Heddlu is the new musical project by Rhodri Daniel. The Ceredigion native was a founding member of renowned Welsh band Estrons.
‘Paid Becso Am Dim‘ is the first single from heddlu’s second album Tramor, meaning ‘Don’t worry about a thing’ in Welsh. It was written for Rhodri’s sister, who over the past few years has been fiercely fighting breast cancer. Singing messages of optimism and hope, the soaring and fizzy song riven with glowing melodies, guitars that sound like ray guns, bobbing keyboards and a skippy beat is Rhodri’s small attempt to show the same comfort and support his sister had shown him during his own struggles with hearing damage a few years ago. His sister is now in remission!
After finishing Estrons in 2019, Rhodri became aware that his hearing was severely damaged. Years of touring the live circuit had taken their toll, Rhodri ultimately being diagnosed with hearing loss, tinnitus and severe sensitivity to noise. The effects were so acute that Rhodri was unable to play live music, leading to him composing his critically acclaimed debut album (Cantref, 2022) in his head whilst completing the entirety of the Wales Coastal Path (900 miles). His family, and, namely, his sister, were great sources of comfort and hope during this difficult period. Serendipity led Rhodri back to music, and heddlu was born. Meaning ‘Police’ in Welsh, from the words ‘peace-force’, heddlu‘s music has been true to its name, offering a force of peace to the songwriter.
Rhodri spent the next few years writing and experimenting with new sounds and instruments as his hearing slowly recovered. Whilst writing and recording his second album, life found a way of both disrupting and influencing the creative process, leading to multiple re-writes and an entire album being erased. Eventually, despite the interruptions, heddlu’s second album, Tramor – was completed.
Meaning ‘Overseas’ in Welsh, ‘Tramor’ is a series of intimate and volatile songs, detailing years of loss, estrangement, trauma and hope.
https://orcd.co/paidbecsoamdim
‘Paid Becso Am Dim’ is out on 18th April 2025 on Zawn Records.
