Don Leisure Wins 2025 Welsh Music Prize for 'Tyrchu Sain'

Cardiff-based producer Don Leisure has been awarded the 2025 Welsh Music Prize for his album 'Tyrchu Sain' (Digging Sain). The ceremony, held on October 6th at the Wales Millennium Centre, recognized Don Leisure's innovative approach to reimagining archival material from the historic Sain Records label. He skillfully merged these rediscovered sounds with modern beats and a characteristic analogue warmth, crafting a sound that appeals to both nostalgic and contemporary tastes.

'Tyrchu Sain' marks a significant artistic accomplishment, exploring the extensive archives of Sain Records, Wales' oldest independent label, established in 1969 by Dafydd Iwan and Huw Jones. The album's creation was a personal journey for Don Leisure, whose real name is Aly Jamal. His project aimed to determine if classic Welsh songs could be effectively adapted into hip-hop samples, leading to the unearthing of numerous musical gems.

The album features collaborations with prominent Welsh artists, including Gruff Rhys, a past winner of the Welsh Music Prize, Gwenno, and Dave Newington from Boy Azooga, further highlighting the depth of talent within the Welsh music scene. This year's event was the 15th Welsh Music Prize, an occasion that consistently showcases the exceptional quality and diversity of music originating from Wales and its global diaspora. The shortlist for the 2025 prize reflected this vibrancy, presenting a broad spectrum of genres and artistic expressions, including Adwaith, Breichiau Hir, Buddug, Cerys Hafana, Kelly Lee Owens, KEYS, Melin Melyn, Panic Shack, Sage Todz, Siula, Tai Haf Heb Drigolyn, The Gentle Good, The Tubs, and Gwenno.

Sain Records, founded in 1969, is one of Wales' oldest independent record labels and has played a key role in the revival of Welsh folk music. Over decades, the label has released a vast number of recordings across diverse genres. Currently, the label is actively digitizing its extensive catalog of approximately 26,000 recordings in partnership with the National Library of Wales, to preserve this musical heritage for future generations.

Don Leisure's victory is particularly significant as it acknowledges a novel method of reinterpreting a legacy catalogue, revitalizing familiar sounds and making them engaging for a new audience. Upon receiving the £10,000 prize, Don Leisure conveyed his surprise and profound gratitude, describing the creative process for 'Tyrchu Sain' as a deep exploration. He observed the vast amount of Welsh music yet to be discovered across all genres, suggesting that his work with the Sain Records back catalogue has only begun to reveal the nation's rich musical heritage. The Welsh Music Prize, co-founded by Huw Stephens, continues to serve as a crucial platform for celebrating and promoting Welsh artistry, with Don Leisure's 2025 award reinforcing its reputation for recognizing forward-thinking and influential musical contributions.