Don Leisure Digs Deep to Win Welsh Music Prize with Fresh Beats

Don Leisure, also known as Aly Jamal, has won the Welsh Music Prize for his album Tyrchu Sain, which celebrates the rich history of Welsh music. The award ceremony took place at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff, where Don Leisure received the £10,000 prize for the best album. He described the win as 'mind-blowing' and shared that his daughter was excited to show off the award at school. Wearing a black t-shirt, blue denim jacket, and a hat, Don Leisure proudly held his white and silver trophy while the audience applauded.

The album Tyrchu Sain is unique because Don Leisure explored the archives of Sain Records, digging through old recordings to create new music for today's listeners. The word 'trychu' means digging, and the album is a tribute to the legacy of Welsh music, reframing it for a new generation. The project features collaborations with previous Welsh Music Prize winners like Gruff Rhys and Boy Azooga's Dave Newington. Don Leisure explained that making the album was a journey of discovery, and he always asks himself if a song would work as a hip hop sample. He continues to find amazing Welsh music from all genres.

The shortlist for the Welsh Music Prize included many talented artists such as Adwaith, Breichiau Hir, Buddug, Cerys Hafana, Kelly Lee Owens, KEYS, Melin Melyn, Panic Shack, Sage Todz, Siula, Tai Haf Heb Drigolyn, The Gentle Good, and The Tubs. The event also honored Cardiff musician Pino Palladino with the Welsh Music Inspiration Award. Palladino, who has played bass for The Who, Elton John, and Adele, said that his long career was possible thanks to a supportive team and that he still enjoys making music.

Over the weekend, Cardiff hosted the first Black Welsh Music Awards, celebrating diversity and talent in the local music scene. Lily Beau won Best New Artist and expressed her joy on social media, calling the recognition 'indescribable. ' Kima Otung won Best Single and thanked everyone who streamed her song. The awards recognized artists in various categories: Aleighcia Scott for Welsh language track, Danorano for Afrobeats, MissFaithHee for R&B/Soul, Soel Music for Gospel, Reuel Elijah for Reggae, Lily Beau for New Artist, and Kima Otung for Single.

The Welsh music community came together to celebrate creativity and achievement, showing that Wales is home to many gifted musicians. The awards highlighted the importance of honoring both established and emerging artists, and the excitement at the events reflected the pride and passion of everyone involved.