Local Artist of the Week: LOUIS O'HARA.

Local Artist of the Week: LOUIS O'HARA.

Louis O'Hara lives in Pembroke Dock. He studied music at Bristol and has returned to west Wales and now works as producer and engineer at Cwrw Studios in Carmarthen, which he helped set up (above the well known music venue).

Louis is also an accomplished singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist (and occasional film maker!) who has just released his debut album, A Peaceful Kind of Fun, on Carmarthen's Libertino label (Wales' top record label, which also hosts Adwaith, twice Welsh Music Prize winners).

Louis's music, which is quite exceptional, has been described as calming, nostalgic, naive, emotional and tender though he has been influenced by the likes of Leonard Cohen, Euros Childs (from Freshwater East & formerly of Gorky's Zygotic Mynci), Jonathan Richman, and John Cale (from Carmarthenshire & formerly of The Velvet Underground).

There's not doubt Louis's music is romantic with a deceptive simplicity and wit.

All the songs featured this week are taken from the album on which he is accompanied by His Burley Chassis. (Anagram of Welsh legend Shirley Bassey!).

Louis' interview with BB Skone, broadcast on his show of Sunday 16th November can be heard on Catch-up.