Art of Now: Cymru Rising

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Cymru Rising

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DJ Huw Stephens looks at the rise of Welsh-language pop music.

DJ Huw Stephens looks at the rise of Welsh-language pop music which is breaking out of Wales and hitting the mainstream thanks to streaming platforms.

Welsh-language music is breaking out of Wales and hitting the mainstream. Once, singing in Welsh was confined to the Eisteddfod and the folk club but now Welsh-language pop music is hitting a musical high.

Through a variety of genres, Welsh musicians have a new-found confidence and it's paying dividends. In 2019, Welsh-language music has been streamed more than eight million times through online platforms.

Now, DJ Huw Stephens meets some of the people in the eclectic world of Welsh-language pop music to find out what's behind the rise. From artists like Gwenno, who's been making music since the early 2000s, to relatively new acts like Alffa, a band who've achieved unprecedented success online.

Singing in Welsh has entered an exciting new era, but can new artists maintain the momentum?

Producer: Glyn Tansley for BBC Wales

Photo credit: Camera Sioned

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