Gwen - Uma Gwen

UMA is the remarkable debut solo album from GWEN (Gwenllian Anthony), songwriter, bassist and multi-instrumentalist with the groundbreaking Welsh trio Adwaith. Across the past decade, Adwaith have reshaped the landscape of Welsh music, becoming the only artist to win the Welsh Music Prize twice while taking music performed in Cymraeg from the independent venues of West Wales to audiences across Europe and North America, and to major festivals including Glastonbury and SXSW. Described by Louder Than War as “not just the future of Welsh music, but the future of music full stop,” and with their debut Melyn hailed as “not another Welsh-language album. It is Wales herself,” Adwaith proved that music rooted in language, place and identity could resonate far beyond its borders.

Now, with UMA, Gwenllian Anthony begins a bold new artistic chapter. Written while touring across Europe and completed in the landscapes of West Wales, UMA was produced by Gwenllian Anthony and Steffan Pringle, with additional creative collaboration from Tim Lewis (Coil, Spiritualized). It is an adventurous, uncompromising record that moves effortlessly between industrial electronics, alternative pop, art rock and experimental sound design.

Drawing inspiration from the fearless experimentation of Kim Gordon andBjörk, the rhythmic freedom of Lizzy Mercier Descloux and CAN, and the immersive sonic worlds of Nine Inch Nails, Tricky and Massive Attack, UMA feels both immediate and timeless. Across ten concise, emotionally charged songs, hypnotic rhythms sit alongside distorted electronics, intimate melodies and moments of startling vulnerability. Performed entirely in Cymraeg, the Welsh language is never treated as a statement. It is simply Gwen’s natural artistic voice. The result is an album that feels deeply rooted in Welsh culture while speaking in a musical language that reaches far beyond it.

Already earning widespread support ahead of release, GWEN has been championed by BBC 6 Music, Radio X, BBC Introducing, KEXP and leading publications including CLASH and The Line of Best Fit, establishing her as one of the most exciting new voices to emerge from the UK alternative scene.