“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

“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

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, Laugharne Weekend

As a songwriter, Mari Mathias harnesses the power of storytelling through her first language, Welsh, to explore the ancient mysticism of Celtic folklore. Through song, Mari dives deep into the bounteous soil of her Welsh heritage, and is one of the young artists representing the Welsh language in the contemporary music landscape.

Mari aims to create conversation with her music, driving re-connection with forgotten aspects of Celtic nature and tradition. Through support from the Youth Music NextGen Fund, Mari has been working on a concept EP , ‘Awen’ about the rich cultural heritage of rural Wales that sees her collaborate with several other young Welsh language musicians.

~ Youth Music UK

“She’s had an incredible year as well, her shows are much talked about and her album is just stunning. One of my favourites of the year.”

~Bethan Elfyn, BBC Radio Wales

Welsh artist Mari Mathias brought folkloric tales to India as part of her debut visit, performing in New Delhi as well as Hornbill Festival in Nagaland last week.

Prior to the performances, Mathias told Rolling Stone India that she visited parts of the capital, including the Dargah Nizamuddin Aulia. “[It’s] a place where all humanity is welcome with no discrimination or judgments and live music which takes you to a whole new world, an experience I will never forget and I believe I will be back in the near future.”

Invited to perform in India as part of British Council’s curation at Centre Stage festival in New Delhi and the long-running Hornbill Festival, Mathias was part of a cultural exchange with her Nagamese counterpart, artist Seyievinuo Chuzho. At Hornbill, the dup performed “Tsaka/Plannu” and other songs that took listeners to the Welsh west coast and “wild mountains” where Mathias grew up as well as Nagaland’s tribal tunes. Mathias says, “Preparing for this performance required extensive collaboration with local artists and understanding their artistic expressions, folklores, customs and heritage, all exchanged by online messages and digital communication.”

~ Rolling Stones, India

Mari Mathias has gained a growing reputation as one of the rising stars of the modern Welsh folk scene, and her music has been defiantly and proudly Welsh to its core from the outset

~ Nation.Cymru

This year, Wales has been made a designated partner of Nagaland’s Hornbill Festival, marking the end of Wales in India 2024, a year-long series of celebrations and events to strengthen ties between the two countries. Mari Mathias, a folk singer-songwriter, has been chosen to play at the Hornbill Festival in Nagaland. The 10-day festival in December is India's largest celebration of tribal heritage and attracts visitors from all over the world. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the festival, which is nicknamed the Festival of Festivals. Mari Mathias performs in the Welsh language and brings her own contemporary approach to traditional folk melodies.

~ The Western Telegraph

The only Welsh native on the shortlist, Mathias creates delicate and richly detailed arrangements out of folk reference points from West Wales and Pembrokeshire. Recent single ‘Pan O’wn y Gwanwyn’ ranges idiosyncratically through ideas with a water-like natural flow, flashes of psych vividity appearing without feeling gratuitous.

~ Hard of Hearing Magazine (Green Man Rising Competition 2024)