IT WOULD be hard to find someone with a busier schedule than Cerys Matthews.

She has just released the second single off her fourth solo album, Don’t Look Down, is about to embark on a 10-date album tour, has another album coming out at the end of the month, and is also set to host her own radio show. But the Welsh singer couldn’t sound happier at the prospect.

Speaking to the County Times ahead of her performance at the Wyeside in Builth Wells on Wednesday, April 14, Cerys was full of anticipation for the coming weeks.
“I’m looking forward to getting back on tour. I love touring and this is the first one to sell out which makes it even better.

“The performances are going to be really intimate and there will be a lot of laughs between songs. I like audiences to chatter and get involved with the music.”

The 10-date tour includes six different venues in Wales. Asked whether she prefers playing in her homeland, Cerys said: “I love going home. I love being in Wales so any excuse really.”

Don’t Look Down sees Cerys take inspiration from the likes of Burt Bacharach to create what she describes as a much more cinematic sound.

“I like to always try new ground. Not to be extreme but I like to do something new each time I record. This album is a lot more cinematic – think Burt Bacharach – with some interesting topics like spiders, aeroplanes and down the River Nile.
“They say it is the best I have done so I’m very pleased with that.”

But one album and a tour is not enough for the former Catatonia singer who is also releasing an album of Welsh songs in the next few weeks.

“I’ve got a new album coming out at the end of March or beginning of April. It is a collection of iconic Welsh songs, with information about where they are from and when they date back to.”

And just in case she had a spare moment in her diary, Cerys is also taking on a new Sunday morning show on digital radio station BBC 6 Music, which starts on Easter Sunday, April 4.

This new programme follows her successful stint covering for Nemone in the weekday 1pm-4pm slot last year. The future of the radio station has been under threat in recent weeks following a review of the broadcaster’s various services.

“I am very disappointed that they are proposing shutting down 6 Music. It is a fantastic station, Radio 4 for music fans. It has a really enlightened audience and I think the BBC Trust has been overwhelmed by the backlash to the plans.

“If you don’t want to see the BBC dumbed down and appealing only to mainstream tastes then it is important that you let the BBC know. It is the best thing we have got. Having been away from the UK for so long it has made me appreciate what we have with the BBC.”