Cerys Matthews Interview

Cerys Matthews has just finished her afternoon DJ slot on the BBC’s 6Music station and she’s on her way home. As home is split between Pembrokeshire and London, she’s sat in the back of a black cab that’s stuck in traffic on the West End. “It couldn’t get any more glamorous could it?” she jokes.

Cerys’ forthcoming album, Don’t Look Down, is released October 5th, and a single Arlington Way released September 28th. With a UK tour to coincide with the release and news that she’s to become a mother for a third time, Cerys is eager to get things moving, “You have some questions for me, right? OK, fire away then…”

Did you always want to be a musician from a young age?

I couldn’t envisage doing anything else to be honest – whether I was making a living from it or not. It just makes everything seem OK. Some people feel the same way about fishing, reading, cooking or long distance running – my thing just happens to be music.

You spent years trying to make it and then broke through with International Velvet – was it all a bit of an anti-climax?

Looking back on it all I just wish I’d spent more time appreciating the moment and what we (Catatonia) had achieved. I think there were times when we all just got caught up in the 24 hour work and the travelling. We’d be flying to places like Japan and finding ourselves on hotel rooftops in L.A but be totally oblivious to what we were actually doing. George Bernard Shaw was right - youth is wasted on the young.

You turned 40 earlier this year. How did you celebrate?

Myself, family and friends had a tri-city celebration between Luton, Nashville and New York. We went to see Les Paul at the Iridium Club in New York – he died a few months after that show. He was such a pioneer and incredibly influential on the sound of what we now know as modern music.

Is there anyone else you’d like to work with?

I haven’t got a burning desire to work with anyone in particular, but ive always loved seeing what happens and collaborating with other musicans. I’ve been lucky enough to work with David ’Hoenyboy" Edwards, Tom Jones, Larry Adler and many more people like (Super Furry Animals’ lead singer) Gruff Rhys. I just enjoy playing music, and that’s even better in the company of other musicians too.

You’ve decided to release your forthcoming album Don’t Look Down in both Welsh and English - why?

I’d already released a mini-album in Welsh and English (Awyren = Aeroplane in 2007) but wanted to push myself further. As far as I’m aware, this is the first time a full length album has been released in both languages simultaneously. I enjoyed doing Awyren a lot, it even won me an Eisteddfod prize for contemporary compostition, along with the other prize winner Karl Jenkins OBE.

I travelled between Providence, Rhode Island, Nashville, Seattle and London to record. I don’t have a set itinerary but I always like to record my vocals in Beech St Studios, Nashville with Mark Nevers at the recording desk. Mark also works with Candi Statton, Lambchop and Charlie Louvin (of the Louvin Brothers)in the same studio, surrounded by vintage equipment, and erm, a guinea pig.

You’ll be about six months pregnant when the tour starts in October - any cravings on the road?

I don’t have any extravagant requests for the rider on tour – as long as I’ve got plenty of tomatoes, jalapenos and pickled cabbages I’ll be fine. The rest of the band can have whatever’s left over (laughs). I’ve been on tour before with a small baby inside me so I know what to expect.

Your show is going to be split into two full performances – so it will be the equivalent of playing 22 gigs in 14 days.

That’s funny– though not quite true- I love doing theatre shows and I like to request the theatre tradition of a show with 2 halves, with an interval for a G & T or packet of crisps in between.

It will be me playing guitar and xylophone, melodica and mouth harmonica, plus teel on pedal steel and guitar, and mason on small drum kit plus various other instruments. its a great chance to play around with old and new songs, some Catatonia some solo songs and some classic songs like love me tender by Elvis. Mason’s the best drummer I’ve played with - I found him after playing with 21 drummers since i moved to Nashville, trying to find the right feel.

That all sounds a bit Spinal Tap doesn’t it?

(Laughs) Yeah I guess it does! I love that film.

What do you think of the current influx of female-fronted bands? 

I dont like to assess bands, music nor life in general by judging by sex alone. but if youre asking I’ll say that I do happen to be a fan of Florence and the Machine and Mary Epworth and also Alessi’s Ark whose joining us for the London show on the 21st. 

I’m in a wonderful position at the minute to come across new artisits too, with my radio show on BBC 6Music. Paul Rodgers and the whole BBC team have trusted me with choosing the music I love to play every afternoon 1 - 4 Monday till Friday including having live bands in the studio and also going on virtual radio road trips. This means I can play music from all genres, from all parts of the world, from all eras.

You recently presented a show on the Welsh singer Dorothy Squires - how much of an influence has she had on your character?

BBC Wales approached me about making the programme so I can’t claim it was my idea to highlight such a colourful Welsh performer. I wasn’t aware of Dorothy before that but having looked back on her life I can see why they chose me to present the programme.

I have to be careful about how I answer this (pauses), I guess we shared the same passion for life (laughs). Her final years were spent living as a recluse in the Rhondda – such a sad end for someone who used to be one of the countries biggest entertainers.

On the rare time you have a day off what do you get up to in Pembrokeshire?

I’m split between London and Pembrokeshire at the moment but the first thing I do when I get back to West Wales is to walk the cliffs. It feels like the end or the beginning of the world standing there facing the Irish Sea. Then when we’ve relaxed enough we go with friends in the local pub for a drink.

What’s your poison these days?

It’ll have to be a sparkling water for now (laughs), cheese, red cabbage pickled and biscuits with a lovely cup of tea.

Cerys Matthews’ album Don’t Look Down is released on October 5th. Cerys will be touring in Wales and England throughout October - for further information on tour dates click here.

Michael Took