Mared Williams, known professionally as Mared, is a Welsh singer-songwriter from Llannefydd, north Wales. She won the 2021 Welsh Language Album Award and has won two Y Selar Awards.
Mared Williams | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | |
| Nationality | Welsh |
| Education | Royal Academy of Music |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, Actress |
Life
editAlthough she considered studying law,[1] Mared studied music at the University of Leeds until 2018 and then a master's in musical theatre performance at the Royal Academy Of Music. She had ensemble and understudy Eponine roles in Les Misérables in the West End in 2019. Mared joined the Welsh of the West End group during the covid pandemic that has performed in concerts including at the Royal Albert Hall.[2] In a Britain's Got Talent performance with the group, Mared's vocals impressed the judges, with Simon Cowell saying that the group's performance was "exceptional".[3]
In 2018, Mared won the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod’s International Voice of Musical Theatre.[4] She then travelled to Australia to perform in the Gold Coast Eisteddfod's Musicale.[5] In the same year, she came second in the "Can i Gymru" "song for Wales") competition, coming second with the song "Byw a Bod" ("living and being").[6]
In 2020, Mared appeared in the "Dwylo Dros y Môr" ("hands across the sea") song which reached 15 on the iTunes chart.[7] In 2021, Mared had re-joine the cast of Les Misérables (musical) in London's west end.[8]
Mared won the 2021 Albwm Cymraeg y Flwyddyn ("Welsh Language Album Awards") for the album, Y Drefn ("The Order"), with I KA CHING Records label, announced live on BBC Radio Cymru.[9] The album is bilingual and includes live sessions with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.[2] In response to her winning the award, Mared said “My heart is full! Thank you so much for making my year a thousand times better." “This album means the world to me and getting this response has been so special.”[10]
In 2021, Mared won Y Selar's Award for Seren y Sîn ("star of the scene") award.[11] In the same year Mared performed in the Online covid version National Eisteddfod of Wales, "Eisteddfod AmGen".[12] She also appeared in an S4C episode of "Curadur".[13] In 2021, she also appeared in the launch of the online Urdd National Eisteddfod, Esteddfod T.[14] In the same year she appeared on Scott Quinnell's BBC Radio Wales Sunday programme to discuss her debut album.[15]
'“So I'm really proud that we can share the Welsh language and be able to create a different partnership here in New York.”[16]
In February 2023, Mared was announced as Y Selar's best solo artist of the year.[17]
Personal life
editAs of 2022 Williams was dividing her time between Llannefydd and London.[2]
Discography
editSingles
edit| Year | Title | Label | Album/ EP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | "Dal ar y Teimlad" | I KA CHING | Y Drefn |
| 2019 | "Y Reddf" | I KA CHING | Y Drefn |
| 2020 | "Over Again" | I KA CHING | Y Drefn |
| 2020 | "Pontydd" | I KA CHING | Y Drefn |
| 2020 | ''Rhwng Bethlehem A'r Groes'' | Côsh Records | |
| 2021 | ''Llif yr Awr'' | I KA CHING | |
| 2021 | ''Pictures'' | Something Worth Losing | |
| 2022 | ''Let Me Go'' | Something Worth Losing | |
| 2022 | ''I Don't Wanna Know'' | Something Worth Losing |
Albums and EP
edit| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Y Drefn | I KA CHING |
| 2022 | Something Worth Losing |
Theatre
edit| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Hwn yw fy mrawd | Ensemble |
| 2019-2020, 2021-2022 | Les Misérables | Ensemble and understudy Eponine |
| 2023 | For Tonight | Mrs Lewis/ Landlady |
| Branwen/ Dadeni | Branwen |
References
edit- ^ "Ateb y Galw: Mared Williams". BBC Cymru Fyw (in Welsh). 2022-12-05. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ a b c Howkins, Jane (2022-06-24). "Mared Williams Announces Leeds Date & EP". York Calling. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ Owen, Annie (2022-05-22). "Britain's Got Talent judges wowed by 'pitch perfect' North Wales singers". North Wales Live. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ marketing (2018-07-05). "Mared Williams Named International Voice of Musical Theatre 2018". Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
- ^ "Llanefydd singing sensation Mared Williams wows crowds 'Down Under'". Denbighshire Free Press. 5 November 2018. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
- ^ Trewyn, Hywel (2018-03-05). "Victory's a family affair for father and son in Cân i Gymru 2018". North Wales Live. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
- ^ "Press | S4C". www.s4c.cymru. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
- ^ "3 Llun: Lluniau pwysicaf Mared Williams". BBC Cymru Fyw (in Welsh). 2021-10-20. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
- ^ "Mared wins this year's Welsh Language Album of the Year Award | National Eisteddfod". eisteddfod.wales. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ "Mared's 'Y Drefn' wins Welsh Language Album of the Year Award". Nation.Cymru. 2021-08-07. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ "Pwy oedd yn fuddugol yng Ngwobrau'r Selar 2021?". BBC Cymru Fyw (in Welsh). 2021-02-12. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ "Albwm y Flwyddyn: 'Profiad bythgofiadwy' Mared Williams". BBC Cymru Fyw (in Welsh). 2021-08-06. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ "S4C - Curadur, Cyfres 2, Mared Williams". BBC (in Welsh). Retrieved 2023-03-05.
- ^ "Mared Williams ac Arwel Lloyd yn lansio Eisteddfod T yr Urdd eleni". Golwg360 (in Welsh). 2021-05-07. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
- ^ "BBC Radio Wales - Sunday Morning with Scott Quinnell & Co, George North, David Gray, Matt Dawson & Mared Williams join Scott". BBC. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
- ^ "S4C to host Wales v USA concert on New York's Times Square tonight and hand Rob and Ryan national award". Nation.Cymru. 2022-11-14. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ "Enillwyr Gwobrau'r Selar 2022". BBC Cymru Fyw (in Welsh). 2023-02-24. Retrieved 2023-02-28.