Horizon: Welsh emerging artists chosen for project

Cardiff-based indie band Houdini Dax were the first group announced to be part of the project

Twelve artists from across Wales have been chosen to be part of a project to develop new, independent contemporary music.

The names of those who will be involved in the Horizon project were announced on Friday.

Horizon, a partnership between BBC Cymru Wales and the Arts Council of Wales, will also support and promote emerging Welsh music.

More than 300 applied for a place in the project.

Huw Stephens, C2, BBC Radio Cymru and Radio 1 presenter described the project as exciting.

He said: "The collaboration is going to be beneficial to the 12 artists, who will all have brilliant experiences and opportunities over the next year.

"BBC Wales has always supported artists who create original music, and Horizons is another exciting step in that story."

Horizon acts: Baby Queens, Candelas, Houdini Dax (top) Chris Jones, Gabrielle Murphy, Climbing Trees (bottom)

The first winners announced were Cardiff-based indie band Houdini Dax with others being revealed during the day at the Focus Wales festival in Wrexham.

Other chosen artists named include Baby Queens, a female five-piece from Cardiff who are a cross between rock, hip-hop, soul and reggae; rock band Candelas from Llanuwchlyn; and Climbing Trees - a four-piece multi-instrumental "Cymrucana" ensemble from Pontypridd have also been picked.

Chris Jones, 45-year-old contemporary folk balladeer from Cwm-y-glo, near Caernarfon, and singer Gabrielle Murphy, 17, from Treherbert are other winners.

Electro-pop singer and writer Casi, from Snowdonia, Kizzie Crawford from Merthyr who fuses bilingual soul and jazz, have also been given places.

Indie pop band Seazoo from Wrexham, rock band The People The Poet, pop group Swnami and Welsh language folk group Plu make up the rest of the line-up.

All of the winners - chosen in English and Welsh - will be offered a platform at events across Wales and through BBC Wales' national services - BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio Wales along with Laugharne Live on 3 May and Machynlleth Comedy Festival on 4 May.

Horizon acts: Casi, Plu, The People The Poet (top), Seazoo, Kizzy Crawford, Swnami (bottom)

The acts chosen will benefit from:

• Specially programmed BBC radio events, sessions and playlists

• Direct contact with a BBC producer overseeing the project

• A recording session at the BBC's Maida Vale studios in London

• Promotional support including a video and a professional photo-shoot

• Mentoring via courses

• National and international musical opportunities

• Opportunities to play at BBC Cymru Wales events through the year

• Nominations through the BBC Introducing new music brand to play at major events across the UK

Singer Casi was on hand as the Horizon artists were announced in Wrexham