Celyn of Gwent is a musical artist at the intersection between popular music and the sonic avant-garde.
A singer, songwriter, producer and composer, Celyn’s music integrates influences from electronica, underground club culture and the traditional music of the British Isles. Amongst their songs, Celyn weaves spoken word poetry and field recording composition.
A nexus between things old and new, Celyn of Gwent is a queer bard for the anthropocene.
Celyn hails from South East Wales, near where the river Usk carves out the border with England. Perhaps this explains the recurring disintegration and blurring of boundaries in their distinctive sound world.
Celyn of Gwent’s debut album ‘Dying & Rising’ is due for release Autumn 2026.
Supported by Help Musicians, Arts Council of Wales and Tŷ Cerdd.
Celyn of Gwent’s music and sound design has been presented with organisations including The Royal Ballet, Wales Millenium Centre, The National Theatre of Great Britain, S4C (Hansh), Roundhouse, Stereo (Glasgow), Duckie, Pleasance, SPILL, Corsica Studios, IKLECTIK, The Yard, The Cube (Bristol), Dalston Superstore, and Rough Trade.
Celyn’s past work has been supported by UK New Artists, Create and Arts Council England. They are a former Roundhouse Resident Artist.
Celyn graduated with Distinction from University of Glasgow’s ‘Sound Design and Audiovisual Practice’ Masters programme. They are a graduate (BMus) of Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, where they were awarded the Contemporary Vocal Prize.
Celyn of Gwent was living and working in London for a decade, where they developed their idiosyncratic music and performance practice. Their combination of music-making with cabaret and drag, established them as a fixture of London’s queer performance scene.
Celyn’s long-form performances incorporated sound design, composition, writing and ritual. These works were presented across spaces for music, theatre, cabaret, live art and clubbing, and envisaged the performance space as a site for solidarity, connection and changemaking.
Solo show ‘winegod’ (2018-20) explored the relationship between ancient and contemporary queer identities and was shown across the UK.
Photography: Konstantine Vale, Keith Bolton, Felix Lensman