South Wales LOUD WOMEN Fest alumni CHROMA land Single of the Week with ‘Coalminer’s Granddaughter’ – a track rooted in image, memory, and the long shadow of post-industrial Wales. The single comes ahead of Friday’s album release, with the hotly tipped 25 Forever coming at us from the ever effervescent Alcopop! Records (keep your peepers peeled for a review of that beauty coming soon too).
Written in response to a photograph from the It’s Called Ffasiwn project, ‘Coalminer’s Granddaughter’ begins with something small and personal and expands into something much bigger. As vocalist KT Hall explains:
“The image really resonated with me… it reminded me of wearing a black dress that myself and my mam found in a charity shop, to go to my grandad’s funeral. He worked down the mines for most of his life.”
The track unfolds into a reflection on Welsh history and politics in the years following deindustrialisation – and crucially, how the impact on the health and lives of those who worked in those industries has been quietly overlooked.
Musically, CHROMA double down on their fuzzy, melancholic edge. There’s weight in the guitars, a steady drive that feels grounded rather than explosive, giving space for the story to sit front and centre. KT’s vocal cuts through with clarity and purpose.
The track was commissioned by Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales, with support from CELF. This is a piece of contemporary art responding to national archives, feeding back into culture in real time. It’s exactly what that kind of collaboration should be doing.
Important, yes. But also, it’s a proper tune.