Welsh Music Wednesday
Helo pawb, mae'n dydd Mawrth, so mae recs cerddoriaeth i chi gyda fi. I have a been recommending a cool Welsh artist that I've been enjoying for the last few weeks, and today I've got the Welsh band Chroma for you.
CHROMA as they stylise their name, are a Welsh alt rock trio from Pontypridd. They've been going since about 2015-16, and over the years as their songwriting has evolved, they have become a heavier, more flourished rock band, finally releasing their debut album Ask For Angela in 2023 on Alcopop! Records (for my money, one of the coolest indie labels in the UK for the bands on their roster. They're based in London, so not specifically a Welsh label or anything, I just think they have some cool artists if you're into alternative music).
The album title refers to a campaign started in the UK where a person could go up to a bartender or shopkeep and 'ask for Angela' as a codeword that did not feel safe. It was also started in a number of grocery stores in Toronto, Canada in 2024.
The album, a culmination of about 7 years of work, touched upon themes of feminism, pro-trans and queer songs, women supporting each other, on life as a young adult, dealing with mental health issues, relationships and much more. There's a song on it, ‘Bombs Away’, that Katie Hall said was just her tribute to My Chemical Romance in wanting to make a breakup song where you could just let go.
It's a fantastic album, it was rightly shortlisted for the Welsh Music Prize last year where CHROMA briefly performed, and they were chosen by Foo Fighters to open for them at Old Trafford in Manchester (and had a shock receiving that phone call— I was chatting to a similar young and impressive band that got the sudden call from the Foos in Montreal, and they thought they were being scammed at first!)
Anyway. CHROMA did a live session for Lŵp a couple of years ago at Focus Wales that's really worth a watch, I want to single out a song but they're all so good (okay fine ‘Tair Ferch Doeth’). The whole session is 15 minutes, and worth every minute.
But if there's one just song you hear from the album, I recommend ‘Woman To Woman’, the song about feminist infighting and backing other women, this is from a studio session CHROMA did. It's so powerful, and it's insane that they don't have a guitarist. They're just vocals, bass and drums. And Katie Hall's vocals on this version are really good.
Their debut album is on Bandcamp on Alcopop's page, so if you'd like to buy the album, check them out here:
