rou the t d n a Rhondda Valleys outfit Chroma is a trio of characters. Going against the grain of indie rock ‘n’ roll and redefining expectations, the band are ready to tell us where they came from and where they are going.

Chroma describe themselves as bilingual “alternative rock”, inspired by such bands as IDOLS and Shame. The band is unapologetically political, inspired by valley life and Welsh politics.

Lead singer Katie Hall is formidable. With wit as sharp as her platinum hair, she knows how to command a room. She is joined by Liam “Bev” Bevan on bass and Zac Mather on drums.

The three are comfortable in each other’s company, cracking jokes and talking about their experiences on tour and in the studio.

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FIRE IN THE DISCO In their latest music video, ‘Girls Talk’, a feminist anthem for the #MeToo era, the band brought together artists and activists including Trigger Happy Creative and the Wicked Women’s Institute.

However, filming was not all plain sailing. “So our music video was filmed with the fire alarm going off constantly,” said Katie, laughing with the group.

“Yeah,” said Bev, “Because it was a Sunday no-one was in, so we couldn’t turn off the fire alarm without the landlord coming, so we just carried on. We turned the tune up a bit louder to drown it out.”

The alarm, called an “Easter egg” by the band, can be heard in the background in

“It’s great that more political bands like that have been pushed to the forefront”

A PASSIONATE BAND “We’re kind of a loud, passionate band,” explained Katie. “It’s great that more political bands have been pushed to the forefront nowadays.”

Bev added: “It gives a lot of confidence to bands that want to push a message of their own.”

Katie was afraid of being political until the band released ‘Claddu 2016’, a song which highlights the hypocrisy of voting Leave.

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INTERVIEW

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gs Chroma sin the first couple of seconds of the ‘Girls Talk’ music video.

The band’s attempt to push through the noise paid off with a stylish video coming together in the end.

TWITTERLUTION Making the video is often only the beginning when it comes to promotion. Katie told us the group’s thoughts on social media: “Yeah it has had a negative influence. Someone in the same room could be consuming something that’s against my values and I wouldn’t know.

“But I think it’s better it’s there, because you can still have these arguments and express your views on your own terms.

“I got cut off on the radio for saying something which was right but which didn’t fit into their narrative. Zac took to Twitter and told all of our mates what happened. Still, it’s important to get your point across.”

A NEW GENERATION Welsh musicians have always built communities around them.

Scan me In the 21st century, the next wave is reaching out further than ever before. Not just to their audience but to one another.

More and more, Welsh artists are supporting each other via social media.

“At the moment, in this new generation of Welsh music, we’re kind of warming up to the digital age,” explains Zac. “There’s so many bands that we’re close friends with in the scene, not just because we have a shared language, but because we have shared interests and we gig together a lot.”

The internet allows Welsh artists the chance to reach people who don’t even speak Welsh or English. Chroma reaches listeners in South America.

“A lot of people,” Katie says grinning, “don’t actually care about what language the music is in.”

WHERE TO CATCH THEM Chroma will play at Newport’s Le Pub on Friday 4 January, and at Focus Festival in Wrexham on Saturday 18 May. Their 7-inch vinyl is also available to order online.

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CARDIFF’S CAPITAL F-WORD F-ing funding. Is funding for Cardiff’s popular venues overshadowing the city’s smaller indie scene?

A new arts fund from the Welsh Government could be overlooking smaller venues in Cardiff in favour of the “high-profile,” according to the Motorpoint Arena.

The Anthem music fund, announced February 2018 and planned for 2020, aims to give under 25s greater access to music. Anthem plans to showcase all genres of music to young people.

However, according to the Motorpoint Arena, Anthem is looking for “high-profile” ambassadors only.

Well-known venues, such as St. David’s Hall, have already been prioritised in the Council’s 2017/18 budget and it now seems Anthem is following suit.

Anthem’s “high-profile” priority plugs the big and

mainstream and ignores smaller alternative venues.

The indie genre received only 7.3% of Arts Council of Wales’s funding in 2017/18.

The Arts Council aims to give a platform to the arts across

The indie genre recieved only 7.3% of Arts Council of Wales funding in the 2017/18 financial year

Wales. Last year they funnelled over £700k into the Cardiff Central area. Just £54k of this was allocated to the indie and alternative scene.

Clwb Ifor Bach received £50k in 2017 for its redevelopment, helping it to better promote the indie and alternative in Cardiff.

While this venue was allocated a large sum, other spaces have not been so lucky.

In the city, many smaller venues are struggling.

According to UK Music, there’s been a 13% drop in spending at venues with a capacity under 1500 since 2016.

Last year, The Full Moon bar felt the full effects of this fall in spending.

Next to Clwb Ifor Bach, The Full Moon bar closed in April 2017 temporarily. It reopened only when it was picked up by non-profit organisation, Creative Republic of Cardiff.

Neither Arts Council of Wales nor Cardiff Council were involved in the venue’s relaunch.

In terms of rebranding on their own, Carly Curtis, 35, a manager at The Moon said simply: “Cardiff needs a music scene.”

The indies really are independent.

INFORM

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Recommended by: Elijah Thomas

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Music photographer Elijah Thomas is based in Rhonda and Manchester. He has been featured in Vice and Huck, and was shortlisted for Dazed and Confused’s “Reveal the Real You” competition. His first zine was acclaimed by photographer Gavin Watson and GQ’s Paul Flynn.

Here Eli tells us his “ones to watch” in the Cardiff scene.

BUZZARD BUZZARD BUZZARD If you follow the Cardiff music scene, need I say more than Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard?

If you don’t know them yet, you will. They’re the most entertaining band on the scene.

Tom is one of the greatest frontmen that’s ever walked a stage, like the bastard son of Mick Jagger and Josh Tillman. And it’s not only his stage moves. The characterful songs are absurdly catchy and played with an energy that hits you right between the eyes.

Big things are coming. It’s inevitable.

SHOEBOX ORCHESTRA There’s a hint of Paul Simon in [Boy Azooga bassist] Sam Barnes’ writing. It has a skilled, almost classic feel to it. Next year will be a good one for Shoebox Orchestra, starting with a gig at Clwb Ifor Bach on 26 January with Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard, Adwaith, Accu and Zac White.

PRIVATE WORLD There’s an 80s/Factory Records vibe running through them but they’re doing it their own way. The way they use elements and different sounds from that era to create something fresh is genuinely interesting.

I have a feeling that they’re going to create something special very soon.

M

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DWYM

DIM UD NE

Fivesome Casey DWYM reveal that their HOT upcoming UK tour Three-person band will be the band’s Punk-rock band Buzzard Buzzard last.

IDLES will be Buzzard joins The performing at Guardian’s top 100 The group, which Grangetown’s songs of 2018.

Tramshed space has been going on their 2019 tour. since 2014, Their Americana announced that Indie track ‘Dou- they will split The 27 March ble Denim Hop’ event is in 2019. ranked at #49.

SOLD OUT. HOT

DDIM NOT

Former live music venue 29 Park Place re-opens under the Knife and Fork group.

Under new ownership, the bar turned foody pub will no longer host music nights.

DDIM NOT

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“It’s a tight-knit community where we can explore different genres with no worries, where we’re all on the same page” - Chroma

#LiveTheScene

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