Catatonia

A popular music band from Wales that gained a national following in the UK in the mid-late 1990s. The band consists of Cerys Matthews on vocals, Mark Roberts and Owen on guitar, Paul Jones on bass, and Aled Richards on drums. [[Mark Roberts is the main songwriter.

Catatonia deliberetly tries to make their songs accessible to a broad audience, while at the same time not shying away from original, experimental, or even potentially abrasive sounds. The result is a mix of hooky pop and underground indie rock.

The songs are characterized by clever lyrics and Matthew's sexy, enticing, raspy vocals, which has made her a bit of a sex symbol. Also prominent is her Welsh accent (though this feature is most likely lost on anyone outside the UK).

The band, in its music, lyrics, and PR, are proudly, or at least happily, Welsh. This, they have insisted, should not be taken too seriously, as they are more internationalists than nationalists (hence the name of their 1998 release, International Velvet

In September, 2000, a biography of the band by David Owens entitled 'Cerys, Catatonia & The Rise Of Welsh Pop' was released in the UK (sometimes listed as 'Catatonia-Enter The Dragon', which was the working title).

ISBN: 0091874122

ISBN: 984114694

• Discography

For Tinkerbell - 1993

Hooked - 1994

Way Beyond Blue - 1996

International Velvet - 1998

Equally Cursed and Blessed - 2000