Georgia Ruth

Georgia Ruth Williams
Background information
Born (1988-01-05) 5 January 1988[1]
Llantwit Major, Wales
Genres Folk, indie pop
Occupation(s) Songwriter, musician, radio presenter
Instruments Vocals, harp, keyboards
Years active 2008–present
Labels Gwymon
Associated acts Richard James, Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog, Y Niwl, Manic Street Preachers, Jinnwoo
Website georgiaruthmusic.co.uk

Georgia Ruth Williams (born 5 January 1988) is a singer-songwriter and harpist originally from Aberystwyth, Wales. She sings in both English and Welsh.

Early life

Born in Llantwit Major in South Wales, Williams moved with her family to Aberystwyth when she was 4 years old, and she was educated bilingually in English and Welsh, though her parents were not Welsh speakers.

Choosing to learn the harp at the age of 7, Williams began to play her own music independently whilst studying English Literature at the University of Cambridge. Her early recordings were sent to BBC Radio Wales's Adam Walton, and acclaim led to an early BBC Introducing appearance at the Glastonbury Festival in 2008.[2] Following graduation in 2009, Williams, based in both London and Caernarfon, wrote and performed further works in hope of attracting greater attention to her material.

Music career

Williams's first official release was a vinyl issue EP, In Luna, released by Gwymon in 2011 on limited edition 10" vinyl. Engineered and produced by David Wrench at the Bryn Derwen Recording Studio in Snowdonia, the EP features Pete Richardson from Y Niwl on drums and Pete Walton on double bass.

The EP drew acclaim and praise from reviewers and DJs alike and gained radio airplay from Huw Stephens and Steve Lamacq. This led to an appearance at the Green Man Festival in 2012. She also performed at the festival in 2014 and 2015.[3]

The first album from Williams, Week of Pines, was released by Gwymon in 2013. Utilising Dafydd Hughes, Iwan Hughes and Aled Hughes from acclaimed North Welsh band Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog, the record was once more engineered, produced and mixed by David Wrench at the Bryn Derwen Recording Studio.

Music from the album gained significant radio airplay from Adam Walton and Bethan Elfyn on BBC Radio Wales, Huw Stephens on BBC Radio 1, Steve Lamacq[4] and Tom Robinson on BBC Radio 6 Music and Simon Raymonde on Amazing Radio. Additional live sessions were recorded on 6 Music with Lauren Laverne[5] with interviews on BBC Radio Cymru.[6]

The album was further promoted by live appearances at Festival N°6,[7] BBC Introducing on BBC Radio 2 in Hyde Park,[8] Latitude Festival and WOMEX in Cardiff (2013).[9] 2014 saw an appearance for a Radio 2 session with Bob Harris[10] and a collaboration[11] with Newport-based Ballet Cymru at the Riverfront Arts Centre, in which a live performance of tracks from the album was interpreted by the company's dancers.

Williams made a guest appearance on Divine Youth, a track on the Manic Street Preachers album Futurology in 2014. She was also involved in the Ghazalaw project with Gwyneth Glyn and Tauseef Akhtar, whose debut album was released in 2015 on Cerys Matthews's label Marvels of the Universe.

Williams features on numerous tracks on British folk artist Jinnwoo's debut record Strangers Bring Me No Light, released 2 September 2016.

Williams's second full-length album, Fossil Scale, was released by Navigator on 7 October 2016.

Broadcasting

Williams provided cover for Bethan Elfyn on her BBC Radio Wales show[12] and currently presents the Tuesday night slot of C2 on BBC Radio Cymru (Thursday nights until April 2016), featuring contemporary Welsh-language music, news and interviews.

Personal life

Williams is married to musician Iwan Hughes (Huws) from Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog. They share their time between Cardiff and Caernarfon. They have a son, born in 2017.

Awards

Week of Pines was awarded the Welsh Music Prize for 2013.[13] Williams was nominated for the Horizon Music Prize in the 2014 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.[14] Williams's second album, Fossil Scale, was nominated for the Welsh Music Prize in 2017; the winning album, The Gentle Good's Ruins/Adfeilion, features Williams on harp and backing vocals.

Solo discography

EPs

  • In Luna (Gwymon, 2011)

Albums

  • Week of Pines (Gwymon, 2013)
  • Fossil Scale (Navigator, 2016)

References

  1. ↑ https://twitter.com/georgiaruth/status/949201746567581696
  2. ↑ "BBC Music - Glastonbury, 2008, Georgia Ruth Williams - Ocean". BBC.
  3. ↑ "Green Man Festival". Green Man Festival. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014.
  4. ↑ "BBC Radio 6 Music - Steve Lamacq, With Georgia Ruth". BBC.
  5. ↑ "BBC Radio 6 Music - Lauren Laverne, 12/08/2013, Georgia Ruth performs live in session for Lauren Laverne". BBC.
  6. ↑ "BBC Radio Cymru - C2, Georgia Ruth, 05/09/2013". BBC.
  7. ↑ http://www.festivalnumber6.com/music/view/536
  8. ↑ "BBC Radio 2 - Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park, 2013, Georgia Ruth - Winter at Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park". BBC.
  9. ↑ "Georgia Ruth". womex.com.
  10. ↑ http://www.bbc-now.co.uk/programmes/b04002jn
  11. ↑ http://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/arts-culture-news/ballet-cymru-brings-georgia-ruths-7017152
  12. ↑ "BBC Radio Wales - Bethan Elfyn, Georgia Ruth Williams sits in". BBC.
  13. ↑ Owens, David (17 October 2013). "Georgia Ruth named as winner of 2013 Welsh Music Prize". Western Mail. Cardiff: Media Wales. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  14. ↑ "BBC Radio 2 - BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, 2014 - Winners". BBC.
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