Dame Shirley Bassey, celebrated for her enduring seven-decade career and iconic James Bond theme songs, has come under scrutiny by some in the music industry who believe her massive fame has led to the oversight of other talented black Welsh singers.
In a new documentary titled “Black Music Wales,” hosted by Newport rapper Lemfreck, musicians shared their concerns about the recognition of black Welsh artists in the shadow of Shirley Bassey’s prominence.
Dame Shirley Bassey “Recognition for black Welsh musicians hasn’t been helped by the fact that there’s one very famous singer who overshadows everybody,” commented rapper Lemfreck. Another musician, Dionne Bennett, added, “They pull out Shirley Bassey every time they need to pull out a black icon.”
The documentary delves into the history of black music in Wales, tracing its roots back to the late 1800s when a diverse community emerged around Cardiff docks, inhabited by sailors and ship workers from over 40 countries.
Tiger Bay, a well-known district within this community, was renowned for jazz musicians, calypso bands, and blues parties. While Dame Shirley Bassey stands out as the most famous resident of Tiger Bay, other musical talents, such as Frank and Joe Deniz, Victor Parker, and Patti Flynn, also hail from the area.
“There was at least one pub in every street in Tiger Bay and all of those had pianos and all of them had nights where people would get up and sing… the music was all over the place in Tiger Bay,” former resident and historian Gaynor Legall told the documentary.
In the 1970s and 1980s, the Casablanca club in the region became a prominent venue for reggae music, and the vibrant carnivals in Cardiff and Newport attracted music enthusiasts.
Lemfreck aims to shine a light not only on the forgotten black musicians of Wales’ past but also on the current thriving Welsh black music scene, which he believes is experiencing a resurgence.
The documentary features the experiences and insights of contemporary black Welsh musicians, including Juice Menace, Mace the Great, Sage Todz, and Aleighcia Scott, as they discuss the barriers they’ve had to overcome in their careers.
Juice Menace is the voice behind the Wales women’s 2023 World Cup soundtrack Photo @BBC/LAZERBEAM
Rapper Juice Menace started making music when she was 17.
Rapper Juice Menace, who gained fame with over 4 million online streams and performances at Glastonbury, talked about her journey from posting tracks on social media to leaving her studies at Cardiff and Vale College to pursue her music career.
“I would have liked to have stayed here but back in 2019… [but] personally I just didn’t feel there was that opportunity for me here at the time or I can say I didn’t feel like a lot of people were trying to give me a shot,” she told Lemfreck.
After a few years she returned home and recorded her debut EP 029 – named after Cardiff’s dialling code – at Cardiff’s Silk Crayon Studios.
She puts the current moment for Welsh black artists down to “opportunity and a lot more people being courageous enough to just shoot their shot. When there’s enough people doing something, and it makes noise you can’t ignore it anymore.
“I think going to London took that Cardiff flair off me a little bit – a lot of people didn’t know not only is it where I’m from, I’m proud to be from here. It’s not something I shy from ever, it is who I am,” she said.
Mace the Great is a Cardiff-based rapper Photo @MARCUS GEORGES
Mace the Great, known for his critically acclaimed albums and performances at prestigious events like Glastonbury and South by Southwest in Texas, released an album dedicated to his Cardiff neighborhood, Splott World.
“I am so Cardiff bro, the way I talk, the slang I use, through and through Cardiff, that’s what sets me apart from London-based rappers or English rappers,” he told Lemfreck.
He said he wouldn’t consider leaving Cardiff.
“I always felt like if I wanted things to change here, for more opportunities to come available here, If I move to London and just get Londonised I’ll still be a Welsh guy in London but it’s not the same…. I’m inspiring younger people to let them know we can do it from here.”
Rapper Lemfreck Photo @BBC/LAZERBEAM
The documentary also features Lemfreck’s own experiences as a rapper, who believes that there are still barriers for black Welsh artists and calls for greater representation and inclusivity in the music industry.
“I just feel like certain opportunities weren’t as accessible for me being a black kid who raps rather than being an indie band from west Wales,” he said.
“It feels like more opportunities were there, just laid out for people coming from that walk of life rather than mine.
“And why am I the only Welsh rapper going to South by Southwest… is there a shortage on rappers in Wales? No… it’s having representation in these rooms where these conversations are being held bro.”
Dionne Bennett emphasized the need for systemic changes in the industry, including the establishment of black record labels and festivals run by black individuals.
“I think there are people who are still controlling the music industry in Wales. I don’t think they understand the wider industry, it’s changed. We need more change from grass-level up,” she said.
“I want to see black record labels, black festivals for black artists run by black people – then we’ve got change.”
Black Music Wales is available on BBC iPlayer.
SOURCE: bbc.com