Interview: Al Lewis
Al Lewis began his musical career in his homeland Wales back in 2007 with the debut singles “Waiting for You” and “I’ll be the Moon” and a welsh language EP entitled Byw mewn Breuddwyd on his own label.
Since then he have released two further EPs: “Dilyn Pob Cam” and “One Way Love Affair” and two full length albums “Sawl Ffordd Allan”, and received good exposure on BBC’s 6music.
His last album “In The Wake” was released last year, and it gives you a folk inspired album with some lovely and easy listening vocals.
Firstly; who is Al Lewis?
I’m a singer/songwriter from the Lleyn Peninsula in North Wales – I grew up speaking Welsh at home, it’s a very isolated and secluded place which makes it perfect for writing songs and contemplating life & love etc!
Having come back from spending a year living in Toulouse in France I decided that music was my one true passion and that I would pursue a career as a singer/songwriter.
What’s your musical background?
I never did music academically whilst in school. I never took any exams or anything but I was in bands in school and whilst at University,
then after I left University my first two releases were two EPs on my own label in the Welsh language!
What can you tell us about your latest album ‘In the Wake’?
‘In the Wake’ is an amalgamation of several different recording sessions and EPs that I released over the past couple of years.
Im really proud of how it turned out as I think the songs and the recordings are a good reflection of where I was and what I was feeling at the time – it’s a sombre record but hopefully uplifting as well!
Make a Little Room
How do you promote your music?
As with most musicians these days I’ve had to become an expert in social-networking sites! So I tweet, blog, you name it!
I also find going out and playing live is still a great (if not the best) way of getting your music out there and heard!
What kind of music do you listen to when you’re not playing your own?
I love the singer/songwriter genre and I love anything from the Deep South of America – so Old-School Rhythm n’Blues.
My favourite artists are people such as Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, Wilco, Ryan Adams….
What TV show would you like to see your music featured on?
Mad Men – I’m currently obsessed with this show – Im slowly catching up-to-date with what series is now on TV so to get featured on there would be amazing!
Do you prefer playing live or recording?
At the moment ‘live’ because that’s what I’ve been doing for the past month – playing in Caffè Nero coffee shops all over the country as their ‘artist of the month’ which had been a real pleasurable experience!
What’s the best piece of praise you’ve received so far?
The Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens once commented that I was a ‘stop what you’re doing and take proper note’ singer
What’ve you been up to the last 12 months?
As well as promoting ‘In the Wake’ – Ive also been busy in the studio back home in Wales recording my second Welsh language album ‘Ar Gof a Chadw’ along with my band which is due for release later this spring.
And what are your plans for 2011?
Continue touring to help promote ‘In the Wake’ – hopefully do some festivals in the summer and then in the autumn start thinking about recording english album no#2!
Follow Al Lewis on Last.fm, Facebook and his website.
