Gruff Rhys

Musician / Cerddor.  Super Furry Animals.  
Bethesda.     

                                                             
“Does dim unrhyw werth diwylliannol cynhenid mewn baneri, anthemau na chenedlaetholdeb. Nid ydynt yn arwain i unlle ac fe ddylid eu cadw ar gyfer rhodres seremoniau’r byd chwaraeon yn unig. Mantais aruthrol cerddoriaeth a chelf yw eu bod yn creu hafan seciwlar werthfawr sy’n rhydd o anhyblygrwydd caeth gwleidyddiaeth a chenedlaetholdeb, lle gallwn leisio barn o bob math a dal drych i gymdeithas a’i adlewyrchu, ei ddathlu, ei wawdio a’i farnu. Ein nod yw archwilio ac ystyried sut y gallai ymreolaeth weithio – sut y gallai ein helpu i greu cymdeithas sy’n gwerthfawrogi ei thrigolion i gyd – waeth beth yw eu cefndir neu ddyfnder eu pocedi – a chefni ar feddylfryd trefedigaethol, patriarchaidd a milwrol ein presennol.”

“Rydan ni’n dewis llwybr gobeithiol a thrafodaeth drugarog a chynhwysol gan wybod y gallai difaterwch a diffyg gweithredu weld Cymru’n troi’n ddim mwy na thomen wastraff gwenwynig (gysyniadol a ffigurol) i syniadau gwael. Gan fod Cymru wedi cael ei hanwybyddu a’i chau allan o bob trafodaeth wleidyddol ac yn dal i gael ei dominyddu gan gyfryngau sy’n ymosodol o Brydeinig a chamarweiniol, rydan ni’n teimlo bod angen mawr i greu sŵn i ysgwyd y sefyllfa.” 

 

“Flags, anthems and nationalism for the sake of themselves are cultural dead ends and should be kept for ceremonial sporting events. The beauty of music (and art) on the other hand is how it acts as a precious and secular space beyond the rigidity of politics and nationality where opinions can be discussed and society mirrored, celebrated, ridiculed and criticised. We wish to explore how self-determination could work. How it could help us make a society that values all its inhabitants irrespective of means and background, and how we could take a step back from the colonial, patriarchal and militaristic mindset that prevails.”

 

“We choose a hopeful, compassionate debate and fear that complacency could risk Wales becoming both a figurative and literal toxic dumping ground for bad ideas. With Wales left out of all political negotiations and dominated by an increasingly misleading nationalist media at UK level, we feel the need to make a song and dance about it.”