“Doing good in any capacity is important”: WILL YOUNG on raising awareness of animal testing in Britain
Will Young spoke to Buzz about a cause close to his heart – the breeding of puppies for medical science purposes, and his petition to outlaw it.
Interviews
PENDERYN distillers, blenders and managers explain why Welsh whisky is women’s work
Three Penderyn Distillery staff – master blender Aista Phillips, distiller Bethan Lewis and general manager Laura Davies – discusspuncturing the spirit’s blokey image.
CARLY-SOPHIA DAVIES on acting with Tilda Swinton under Joanna Hogg’s directorial gaze
Port Talbot actor Carly-Sophia Davies speaks to Keiron Self about her feature film debut The Eternal Daughter, alongside Tilda Swinton and directed by Joanna Hogg.
“I struggle with ego a lot” – MINAS debuts WAITING ROOM: a two-day theatrical showcase in Cardiff
Ahead of a weekend that sees Waiting Room, an ambitious two-day theatrical showcase of some of his favourite new acts (plus himself…), in Cardiff’s Cultvr Lab venue, James Minas tells Buzz’s Teresa Delfino about it all.
Don’t call it a comeback: SKINDRED ride again
From a tour with US rock gods Kiss to the upper echelons of the UK album charts, 2023 has been one to remember for Newport ragga metallers Skindred.
“It’s all or nothing”: EMPIRE STATE BASTARD aren’t resting on legacy
Empire State Bastard, passion project of Biffy Clyro’s Simon Neil and Mike Vennart offer a visceral attack on the aural senses, and play their first ever Wales show this month.
“I’m so proud of our little band” – HAIRCUT 100: Nick Heyward & Les Nemes reflect on 40 years of PELICAN WEST
Haircut 100 blazed into the early 1980s. Now on their first tour in 40 years, Billy Edwards speaks to frontman Nick Heyward and bassist Les Nemes on their revived fortune.
“Our name means lightning and it never strikes twice” – one to watch: MELLT
Titled Dim Dwywaith (Not Twice), slacker rockers Mellt's new record features accounts of adulthood, Welsh identity and technological development. The band told Emma Way more about it.
From SMACK THE PONY to stand-up: FIONA ALLEN’s “hectic” career renaissance
Fiona Allen tells Billy Edwards about her journey from TV to stand-up comedy in the midst of a "hectic" run of successful Fringe shows.
Unmasking the surreal: Manon Steffan Ros & Steffan Donnelly on first Welsh translation of Ionesco’s RHINOCEROS
Discover the surreal world of Rhinoceros as Manon Steffan Ros and Steffan Donnelly share insights into the play's modern relevance and transformation.
“It’s the holy grail” – WILLIE J HEALEY on the soul of his music, supporting FLORENCE + THE MACHINE, playing Cardiff
Willie J Healey's vintage-sounding musical combo of pop, funk and soul is taking him places – most immediately Cardiff’s Sŵn Festival, where he kicks off his UK tour.
Things that made me: JULIAN MARLEY on his go-to meal and favourite of his father’s songs
One of Bob Marley's many musical sons, the philanthropic Julian Marley answers our trademark Things That Made Me questions ahead of two Welsh live dates.
“We didn’t want our first show back to be a fast failure” – KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES’ ALED PHILLIPS on band’s unlikely big comeback
15 years since their debut album’s release, Kids In Glass Houses are getting the band back together. Vocalist Aled Phillips tells us what the experience has been like.
Entrepreneur HELEN ROSE hated Welsh in school – now, she’s helping overseas learners
Like almost 10% of Welsh speakers in Wales, Siop Dwt’s Helen Rose’s love for her ancestral tongue came later in life. Now, she's keen to help others discover it for themselves.
FILKIN’S DRIFT: the folk band touring the Welsh coastal path – on foot
As Filkin’s Drift embark on an eco-friendly musical journey, walking the Welsh coast, discover their unique tour experience in our chat with the artists.
“I’m serving myself up before anyone else critiques me” – BAXTER DURY on Welsh links, rap & nepotism
Teresa Delfino speaks to Baxter Dury about his parental connections – and not the one you might think – rap leanings and the positive side of nerves.
Black magic, cannibalism & surgery: RHYS EDWARDS on north Walian true crime film, THE REV
A harrowing, scandalous north Walian crime gets the drama documentary treatment in The Rev, an intriguing new take on an ‘urban myth’.
“We write in albums for people to listen to as a whole” – Ones to watch: THE BUG CLUB
New double LP Rare Birds: Hour Of Song finds Caldicot's The Bug Club testing out poetry and narration. Emma Way spoke to Sam and Tilly from the band.
Married by music: BBC NOW power couple Laura Sinnerton & Daniel Trodden
Emma Way uncovers the shared musical journey of couple Laura Sinnerton and Daniel Trodden, from teaching each other instruments during lockdown to their roles in BBC NOW's community engagement ahead of the orchestra’s new season.
“It’s not a parasocial relationship with audiences, it’s a social relationship” – meet the UK’s funniest agony aunt, MYRA DUBOIS
UK comedy mainstay Myra Dubois is back in Cardiff with self-help-themed show Be Well – with an agony aunt angle that shows how many strings are in the Yorkshire comic’s bow.
“If you enjoy a story in this book, tell it” – DANIEL MORDEN on new folklore collection, STRANGE TALES
Strange Tales, the latest collection from Daniel Morden, is made up of stories from folklore across the globe. As he tells Hari Berrow, he hopes they'll something for old and young alike.
JORDAN GRAY: “I’m a comedian first, transgender second”
With her upcoming music and comedy tour Is It A Bird? touching down in Cardiff this month, comedian Jordan Gray discussed the ins and outs of her creative process.
Cinematographer NICOLE HIRSCH WHITAKER breaks down the visual magic behind ONE PIECE live-action
Set sail into the visual world of One Piece live-action with cinematographer, Nicole Hirsch Whitaker, who tells us about the inspirations and future of this ambitious adaptation.
“I feel I need to impress Cardiff – maybe I’ll do a handstand” – RICHARD COLES, from vicar to national trinket
Ahead of his first-ever UK tour, Borderline National Trinket, Richard Coles opens up about sexuality, being mistaken for a member of The Housemartins, and his love for village gossip.