Derw was founded by a mother & son duo, the guitarist Dafydd Dobson and harpist Anna Georgina, following their success in reaching the final of Cân I Gymru in 2018 – the first time they had collaborated. Elin Fouladi, the Welsh-Iranian singer, fronts Derw, with musicians from Welsh bands Zervas and Pepper, Afrocluster and Codewalkers joining them to record their debut EP Yr Unig Rai Sy’n Cofio, which was released in March of this year.
Taking their inspiration from chamber pop acts such as The National and Elbow, the band has strong links to their history and heritage, with their name being derived from Anna’s father’s name – Derwas. Their family has a wealth of glamorous stories and Yr Unig Rai Sy’n Cofio (‘The Only Ones Who Remember’) serves to make sure they stay fresh in people’s memories.