Alffa

Alffa (transl. Alpha) are a Welsh language blues rock duo from Llanrug in North Wales, formed in 2015. The group currently consists of Dion Wyn Jones (vocals, guitar) and Sion Eifion Land (drums).

Not to be confused with Alpha, a post-trip hop group from Bristol, England.

Alffa
OriginLlanrug
GenresRock, Punk blues
Years active2015 (2015)–present
LabelsRecordiau Côsh Records
MembersDion Wyn Jones
Sion Eifion Land
Websitewww.alffaband.com

In 2019, streaming platform Spotify stated that the band had become the "most streamed Welsh language act ever" with three million streams for their two singles alone.[1]

History

The band were founded in 2015 by Welsh teenagers Jones and Land, who grew up together in Llanrug,[2] a village ten minutes from the nearby town of Caernarfon. They formed the band while they studied at Coleg Menai.[3] They graduated from sixth form at Ysgol Brynrefail in 2018.[4]

The band received mainstream attention in May 2018 when they were named by BBC Cymru Wales and the Arts Council of Wales in the lineup for the Horizons Gorwelion annual festival,[5] which introduced them as "an exciting teenage two piece rock n roll band from Llanrug who are inspired by the blues."[5]

The Horizons Gorwelion festival was first established by BBC broadcaster Bethan Elfyn. The lineup was selected by figures from PRS for Music, Moshi Moshi Records, and Drowned in Sound.[6]

In August 2018 the band performed at Festival N°6 in Portmeirion.[7]

The band cite their influences as The Black Keys, The White Stripes, The Arcs, Black Pistol Fire, Jimi Hendrix, Tymbal, and Jack White.[8]

In November 2018 the band received unexpected media coverage after they were included by Spotify's playlist curators in South America, leading to their single Gwenwyn (English: poison) receiving over 850,000 streams and an international listenership.[2] The attention was a result of the band joining international distributors PYST (funded by the Welsh Government) who provide Welsh musicians with label services, digital distribution, playlist inclusion, physical distribution internationally, as well as bookings for shows and tours with promoters and venues globally.[8]

Gwenwyn went on to become the first Welsh language single to receive over one million streams, in December 2018.[3] They were reported in The Guardian[9] and the national front page of BBC News Online.[4]

In 2019 the band were featured on BBC Radio 4's "Art of Now: Cymru Rising" programme which highlighted the growth of Welsh language artists, dubbed Cool Cymru 2.0.[10]

The band are recording their first album following the success of their digital releases, and are also planning international performances.[4] They are to perform at Sŵn festival in October 2019 alongside Gruff Rhys, The Comet Is Coming, and Nilüfer Yanya.[11]

Band members

Current
  • Dion Wyn Jones - vocals, guitar (2015–present)
  • Sion Eifion Land - drums (2015–present)

Discography

Singles
Year Title Label Album
2018 "Creadur" Rasal Miwsig
2018 Sesiwn Radio Cymru
  • "Tomos Rhys"
  • "13.11.15"
  • "Mwgwd - Acwstig"
 Independent release
2018 "Gwenwyn" Recordiau Côsh Records "Rhyddid o’r Cysgodion Gwenwynig / Freedom from the Poisonous Shadows"
2019 "Pla" Recordiau Côsh Records "Rhyddid o’r Cysgodion Gwenwynig / Freedom from the Poisonous Shadows"
2019 "Full Moon Vulture" Recordiau Côsh Records "Rhyddid o’r Cysgodion Gwenwynig / Freedom from the Poisonous Shadows"

Albums
Year Title Label
2019 "Rhyddid o’r Cysgodion Gwenwynig / Freedom from the Poisonous Shadows" Recordiau Côsh Records

References
  1. Stephens, Huw (27 August 2019). "The rise and rise of Welsh pop music". Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  2. "Former Bangor students' Welsh language song is first to hit one million plays on Spotify". North Wales Chronicle. 6 December 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  3. "Welsh language song first to hit one million plays on Spotify". ITV News. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  4. "First Welsh song to hit one million plays". 3 December 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  5. "NEWS: Adwaith, CHROMA, Campfire Social, I See Rivers & Eadyth amongst twelve new acts for Horizons 2018". God Is In The TV. 21 May 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  6. "Horizons announces 2018 acts - M Magazine". M magazine: PRS for Music online magazine. 22 May 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  7. Williams, Kelly (2 August 2018). "Festival No 6 reveals amazing list of acts for 2018". northwales. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  8. Whelan, Zara (24 November 2018). "How this North Wales band are wowing South America from other side of the world". northwales. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  9. Cosslett, Tess (5 July 2017). Cosslett, Tess (ed.). Victorian Women Poets. doi:10.4324/9781315293738. ISBN 9781315293738. S2CID 162829486.
  10. "BBC - Art Of Now: Cymru Rising - Media Centre". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  11. "Sŵn Festival announces first wave of artists for 2019 – GTFM 107.9 FM". Retrieved 28 August 2019.
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