“Mari Mathias takes us into the musical caverns of Annwn - The lyrical Preseli artist and fellow band members conjuring ceremony and ritual from the Celtic twilight for a passion play about this very region. Poetry, field recordings, even family archives on cassette find their way into the position; Mathias’ compositions are steeped in Bluestone Roots.”
- Buzz Magazine @ Other Voices, Cardigan
Then Mari Mathias steals the show, atmospheric trad-folk melodies from the mists of time soaring over the textures woven by a tight and talented band, bright as brethyn. As captivating as Cerys, there is a maturity to Mathias’ music that promises a pride of place among Wales’ new galaxy of stars.
~ Dylan Moore, CWLWM @ Laugharne Festival Weekend 2024
“Absolutely jaw-dropping. The mood and atmosphere of that track is something else. It’s not an easy thing to do, to record something that evocatively. Mari’s voice, as many people are remarking, is absolutely beautiful.”
~ Adam Walton , BBC Radio Wales
“Singer pushes boundaries of traditional folk music with a contemporary spin”
~ The Cardiffian
“Mari Mathias and her band are not only producing songs that live in their own world, they are heirs of a bardic tradition and musical folklore that has communicated stories, lessons, morals and imagery over the green lands of Cymru for centuries.”
~ All Roads Festival
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
23 year old Welsh female artist Mari Mathias creates mystical behaviour, driven by nature, landscape and tradition. She sings in her native welsh tongue and puts her own contemporary take on traditional folk melodies from west Wales and Pembrokeshire. She brings a surging energy on stage & beautiful tones of delicate melodic vocals, marrying intimate moments of storytelling and exhilarating folk sounds. Her music creates a confident step forward over the post modern footprints that extends through past and present , exploring a re-imaged reminder of identity.
Mari grew up in the rural village of Talgarreg, a stones throw away from the Ceredigion coastline. Her Debut Album ‘Annwn’ was released in March 2022, framed around samples of her great-grandfathers cassette tapes, creating a window into a significant place that no longer exists but holds vast meaning. Her exciting sound is described as Alternative Folk , a great description of a nation that’s confidently re-defining itself.
2023 was an exhilarating year for Mari and her band, having performed on many celebrated stages such as Cambridge Folk Festival, Lorient Interceltique Festival, Green Man Festival, Between the Trees and many more. She won an Award for ‘Best Traditional Song’ from her Debut ‘Annwn’ at the BBC Folk Awards at Cardiff Millennium Stadium.
2024 will be an exciting year for Mari , as she collaborates with a variety of musicians from all corners of Wales on new material reflecting on forgotten aspects of tradition and climate, each track released on each seasonal change. Catch Mari Mathias performing live this year, carrying you away to the heather rooted coastline of West Wales, packed with heritage and folklore.
