Mari Mathias on Her India Debut in New Delhi and Hornbill Festival

Welsh artist Mari Mathias brought folkloric tales to India as part of her debut visit, performing in New Delhi as well as Hornbill Festival in Nagaland last week.

Prior to the performances, Mathias told Rolling Stone India that she visited parts of the capital, including the Dargah Nizamuddin Aulia. “[It’s] a place where all humanity is welcome with no discrimination or judgments and live music which takes you to a whole new world, an experience I will never forget and I believe I will be back in the near future.”

Invited to perform in India as part of British Council’s curation at Centre Stage festival in New Delhi and the long-running Hornbill Festival, Mathias was part of a cultural exchange with her Nagamese counterpart, artist Seyievinuo Chuzho. At Hornbill, the dup performed “Tsaka/Plannu” and other songs that took listeners to the Welsh west coast and “wild mountains” where Mathias grew up as well as Nagaland’s tribal tunes. Mathias says, “Preparing for this performance required extensive collaboration with local artists and understanding their artistic expressions, folklores, customs and heritage, all exchanged by online messages and digital communication.”

Understandably, Mathias says she wanted to keep an open mind about her first visit to India rather than necessarily reach out to other artists who have performed in the country. She does, however, point to fellow Welsh singer-songwriter The Gentle Good aka Gareth Bonello as someone who shared notes on playing in India. “He has shared his past experiences performing and visiting in India, highlighting the rich cultural diversity, vibrant artistic communities, and the unique opportunities for collaboration that India offers,” Mathias says.

Her setlist brought in the artist’s original compositions inspired by folkloric tales and customs in Wales as well as original renditions of traditional folk songs, bringing about what Mathias calls an “intimate atmosphere” with her “folk-style” 12-string guitar and vocals. Earlier this year, she released two singles – “Dawns yr Haf” and “Pan O’wn Y Gwanwyn” – which reflect on the seasonal cycles of the year such as the equinox and solstices. She adds, “The themes of these songs delve into our relationship with Mother Earth and our Welsh history connection to customs of the land.” Two more singles from Mathias’ project Awen (meaning the divine inspiration for poets and creatives) will release during the Winter Solstice.

While there’s a pastoral, nature-bound influence to her music, one of Mathias’ most popular tracks right now is called “Rebel,” from her 2022 album Annwn. She says about the song, “This song is about the history of the Rebecca Rioters [from the 19th Century] in Wales, but ultimately this single serves as a beautiful reminder that we are all rebels in our own right — fighting our battles and celebrating our individuality.”