#9bach

9Bach make an exciting return with New Single and Live Dates After Five-Year Hiatus

Acclaimed Welsh band 9Bach have made their long-awaited return following a five-year hiatus, with their new single "LLaw – 101 Mix" released exclusively on Bandcamp and a series of live performances scheduled for May and June 2025.

9Bach’s new track marks an exciting evolution in their sound, blending their signature Welsh roots with fresh, bold elements. The new material draws from both Lisa and Martin’s personal roots in the acid house movement of the 80s and 90s. The result is a song that captures the essence of the band’s distinctive style while pushing musical boundaries.

The track is driven by a steady yet infectious groove, with Andy Gangadeen’s crisp, dynamic drum work playing a prominent role in shaping its rhythmic core. Dan Swain’s bass adds warmth and depth, locking in tightly with the drums to create a groove that’s both grounded and fluid. Over this, Lisa Jên Brown delivers lush and emotive vocals in Welsh, her voice rising and falling with a natural elegance that brings emotional weight to the music. Melodic guitar lines add subtle texture without taking focus, while the electronic elements bring an extra spark. A rich palette of synths introduces shimmering tones and unexpected sonic twists, adding colour and energy throughout. The result is a track full of depth and detail. Immersive, expressive, and a brilliant start to 9Bach’s long-awaited return, blending their roots with fresh, forward-thinking sounds.

Formed in 2005, 9Bach takes its name from the Welsh word “Nain” (grandmother) and “Bach” (little/dear). The group now includes Lisa Jên Brown (vocals), Martin Hoyland (guitars), Dan Swain (bass), Mirain Haf Roberts (vocals, piano), and Andy Gangadeen (drums, musical director). In 2025, the band entered an exciting new phase by collaborating with Gangadeen, an accomplished artist known for his work with acclaimed acts such as Chase & Status and Lava La Rue.

While Bach’s last studio album Anian was recorded live in Real World Studios. The new material has been recorded by Lisa, Martin & Andy in different cottages around North Wales, with Andy’s mobile 101 Studio, Sdiwdio 9Bach in Bethesda and Andy’s 101 Studio’s in Bow, with Mirain & Dan adding finishing touches from their home studios in London and Cardiff.

Reflecting on the band's fresh creative direction, Lisa Jên Brown describes how the collaboration with Andy Gangadeen has reshaped her songwriting process: “This time round I’ve composed songs whilst listening to Andy’s drum sequences as inspiration. It’s good to mix things up with a different approach to tease something new out of me. Songs for me have always started by the piano, but I’ve loved having a dance beat to vibe me up as I stare at the blank page!”

9Bach have performed live on stages across the globe, with appearances in countries including Spain, the Netherlands, Canada, Aotearoa (New Zealand), Vietnam, Australia, and throughout the Middle East. Beyond her work with the band, lead vocalist Lisa Jên Brown is a long-standing collaborator with Gruff Rhys of Super Furry Animals. She contributed vocals to his Candylion album and joined him on the Candylion and Hotel Shampoo tours. Both Lisa and bandmate Mirain Haf Roberts also appear on Rhys’s albums Seeking New Gods and Babelsberg. Additionally, Lisa features on Public Service Broadcasting’s acclaimed album Every Valley.

Live Dates in May:

09/05 - Tafarn Y Plu -  Llanystumdwy

10/05 - FOCUS Wales Wrexham -  Llwyn Isaf

06/06  - Neuadd Ogwen - Bethesda

10/06 - The Grace - London

The band comprises:

Lisa Jen Brown: Vocals

Martin Hoyland: Guitars

Dan Swain: Bass Guitar

Mirain Haf Roberts: Vocals, Piano

Andy Gangadeen: Drums, Musical Director

Discover:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/9bach?igsh=dDdyNW4yazVwazBn

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/share/16YdH8ZmPR/?mibextid=wwXIfr 

X - https://x.com/9bach?s=21Website - https://www.9bach.com/

NEWS: 9Bach make an exciting return with New Single and Live Dates After Five-Year Hiatus

Acclaimed Welsh band 9Bach have made their long-awaited return following a five-year hiatus, with their new single "LLaw – 101 Mix" released exclusively on Bandcamp and a series of live performances scheduled for May and June 2025.

9Bach’s new track marks an exciting evolution in their sound, blending their signature Welsh roots with fresh, bold elements. The new material draws from both Lisa and Martin’s personal roots in the acid house movement of the 80s and 90s. The result is a song that captures the essence of the band’s distinctive style while pushing musical boundaries.

The track is driven by a steady yet infectious groove, with Andy Gangadeen’s crisp, dynamic drum work playing a prominent role in shaping its rhythmic core. Dan Swain’s bass adds warmth and depth, locking in tightly with the drums to create a groove that’s both grounded and fluid. Over this, Lisa Jên Brown delivers lush and emotive vocals in Welsh, her voice rising and falling with a natural elegance that brings emotional weight to the music. Melodic guitar lines add subtle texture without taking focus, while the electronic elements bring an extra spark. A rich palette of synths introduces shimmering tones and unexpected sonic twists, adding colour and energy throughout. The result is a track full of depth and detail. Immersive, expressive, and a brilliant start to 9Bach’s long-awaited return, blending their roots with fresh, forward-thinking sounds.

Formed in 2005, 9Bach takes its name from the Welsh word “Nain” (grandmother) and “Bach” (little/dear). The group now includes Lisa Jên Brown (vocals), Martin Hoyland (guitars), Dan Swain (bass), Mirain Haf Roberts (vocals, piano), and Andy Gangadeen (drums, musical director). In 2025, the band entered an exciting new phase by collaborating with Gangadeen, an accomplished artist known for his work with acclaimed acts such as Chase & Status and Lava La Rue.

While Bach’s last studio album Anian was recorded live in Real World Studios. The new material has been recorded by Lisa, Martin & Andy in different cottages around North Wales, with Andy’s mobile 101 Studio, Sdiwdio 9Bach in Bethesda and Andy’s 101 Studio’s in Bow, with Mirain & Dan adding finishing touches from their home studios in London and Cardiff.

Reflecting on the band's fresh creative direction, Lisa Jên Brown describes how the collaboration with Andy Gangadeen has reshaped her songwriting process: “This time round I’ve composed songs whilst listening to Andy’s drum sequences as inspiration. It’s good to mix things up with a different approach to tease something new out of me. Songs for me have always started by the piano, but I’ve loved having a dance beat to vibe me up as I stare at the blank page!”

9Bach have performed live on stages across the globe, with appearances in countries including Spain, the Netherlands, Canada, Aotearoa (New Zealand), Vietnam, Australia, and throughout the Middle East. Beyond her work with the band, lead vocalist Lisa Jên Brown is a long-standing collaborator with Gruff Rhys of Super Furry Animals. She contributed vocals to his Candylion album and joined him on the Candylion and Hotel Shampoo tours. Both Lisa and bandmate Mirain Haf Roberts also appear on Rhys’s albums Seeking New Gods and Babelsberg. Additionally, Lisa features on Public Service Broadcasting’s acclaimed album Every Valley.

Live Dates in June:

06/06  - Neuadd Ogwen - Bethesda

10/06 - The Grace - London

The band comprises:

Lisa Jen Brown: Vocals

Martin Hoyland: Guitars

Dan Swain: Bass Guitar

Mirain Haf Roberts: Vocals, Piano

Andy Gangadeen: Drums, Musical Director

Discover:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/9bach?igsh=dDdyNW4yazVwazBn

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/share/16YdH8ZmPR/?mibextid=wwXIfr 

X - https://x.com/9bach?s=21Website - https://www.9bach.com/

By Estelle Trowill

14-Year-Old McKenzie Jennings-Gruar Interviews 9Bach at WOMAD 2017

WOMAD is just getting underway in New Plymouth and we have 14-year old music journalist McKenzie Jennings-Gruar on site to talk to the artists. First up is Welch band and Realworld recording artists 9Bach. Listen in as McKenzie talks to founding members Lisa Jen and Martin Hoyland: (more…)

WOMAD 2017 – Hidden Treasures

One of the great pleasures of going to a world music festival such as WOMAD 2017 at New Plymouth is the opportunity to discover music and musicians that you never knew existed.  As part of our ongoing series, here are five acts that we’ve unearthed from around the globe, who are coming to this year’s WOMAD in March. (more…)

9Bach / Anian  - Galeri Caernarfon 27/5/16 - Photo: Dewi Glyn Jones

Do’n I heb sylweddoli y bydda’I ‘na fand yn cefnogi 9bach yn ystod eu gig olaf ond un o’u taith Prydeinig, felly dipyn o sioc oedd gweld dwy ferch ifanc (Catriona Price ac Esther Swift) yn camu I’r llwyfan; un yn cydio mewn ffidl a’r llall yn nesau at delyn drwy niwl a duwch y gofod. Nes I feddwl “Oh Na” gan nad ydwiI wir yn ffan o gerddoriaeth llym-draddodiadol Albanaidd os dwi’n hollol onast. Ond yn araf bach ges i’n narbwyllo nad band llym-draddodiadol oedd Twelfth Day, ac ro’n I wedi fy nghyfareddu yn llwyr wrth iddyn nhw berfformio fersiwn lloft stabal o Street Lights gan Kanye West. Do’n I wir heb ddisgwyl honna! Roedd hi’n set oedd yn bownsio. Y delyn a’r ffidl yn cadw oed, y rhythmau yn newid gêr bob yn ail pennill, a’r harmonia’, er mond yn leisiau bychain, yn gweddu’n berffaith i naws y band. Âr ôl egwyl byr, a chyfla i bawb ga'l glasiad o win a lleisio'i barn am y "ddwy hogan fach" o'dd newydd ein llorio ni gyd, mi fentrodd pawb yn ôl i’r theatr i weld y band gwerin ‘ma sydd wedi swynno Cymru a thu hwnt yn y blynyddoedd diwethaf-9Bach. Mi ddechreuo nhw hefo trac cyntaf yr albwm- Llyn Du, ac mi fydda'i wedi bod digon hawdd i chi gredu mai CD oedd yn chwarae, nid band byw. Y band wedi gosod allan yn gymesur- y dynion a thrymdra y dryms a gitars yn y cefn, ar merchaid o'u blaen yn rhoi ryw fflytyr ar ben y metal fel tasa nhw'n taflyd llond llaw o gonffeti rhosod dros bob cord. Er bod ‘na duwch mawr yn perthyn i'r caneuon (Roedd Lliwiau yn eithriad- cymhariaeth Lisa Jen o roi genedigaeth a bod mewn raves anghyfreithlon yn chwarel Dorothea!), roedd hiwmor Lisa yn ysgafnhau popeth, a'i pharodrwydd i siarad hefo'r dorf yn lleihau'r teimlad ffurfiol o wylio gig mewn theatr, ac roedd chydig o heclo hwyliog hyd yn oed. Roedd pob can yn don ar ôl toh- Ni fel yr ewyn yn cael ein cario gan lif y band. Defnydd Martin o glider ac effeithiau bizzare gitar yn gneud i ni gwestiynnu be, a lle oedd yr holl haenau a synnau. Lisa a Mirain Haf yna'n dangos eu doniau wrth chwarae llond dwsin o offerynnau amrywiol, a’r ddelwedd o Lisa yn chwarae drwm mor filwriaethus yn aros yn y co. You go girl! Roedd na newid eto yn y gân olaf gyda naws parti ska go iawn. Alawon Lisa yn fy atgoffa o feistroldeb Yma Sumac, gyda alawon yn efelychu synnau hudolus y "call to prayer" islamaidd.I Ma'n anheg galw 9bach yn fand gwerin erbyn hyn. Falla bod eu gwreiddiau cerddorol gwerinol mor ddyfn a'u hanian yn Eryri, ond yn bendant, band y byd ydi 9bach bellach.