BERWYN
RELEASES BRAND NEW TRACK “NEIGHBOURS”
OUT NOW ON COLUMBIA RECORDS
LISTEN HERE
It’s been four years since the world was first introduced to the uncompromising creativity and personal struggle that fuels BERWYN’s music – across one EP, two mixtapes, a Mercury Prize Nomination and that Jools Holland performance, anticipation has been growing for what happens next… but for anyone that follows BERWYN online, it’s no secret that he’s been working on what is one of the UK (and beyonds)’s most highly anticipated debut albums.
Today, the multi-genre musician emerges briefly from the studio to release ‘Neighbours’, a reminder of why he’s one of Britain’s most thrilling and unique creative voices. Fans have already experienced a more dance-floor oriented incarnation of the track via Fred again.. who released a version earlier this month as part of his ongoing USB album series as well as being a staple part of Fred’s live sets around the globe for the past year. Having already dubbed him ‘one of the best storytellers in the world today’, Fred started his relationship with BERWYN when including his vocals on the track ‘Berwyn (all that I got is you)’ back in 2022 and the pair have been collaborating behind the scene ever since – having also produced the version of ‘Neighbours’ released today, he reworked the vocal line and layered it over a bootleg he’d created of Gestafalstein’s ‘Destinations’ with spellbinding effect.
‘Neighbours’ marks the start of a fresh new chapter for BERWYN – still overflowing with heart and soul, but now with a new found defiance; ‘Neighbours’ perfectly encapsulates the feeling of when the world only exists for two people – in that moment, nothing else matters. Speaking about the track BERWYN writes: "Neighbours is a song about the liberation love brings you in this suffocating world. It sounds like it doesn’t care who’s around. The best feeling in the world. I wrote this one with Fred in his living room with the volume all the way up!”
Listen to ‘Neighbours’ here: https://Berwyn.lnk.to/neighbours
ABOUT BERWYN
Having moved from Trinidad to Romford at the age of nine (the third generation of his family to make the move) BERWYN took just two weeks to write and record his debut mixtape, DEMOTAPE/VEGA, but it distils a lifetime of experiences existing on the fringes of London life. It’s raw and authentic, both lyrically and sonically, each song revealing further layers of Berwyn’s life. If you want to know Berwyn’s story, it’s all there in Vega’s tales of hope, hustle and struggle.
BERWYN was never meant to make a mixtape. He was supposed to leave London, return to his motherland of Trinidad and forget about the last few years. He’d gotten himself into trouble, living a life that “felt like dancing on the edge of a knife.” He knew if he kept going out onto the streets then something would happen. So he locked himself away for two weeks in a “shithole flat” and on a diet of toast, weed and insomnia – began writing and recording the music that would become Vega. Despite hardship, Berwyn is a natural optimist but this was effectively a last roll of the dice.
Following the mixtape’s release came the decision to add a spontaneous verse to his performance of ‘Glory’ in reaction to George Floyd’s death the night before it aired on the infamous ‘Later… with Jools Holland’ – a statement of intent that marked BERWYN our as one of the most exciting talents making music today.
From that moment onwards, he honed his skills as a singer, songwriter, producer and collaborator by channelling raw and authentic experiences of London life into his music – a process that awarded him widespread acclaim including a top three finish in the BBC’s ‘Sound Of’ poll, a Mercury Prize shortlist, MOBO nominations and an NME Award. Across the last 4 years he’s release two mixtapes DEMOTAPE/VEGA and TAPE2/FOMALHAUT, and the diverse EP ‘Bulletproof’ – inspired by his return to his Trinidadian birthplace following years of passport and visa issues that had shadowed him since arriving in the UK.
Having already made such an indelible mark on British music in such a few years, BERWYN is now preparing to release his debut album. He has made a fiercely political and personal record that embodies everything that makes an artist truly exciting in 2024; he’s an authentic and uncompromising creative force, constantly evolving and blurring boundaries as he moves from rap, R&B, spoken word and poetry with an almost effortless fluidity.
FOLLOW BERWYN ONLINE
My life is a soundtrack, i track my life through music, photography is my passion, my escape, my expression. Without both i have pieces missing, thankfully i’m blessed and get to combine both.
Born in Manchester, lived in Australia for 22 years where i was heavily involved in the Australian Music Industry, firstly in bands (Singer) and then managing bands (all original), I moved back to the UK, Wales specifically 10 years ago
