#cantref

Heddlu- locker

[INTERVIEW] Heddlu Releases ‘Cantref’ Debut Album Via ‘Zawn Records’ 

We caught up with Rhodri Daniel aka ‘Heddlu’ who’s debut album ‘Cantref’ is released this week! ‘Cantref’ is a surging collection of electronic indie anthems that were influenced by Hearing loss, Welsh Coastline Pilgrimages and Welsh Tales and Folklore. 

Hello Heddlu / Rhodri how are you today?

7/10. Which is pretty good overall? Feel glad I’m finally releasing the debut album for Heddlu this week, not sure what the hell this record is, but to release music, is a ‘release’ in itself in a way isn’t it? I can let go of it now and move on to write something new, you can’t take it back and change/edit it, unless you’re Kanye West.

Your debut album ‘Cantref’ drops at the end of July, can you tell us what was the main ethos of the album is?

It’s a concept album of sorts about a young man washed out to sea and trapped in a sunken underwater mythological city called;Cantref Gwaelod;. Based on an old Celtic mythological tale that we all learnt in West Wales as children, it basically chronicles my ongoing battle with sever hearing problems after touring for years in loud rock bands through my 20s. SO DEEP.

How did you go about recording the ‘Cantref’ album, explain some of the processes. 

I wrote the album in my head whilst walking the entirety of the Wales coastal path, inspired by the places I visited. I still had no idea how to record the songs, until by chance I met an old retired engineer outside an abandoned recording studio in west Wales, he lent me some synths and drum machines and I went to recording it. Then the obsession and catastrophizing ensued.

What do you miss most about playing live?

Being in a room playing music with friends, an audience is a plus (if they’re into it), but ultimately there’s nothing that beats connecting with good people over good music. I hope my hearing will cover in time so that I get to do it again �

Are there any songs off your album ‘Cantref’ that stand out as personal favorites, and why? 

The instrumental ones, where I don’t sing and there aren’t any drums. This is mostly because I don’t love my own voice, and despite Adam Thomas of ‘Exit International’ and ‘Estrons’, doing an A+ job in the drums - mixing drums is quite hard and I tried my best OK.

How have you evolved as a songwriter over the last few years?

Given I can’t play live or in a room with other people at the moment due to my hearing, I’ve been recording and writing a lot on machines and in the computer. This has allowed me expand my songwriting capabilities, and an enhance understanding of production and engineering was opened my horizons in what is possible. Trying to scream louder than blaring cymbals and guitars tends to limit your songwriting palate compared to endless possibilities with computers, much as I hate them.

Are there any bands/artists that you rate / appreciate recently?

Since getting into electronic music due to my hearing being so bad that even playing acoustic guitars or unplugged electric guitars was too loud and painful, I had to learn how to use synthesizers. I’ve really gotten into ambient and atmospheric soundsmiths like Burial, Boards of Canada, Caribou as well as pioneering Welsh electronic artists like R Seiliog, Accu and Kelly Lee Owens.

Which music venue would you consider as Home and why?

The Cooper Arms, Coops, Aberystwyth. A classic West-Wales right of passage for all musicians. I can still smell the room where my first live gig ever happened. I’ve had some incredible gigs in there, as well

as absolute shockers that I’m glad no-one was there to see.

What is the kindest thing you’ve witnessed whilst being in Heddlu?

My beautiful and understanding partner Megan, putting up with me spending way too much time in my dungeon obsessively worrying about things like the mixing on the drums, I did my best OK.