He’s Back…

…and where have I been, you’re wondering?

Well, as lyricist Peter Sinfield wrote in the King Crimson classic I Talk to the Wind:

“Said the straight man to the late man, ‘Where have you been?’ I’ve been here and — I’ve been there and — I’ve been in-between...”

Last year I spent a month gallivanting around the UK, much of it touring Wales. After receiving my UK passport a couple of years ago, I noticed it said “Pasbort Prydeinig” below “British Passport” on the first page. I learned that “Pasbort Prydeinig” is “British Passport” in Welsh, and that Welsh is the only official UK language other than English. So I decided to start learning Welsh. After nearly 18 months I’ve become a passionate Welsh learner, taking online Zoom classes twice a week through Cardiff University and the National Centre for Learning Welsh. Last summer I even started writing a bi-weekly column (in Welsh) for a Welsh-language magazine. At this point in my journey, dare I say I’ve fallen in love with Wales, its language, its history, its culture, and its people?

I have indeed.

Welsh — or “Cymraeg” as we say in Welsh — is a beautiful and ancient Celtic language that pre-dates English. It’s also an amazing language for singing. So when I realised that Welsh culture places a very high value on music, poetry, and literature (and the arts in general), I knew straight away that I had to have a go at songwriting in Welsh! But what kind of song should I start with?

That’s where my 2023 Wales trip came into play.

During my first “Anturiaeth Gymreig Wallgof” (Mad Welsh Adventure) I made many new friends throughout the south, west, and north of Wales. I met lots of like-minded people who, shall we say, “shared my views” on America’s current trajectory. I felt a strong connection with Wales almost immediately, and wondered if perhaps Welsh listeners might enjoy hearing a Brit from California . . . take the piss out of America . . . in Welsh!

So I started working on Welsh lyrics to Proud American — the opening track on An Ape’s Progress — re-named it Americanwr Balch (“Proud American” in Welsh), and things fell into place quickly for a new single.

I recorded lead and background vocals in my home studio, and sent the tracks off to my co-producer / mix engineer extraordinaire Thom Flowers. Thom and I tried to up our own game from the Proud American sessions in 2021 and bring a bit more attitude and energy to our Welsh production. After mixing was complete, another idea popped into my head: Let’s get the track mastered in Wales! So I wrote to my Welsh friend (and brilliant singer/songwriter) Dafydd Owain, who suggested some local mastering engineers. We ended up sending our mix to Gethin John at Hafod Mastering in south Wales, and we absolutely love Gethin’s mastered track!

And so it came to pass that my first foray into Welsh-language songwriting was released as a single on March 29th, 2024. Hopefully listeners will chuckle when they hear Americanwr Balch — if they speak Welsh, that is — and appreciate its tongue-in-cheek, sarcastic message.

It’s not a patriotic song!

I hope you love it.

–Pawlie.