Mari Mathias from Wales to perform at Hornbill Music festival

Kohima, November 24: Mari Mathias from Wales is all set to perform at the upcoming Toyota Hornbill Music Festival 2024 at the main arena, Naga Heritage village, Kisama on December 1 and 2.

Toyota Hornbill Music Festival, brought by Task Force for Music & Arts (TaFMA), Govt of Nagaland, is India’s biggest music festival.

Mari Mathias, a celebrated Welsh folk artist is known for her hauntingly beautiful voice and modern interpretations of traditional Welsh music.

As Wales participates as a partner country this year, Mari Mathias will bring the lyrical soul of her homeland to Nagaland, forging a musical connection between the hills of Wales and the hills of Northeast India

Mari Mathias, a 24-year-old Welsh artist, blends nature, tradition, and contemporary influences to create mystical, folk-inspired music.

Singing in her native Welsh, she reimagines traditional melodies from West Wales and Pembrokeshire, bringing a surge of energy and delicate, melodic vocals to the stage. Growing up in the rural village of Talgarreg near the Ceredigion coastline, Mari’s debut album Annwn (2022) is deeply personal, framed around samples of her great-grandfather’s cassette tapes, offering a window into a place that no longer exists but holds deep significance.

Described as alternative folk, her sound captures the essence of a nation redefining itself.

The partnership with Wales underscores the Hornbill Festival’s role as a platform for international cultural exchange.

Nagaland’s Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio remarked, “Mari Mathias’ participation represents the beautiful connections we can create through music and stories. Her performance will resonate with Nagaland’s love for rich oral traditions and folklore.”

(Page News Service)