The digital home of Welsh culture.

The Gentle Good – Tachwedd

Written in an off-grid cottage during a year-long residency in the Cambrian Mountains, The Gentle Good’s new album ‘Elan’ is a psychedelic portrait of the Elan Valley in Powys, Wales. Featuring songs in both Welsh and English, ‘Elan’ explores the landscape, history and politics of this remote valley, which was flooded to provide water for Birmingham at the end of the Victorian era. The first single from the album, ‘Tachwedd’ (Welsh for November) is an upbeat psychedelic celebration of autumn and a reminder to hold onto the light through the coming dark

EXCLUSIVE : GAFF ‘Chefchaouen’ video premiere

We may be heading toward end-of-year list time, but quality albums are still drifting down on us like autumn leaves. The forthcoming Escapism from GAFF, multi-instrumentalist and former guitarist in Race Horses Alan Gaffey, is a case in point. Tomorrow, second single ‘Chefchaouen’ the follow up to ‘If You Know, You Know’ is shared, and […]

GAFF – Chefchaouen

From the album ‘Escapism’ – out Dec 6 on Recordiau Côsh Records.

Music by GAFF.

Video by Nic Finch.

Talulah – Galaru

Alawon jazzy, breuddwydiol a chymysgu iaith a genre yw’r elfennau nodweddiadol i’w disgrifio yng ngwaith yr artist unigryw, Talulah. Nhw oedd enillydd haeddiannol gwobr Triskel yn seremoni Welsh Music Prize yn 2023, gan fynd o nerth i nerth ers hynny a rhyddhau eu EP cyntaf yn ddiweddar.

Dyma fideo cerddorol i gyd-fynd â’r trac ‘Galaru’ o’r EP – ‘Solas’ sy’n edrych ar bŵer mewn pherthynas, a hunaniaeth.

SHLUG + Bad Shout + Lacross Club + MORN Tickets

Saturday 14 December 2024
Doors Open: 19:30
Starts: 20:00

Tickets 

SHLUG // BAD SHOUT // LACROSS CLUB

“An industrial meat grinder lugging noise between the teeth of gears.”

December marks the overdue return of SHLUG to CWRW – better still, they’ll have Bad Shout and Lacross Club in tow.

The death-coaster that is SHLUG is the unmusical bone saw of mechanical dissonances and distortions with a dubious and violent soundscape prepared to make your eardrums shatter and bleed. The noisy cutthroat non-barbershop quartet create an industrial atmosphere that will evoke primal instincts to its captivated audience, turning CWRW into a pit of rabid dogs. After the success of The Scent of Roy Keane and Self-Hate Portrait came BF/FM and Baby Teef, then debut EP Split The Grin. Don’t trust us, listen to these clever folk:

CLASH Magazine – Tom Morgan

“The abrasive and downright-feral SHLUG are, on the surface, not the band you’d expect to serve as the city’s de facto scene leaders. Think of them as the reprobate older brothers who bought you booze when you were underage. Their noise-rock/post–punk brew is best consumed live. Transgressive and primal fun from a band that have become a totem of Cardiff’s music scene.”

Buzz Magazine – Emma Way

“An ensemble who could have stepped out of the 1980s LA punk scene, in their weight SHLUG bring endless, side-splitting, noisy immediacy; on a floor-level stage like this one, it’s concentrated like a bubble about to explode at any given minute.”

BBC Radio Wales – Adam Walton

“They’re concentrating on noise, the refining noise. They’re making noise even darker and fuzzier than it’s been before. Sharp, blistering and everything I love about noisy music.”

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Bad Shout are exponents of raw, howling pync Cymraeg! Think The Damned meets early Husker Du with flecks of Oi and 60s garage…frenzied old-school punk rock!

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Lacross Club play loud, fast, catchy punk music that will make you break everything.

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RHYDD – BETSAN

Côsh Records is delighted to announce that singer-songwriter, Betsan, is joining the label ahead of her new creative chapter as an artist.

Out now on all streaming platforms, ‘Rhydd’ is the first in a series of singles that Betsan will release over the coming months. Here’s a special video, funded by Lŵp and PYST Music Video Fund, to accompany the track.

Mari Mathias a Lo-Fi Jones

16/11/24 7:30yh

Tickets HERE

We are delighted to present an evening of contemporary folk music in partnership with ‘Y Parlwr’

Mari Mathias won the prize for ‘Best Welsh Traditional Song’ at the Welsh Folk Awards in 2023 and Lo-Fi Jones won the Battle of the Folk Bands at The National Eisteddfod in 2023.

General Admission £12 Concession £10

Baudelaire + FUBELT + Marionette Tickets

Baudelaire are a six-piece post-punk band from Birmingham. Through noisy, goth-tinged soundscapes, they write songs about the darker side of the human condition. Their previous singles have received airplay from BBC Introducing and BBC Radio 6 and they’ve supported artists including Frank Turner, Heartworms, Crows and Egyptian Blue. They’ve headlined sold out shows in Birmingham and Paris.

Baudelaire’s next single drops on October 4th. ‘No Future’ is an upbeat track that pits dour lyrics against a flurry of dance beats, driving basslines and swirling synths. FFO: IDLES, Nine Inch Nails, The Murder Capital, Protomartyr, Gilla Band and DITZ.

FUBELT channel a sonic urgency, encapsulated by their dual-guitar attack, angular grooves and cathartic live performances. Influenced by late-1970s post-punk bands as well as contemporary artists such as Shame, TV Priest and Protomartyr, FUBELT have created fierce and unrelenting sound embodying elements of post-punk, noise rock and shoegaze. Their songs brood over societal discord whilst exploring the sullen underbelly of the human condition. Through a philosophical perspective, their words are bound by the anxieties of modern society and contentious political upheaval.

Formed by Alex Harries (Vocals/Guitar), Emile Driscoll (Guitar), Sam West (Bass) and Sam Fairclough (Drums), the Cardiff four-piece have played to packed-out crowds whilst supporting established acts Other Half, Seneca and Penny Rich. FUBELT are establishing themselves as a live staple on the post-punk scene as they prepare to debut new music in the coming months.

Returning to CWRW in support of Baudelaire, brand new South Wales outfit Marionette recently announced their ace new debut single ‘Your Hand’, out 27th September. Mixed and mastered by Charlie Francis this track has been a favourite in the band for a while and will be loved by fans of 60ft Dolls, The Strokes or Mini Mansions!

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Alberta Cross + Corntown Orchestra +Laila Woodward

Alberta Cross will be joining us at CWRW as part of ‘The Thief and The Heartbreaker’ Re-imagined solo tour.

Alberta Cross were formed by Swedish-born lead singer and guitarist Petter Ericson Stakee and his London pal Terry Wolfers in the mid-00s. Their anthemic Americana-tinged songs possess a vulnerability and earthiness, and it soon showed in how hugely their debut record ‘The Thief & The Heartbreaker’ began to connect with fans.

2024 will see a reworked re-release of this album featuring of wealth of musical collaborations including Katie Melua, Jack Savoretti and Band of Skulls.

This solo tour will celebrate the album and the man that helped bring it to life, Petter Ericson Stakee.

Support comes from Casper James and the Corntown Orchestra, plus rising Swansea-based singer songwriter Margo Thirlwell.

Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard + Jack Jones + Papa Jupe’s

Fresh from the release of their new album Skinwalker on Communion Records, we’re delighted to announce the CWRW debut of Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard.

Skinwalker follows the Welsh Music Prize-nominated debut Backhand Deals and was written and recorded at frontman and producer Tom Rees’s Rat Trap studio, the room where Rees has previously recorded and produced tracks for emerging talent – Panic Shack, Do Nothing and The Bug Club. The material – as previewed on Therapy and their earlier single Chew – showcases a heavier and more disquieting sound than anything the band have released to date.

This darker sound and aesthetic take inspiration from found-footage horror and the Navajo concept of the Skinwalker – a legendary malevolent shapeshifter – from which the album takes its name. Thematically, each track on the record is designed to take you through descending floors of Rees’s mind each becoming more horrific than the last with the Skinwalker at the final floor, representing his inner fears, self-sabotage, hatred, and self-doubt. It’s a deeply intimate record of self-analysis and personal growth told through heavy fuzz-drenched guitars, a crushing rhythm section and fevered vocals.

Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard have appeared at Glastonbury, Eurosonic, Latitude, All Points East, SXSW and Green Man. They’ve made of end-of-year lists with NME, DIY and Dork, and earned plaudits from the likes of The Guardian, The Telegraph, MOJO, Uncut, Record Collector, The Needle Drop, The Independent, CLASH, The Line Of Best Fit and So Young, amassing radio support from BBC Radio 1, NPR and Radio X.

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Jack Jones joins us at the very start of his UK solo tour. Jack has enjoyed Top 10 success with Trampolene on the Independent Album Charts with three Top 10 Albums, hit the road as special guest to Liam Gallagher, supported The Libertines and had the honour of being the first act to headline Swansea Arena.

South Wales daydream believer Jack Jones is a compulsive wordsmith and obsessive jotter-down of phrases. Across three studio albums over the past decade, his work with Trampolene has always drawn from this humungous, ever-accumulating verbal resource. He has also published a novel (2023’s ‘Swansea to Hornsey’) and recited poems and delivered spoken-word onstage.

For his solo album, Jack has put away his guitar and embraced a fresh and highly contemporary sound in which to couch his hard-hitting state of the nation poems of existential fear and loathing. His lyrics tackle many of today’s burning issues: mental health, drug addiction, mortality and the tortuous demands of technology. There’s also joy and hope in there.

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With post-punk, surf, disco and gospel influences, Papa Jupe’s T.C.’s sleazy and theatrical live performances lampoon masculinity, politics and power. The Cardiff 7-piece are an emerging force in the vibrant Welsh music scene. As well as being shortlisted for the Green Man Rising competition, the band has also supported indie front-runners English Teacher on their UK headline tour and played a string of sold-out headline gigs.

Papa Jupe’s T.C. invite you to join the cult of Papa Jupe. Redemption comes to those who wait. Join the Taurus.

Dwi Ar Gau – Lleucu Non (Official Video)

Official music video for ‘Dwi Ar Gau’ (I’m closed off). Combination of animation and film by Lleucu Non, including footage from Sion Roberts personal archive.

Funded by Lŵp x PYST Music Video Grant

Lleucu Non – Dwi Ar Gau

Quick on the heels of Cyn Cwsg, BERIAN and Ffion Campbell-Davies, Lleucu Non is the fourth artist to release via UNTRO, as her debut single, ‘Dwi Ar Gau’ (I’m Closed), is set to arrive next Friday 11th October.

Thematically, ‘Dwi Ar Gau’ is a track that captures the complexities and challenges that come with long distance relationships, as Lleucu samples lost conversations she found buried in her phone’s voicemail. Slipping between the raw and the dreamy, the track was produced by London-based producer and Welsh Language Album of the Year 2022 winner, Sywel Nyw, as his favoured subtle beats are planted beneath Lleucu’s infectious melodies. Both artists came together to record the track at London College of Contemporary Music as part of a longstanding collaboration between Klust and Youth Music.

Hailing from Dyffryn Nantlle but now calling Cardiff home, ‘Dwi Ar Gau’ draws on inspiration from the likes of Thallo, Mazzy Star and Cate le Bon as Lleucu crafts her own slice of dream pop. Lleucu explains: “I started writing songs around four years ago during lockdown so it’s really exciting to finally being able to release my first single!”

She adds: “Recording in London and collaborating with Sywel Nyw was a special experience and I’m delighted to have had the opportunity to work with such a talented producer. The track’s lyrics are open to interpretation, but to me, it conveys the angst many people feel after graduating, among other ideas! I’m looking forward to seeing how the single is received.”

Dwi Ar Gau – Lleucu Non

Official music video for ‘Dwi Ar Gau’ (I’m closed off). Combination of animation and film by Lleucu Non, including footage from Sion Roberts personal archive.


Funded by Lŵp x PYST Music Video Grant

Beach of Dreams

TAPE is currently part of an exciting project called Beach of Dreams; we are part of a network of organisations, artists, and communities in a shared mission to explore and respond to the pressing climate challenges facing the UK’s coastal regions. 

We have been working with Jason Singh, an artist, nature beatboxer, producer, DJ, curator, facilitator and performer. He has worked with the likes of the BBC, Tate Britain, and the National Trust to name a few! 

TAPE Sound will work alongside Jason to capture sound from various sources in Colwyn Bay and the surrounding areas to be part of an immersive sonic experience. He will also be looking to capture stories and perspectives from the local community. 

TAPE is proud to be part of this coastal celebration alongside commissioned artists and local communities across the UK!

NEWS: Welsh acts Y Dail and Ynys joint winners of the Neutron Prize

The Neutron Prize, God Is In The TV Zine‘s alternative to the Mercury Prize, has announced this year’s winner. Welsh- English bilingual bands Y Dail and Ynys were chosen, the first time the Neutron has been awarded to two artists. To mark the Neutron Prize, on Thursday 26 September God Is In The TV will […]

Porter’s Presents: Amplify LOR & TÂN CERDD and guests

Friday 11th October

Porter’s Presents: Amplifying MOBO Wales, partnering with TÂN CERDD CIC Celebrating Black History Month at Porter’s Cardiff

18+

FREE ENTRY

8:00pm – 11:30pm

Stellar performances from some of Cardiff’s finest: Niques, Aisha Kigs, Valleyboy Zero, Lily Webbe, Lucas J Rowe, Ruth Vibes, Samantha & DJ Precious

CHILDREN OF ZEUS + LEMFRECK + MERCY ROSE + DJ JAFFA & HOSTED BY DREGZ

Sunday, 20th October at The Globe, Albany Rd, Cardiff! Join us for a vibrant Black History Month UK Celebration with stellar live performances from Children of Zeus, Lemfreck, Mercy Rose, DJ Jaffa & MC Dregz. It’s set to be an unforgettable night of music and culture.

Immerse yourself in the rich pulse of Black Music & Culture—Feel the Unity, Feel the Vibe!!!

Supported by Cardiff Music City, Visit Wales and Cardiff Council. Don’t miss out—join us for an unforgettable Experience!!!

Get your tickets here!

Sŵn 2024

Sŵn Festival is an award-winning, multi-venue, contemporary music festival, which has been a cornerstone of Cardiff’s cultural landscape since 2007. With an unwavering commitment to showcasing new music and emerging talent, our festival programme celebrates a diverse array of artists, ranging from homegrown to international acts.

For three unforgettable days each year, we take over some of our favourite venues and spaces across Cardiff’s city centre. Transforming the city into a bustling hub for both music-makers and music fanatics, where you have the opportunity to explore the wonderful city of Cardiff, its independent music venues, and discover remarkable new music.



This year, Sŵn festival will take place Thursday, October 17th – Saturday, October 19th.

This years venues include; This years venues include; Clwb Ifor Bach, Tramshed, Jacobs Antiques Market, Tiny Rebel, The Moon, Fuel, Mad Dog Brewery, and Cornerstone.

This year Sŵn is proudly part of Cardiff Music City Festival. Supported by Welsh Government and Cardiff Council. More information can be found at cardiffmusiccityfestival.wales. 

Tickets

PSYLENCE 2024

Weekend of events to celebrate our friend and colleague – Emyr Glyn Williams (Emyr Ankst)

4-6/10/24

Pontio presents a weekend of special events this October to celebrate and remember our friend and colleague, Emyr Glyn Williams (Emyr Ankst).

Psylence was one of the most exciting events Emyr organised here at Pontio with bands such as Datblygu, Adwaith and R. Seiliog setting live scores to various films such as Andy Warhol’s Kiss, Maya Deren’s short films, Dovzhenko’s Earth and much more.

Emyr’s saying was ‘build it, and they will come’ – so, we are building on the most innovative, exciting and bold events Emyr curated, with a full weekend of events; Psylence 2024 is the biggest yet.

All proceeds will go to charities Cancer Research UK as chosen by Emyr’s family.

More events and artists to be announced!

More information and tickets

TÂN

Organisation logo

Tân Cerdd CIC stands at the forefront of promoting Black Welsh artists and Black Welsh culture. Our mission is to create high-quality, legacy-making events that not only celebrate the richness of Black Welsh talent but also contribute to the cultural tapestry of Wales. We are committed to fostering a vibrant and inclusive arts scene that […]

Beacons Cymru Basecamp

Check out this amazing short film produced by a talented team of young people supported by TAPE facilitator Niall Jones. 

The film documents the recent Beacons Cymru Basecamp event held at TAPE, which was part of Creu Conwy’s Winter Sounds project. 

The event featured workshops, panels, and performances for young people interested in the music industry. It was an inspiring day, and we’re thrilled to share it with you. 

Gareth Churchill

Our Artist of the Month for August is Gareth Churchill!

Gareth Churchill is a composer, collaborative artist, music teacher, and now clarion player. He is music teacher for Cardiff University Lifelong Learning, and has been a member of Paraorchestra since 2018.

He originally trained as an oboist, and was fortunate to play at a professional level, before a stroke left him with cognitive, sensory and physical impairments aged 20. This redirected his path towards composition.

As a composer, the sound of his music is deeply rooted in his personal, lived experience of the mechanical interacting with the organic, and, often with an autobiographical facet, his work frequently aspires to give musical voice and artistic expression to the lived experiences of others.

Image credit: Matthew Thistlewood

Bert Ussher + Ophelia’s Beard + Louis O’Hara

Friday 26 July 2024

Tickets

Bert Ussher is the alias of Bristol-based musician Robert Pearson. Bert and his band, composed of Tom Gould and Marcus Jeffrey, channel a 1970s-tinged sound taking influence from the likes of Air and Neil Young. Bert was notably featured on last year’s Katy J Pearson & Friends EP of covers from cult classic folk-horror film The Wicker Man. Bert Ussher’s own debut EP, recorded at the Louisiana with Alfie Tyson Brown, comes out on show day and we can’t wait to celebrate its release at CWRW!

Support comes from Ophelia’s Beard, making their first visit to CWRW following a string of well-received dates in South Wales. Ophelia’s Beard are an original four-piece folk-rock band, fronted with powerhouse vocals and with fringes back, left and centre. Their music has been regarded ‘a multi-genre soundtrack’, swaying audiences through medieval, country, pop and indie sounds and illustrative storytelling narratives.

Also in support will be Louis O’Hara, following hotly on the heels of his full-band CWRW gig with His Burley Chassis. This solo set will see Louis performing a stripped-down set that promises to be more experimental and equally enthralling.

Lande Hekt + Private Party + Spwci + Morgan Thomas

Friday 09 August 2024

Tickets

We can’t wait to welcome Lande Hekt for her first CWRWbar performance, the day before her At the Edge of the Sea festival appearance! Support comes from Private Party and Morgan Thomas and we are now delighted to adding SPWCI to the line-up – come and see four brilliant bands and artists!

Lande’s music is born out of self-reflection, social and political awareness, and her capacity for evocative storytelling. Having explored this personal song-writing approach with her former band, Muncie Girls, with their punchy yet tender punk-flecked songs, Lande released her debut solo record Going To Hell in 2021, soon followed by House Without a View and last year’s singles ‘Pottery Class’ and ‘Axis’. Lande’s songwriting presents its raw honesty amongst understatedly luminous melodies and candid, unpretentious lyrics which contemplate queer identity, life and childhood experience and musings on her life.

The music sits beautifully alongside such essential artists as The Wedding Present, The Sundays, The Replacements, Sleeper and Sharon Van Etten. She has toured in the UK, Europe, Canada and Australia supporting the likes of Alvvays, Laura Jane Grace, The Beths and the legend that is Tricky. She has also played at Glastonbury festival, as well as events for The Big Issue and the Labour Party.

Making their debut in late 2021, Private Party quickly made their presence known around Wales. Since releasing their dreamy hook-filled debut EP Artificial Feelings they’ve played Focus Wales in 2023 and released three singles, ‘Could’ve Asked Sooner’, ‘Disconnected’ and ‘bahama mama’. This summer, Private Party played In It Together festival and their debut album Borderless is out now on all platforms.

Joining the brilliant line-up, SPWCI are a four-piece band from Wales. Their music blends the raw spirit of 90s grunge with the mind-bending kaleidoscopic vibes of 60s/70s psychedelia. We can’t wait to welcome them back to the CWRW stage.

Returning to CWRW, Welsh-born and German-raised musician Morgan Thomas has one foot in folk and another striding forward into progressive rock. With catchy melodies, swaying guitars and emotive vocals, Morgan’s passionate and individual sound is a vehicle for his personal, soul to the earth songwriting.

Bible Club x Hypothetics + Katalogen (free)

Saturday 24 August 2024

Tickets 


 We can’t wait to welcome two of Bristol’s hottest new bands, Bible Club and Hypothetics, for a double-headline gig at CWRW, supported by new local indie poppers Katalogen. Free advance tickets are available now via the link above!

After touring in support of their debut EP, Bible Club have honed their engrossing live sound. ‘AD’ captures the band’s new direction, which Bible Club have been developing with a focus on writing new material. With a captivating live set that dynamically shifts from punchy tracks to post rock soundscapes, Bible Club’s permeating sound is a refreshing and unique experience.

Constantly refining, Hypothetics are an innovative psych-punk four-piece known for their hardened sound, filtered through hazy folk melodies and tortured electronics. Motivated by an intense pride in their music, they aren’t afraid to rewire themselves creatively to show the audience something new. Their reputation for progressive releases and hard-hitting performances has landed Hypothetics shows across the UK with appearances at Forwards, 2000trees and Boardmasters. Their debut EP ‘Gets Let Down!’ received extensive attention from BBC Radio 1 as well as Spotify’s editorial playlists, including ‘Hot New Bands’, ‘Post Punk’ and ‘Melomania’, and they were included in CLUNK Magazine’s ‘Ones to Watch 2024’ alongside the likes of Opus Kink and Fat Dog.

Jeffrey Lewis & The Voltage + David Cronenberg’s Wife

Sunday 08 September 2024

Tickets


Jeffrey
Lewis & The Voltage will now be joined at CWRW by David Cronenberg’s Wife.
Advance tickets are now on sale!
 

“Weird?
Very… but also downright inspiring” **** – Rolling Stone

The
mind-spinning indie-rock/folk/art of Jeffrey Lewis & The Voltage developed
when songwriter and comic book artist Jeffrey Lewis began recording homemade
cassettes in New York City in 1998. His critically acclaimed, unusual and
word-dense songs lead to Jeffrey signing to Rough Trade and the project evolved
into a live touring cult sensation around the world. Creating a brilliant style
of scuzzy urban indie-rock-folk, like a 21st Century mash-up of Sonic Youth,
Pete Seeger and R. Crumb, Jeffrey’s band has played countless gigs all over the
world, including as opening act icons like the Mountain Goats, Daniel Johnston,
Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks, Dinosaur Jr, The Fall, Dr. Dog, Pulp, Roky
Erickson and The Vaselines.

 

“Jeffrey
Lewis is an amazing musician, and if you don’t know his songs you probably have
a hole in your heart that can only be filled by his words… I did!” – Regina
Spektor

Their most
recent official album is Bad Wiring on Don Giovanni and Moshi Moshi, garnering
rave reviews, but Jeffrey has also digitally self-released four DIY albums from
his apartment. Jeffrey continues to wring folksy spiel and garage bohemianism
from his ramshackle guitar, while incorporating his often politically
subversive visual artwork and cartoons into live appearances. Some of
these audio/visual projects have been hosted online by the History Channel and The
Story of Keith Haring was commissioned by the Museum of Modern Art in 2021.

“Hands
down my favorite contemporary songwriter” – Ben Gibbard (Death Cab
for Cutie)

“Jeffrey is
the best pure songwriter I know of… ‘Sad Screaming Old Man’… is one of my
favorite songs ever written” – David Berman (Silver Jews)

“Ramshackle
and beautiful noise… Lou Reed’s natural successor as punk poet of the New York
streets” – Louder Than War
 
“Bizarre
but brilliant” – Uncut
 

“Dazzling” –
MOJO

“Jeffrey
is the only artist I’ve sent fan mail to.” – Jens Lekman

Aisha Kigs – Llygaid Cudd

Part of the AffriCerdd project –  Tŷ Cerdd’s partnership with the National Eisteddfod, supporting artists of colour to work
in Welsh.

Video funded by Lŵp x PYST’s music video fund.