Welsh hip-hop pioneers Eric Martin (pictured) and DJ Jaffa will receive the Welsh Music Inspiration award for their career-long contributions to the music scene in Wales at next month’s Welsh Music Prize.
The awards ceremony, presented by BBC Radio 1 presenter Siân Eleri, takes place at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff on 8 October kicking off Llais Festival as part of Cardiff Music City Festival. Shortlisted artists Aleighcia Scott, Gruff Rhys, HMS Morris and Lemfreck are among the live performers ahead of the award of the £10,000 prize for the best album made in Wales or by Welsh people around the world this past year.
The prize is supported by Creative Wales, Cardiff Council, PRS for Music, PPL and Help Musicians and forms part of the Cardiff Music City Festival.
Eric Martin also known as MC Eric and Me One is a Welsh-born Jamaican vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and music producer, who rose to prominence for his work for the Belgian-based recording act Technotronic in the late 1980s and early 1990s, co-writing their classic Pump Up The Jam multi-platinum album which sold over 14m copies worldwide in its first year.
DJ Jaffa also known as Jason Farrell is a Cardiff-based producer who’s been DJing since 1985 and broke onto the scene shortly after with Eric Martin and their mixes of reggae and hip-hop. Both are widely credited with pioneering the hip-hop scene in Wales.
Previous winners of the Welsh Music Inspiration Award have included Dafydd Iwan, David Edwards and Pat Morgan from Datblygu, The Alarm singer Mike Peters, Meredydd Evans and Phylis Kinney and Meic Stevens.
Reacting to the news of his recognition Eric Martin said: “I feel blessed to have been part of a young, vibrant, hip-hop scene in Wales. To be seen as a point from which these current, musical breadcrumbs emanate is an honour. I’m both humbled and grateful.“
DJ Jaffa said: “This is such an honour, I would never have thought back in the 80s that I’d still be as passionate as I am about DJing, hip-hop and black music in general, especially music coming out of Wales.”
The Welsh Music Prize ceremony will also see the Triskel Award presented to emerging artists ADJUA, VOYA and WRKHOUSE. The Triskel Award is presented annually at the ceremony to three artists with the support of the charity Help Musicians. It aims to provide vital resources and guidance to develop and progress their musical careers.
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WRKHOUSE’s brand of atmospheric, groove-heavy alt-pop has placed them firmly among Wales’ next generation of exciting artists. ADJUA is a Welsh/Ghanaian songwriter with a unique indie/grunge R&B sound. VOYA are Linford Hydes and Eddie Al-Shakarchi, whose music embodies stylish, dark electronica, melodic synth-pop and new-wave. All three acts will perform live at the ceremony.
Laurie Oliva, Director of Services & Research for Help Musicians said: “We are delighted to be returning to the Welsh Music Prize this year to support the winners of the Triskel Award 2024. Our research shows that 80% of musicians face at least one or more career-restricting barriers, so we know how pivotal this kind of support and recognition is for artists’ future careers. With such a wealth of promising talent coming out of Wales; a country with a rich, diverse musical history, we’re excited to see what comes next for Adjua, Wrkhouse and Voya.”
Fresh from supporting Foo Fighters on their stadium tour over the summer, Valleys alt-rock three-piece CHROMA who headlined God Is In The TV’s 20th birthday celebrations last year, have been awarded support from the PPL Momentum Sbardun | Accelerator Fund.
PPL Chief Membership & People Officer Kate Reilly said: ‘We are delighted to support the Welsh Music Prize, with the shortlist once again shining a spotlight on the best music made in Wales or by Welsh people around the world over the past 12 months. We look forward to celebrating them all at the ceremony in October. Pob lwc!”
Speaking of their support for the prize as partners, Minister for Creative Industries, Jack Sargeant said: ‘On behalf of Creative Wales, I’m proud to support the Welsh Music Prize again this year. It’s a fantastic night that celebrates excellence and creativity in Welsh Music and showcases the diversity of genres and artists making such exciting music in Wales today. Congratulations to the Triskel award winners for being recognised as important emerging artists, and best of luck to the shortlisted acts.’
John Hendricks, Grants & Programmes Manager at PRS Foundation said: ‘We’re delighted to be part of this year’s Welsh Music Prize and supporting the new ‘PPL Momentum Music Award’ at the ceremony. Wales has a fantastic history of producing incredible era defining music creators and since Creative Wales and Arts Council of Wales partnered on our tipping point PPL Momentum Music Fund in 2018, 9% of the UK -wide grantees of the initiative have been based in Wales.‘
Welsh Music Prize performance line-up consists of Aleighcia Scott, CHROMA, Gruff Rhys, HMS Morris, LEMFRECK, ADJUA, WRKHOUSE, VOYA
Welsh Music Prize 2024 Shortlist:
Aleighcia Scott – Windrush Baby
Angharad – Motherland GIITTV interview
Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard – Skinwalker GIITTV album review
CHROMA – Ask for Angela GIITTV coverage
Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog – Mynd â’r tŷ am dro
Elkka – Prism of Pleasure – Neutron Prize here
Georgia Ruth – Cool Head GIITTV interview
Gruff Rhys – Sadness Sets Me Free GIITTV interview
HMS Morris – Dollar Lizard Money Zombie GIITTV interview
L E M F R E C K – BLOOD SWEAT & FEARS GIITTV interview
Mellt – Dim Dwywaith
Pys Melyn – Bolmynydd
Skindred – Smile
Slate – Deathless GIITTV coverage
Ynys – Dosbarth Nos GIITTV interview
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