Tell me your story

First off let me say: black lives matter, trans lives matter, black trans lives matter. This is obvious to any right-thinking person, I know. But the time has come - to not just be not racist, not transphobic - we have to be anti-racist, anti-transphobic. We must stand against those who deal in hate.

I have always stood up for and hand in hand with my trans siblings. But that's not enough. Following the murder of George Floyd and the relentless hounding, othering, bullying and killing of trans people - disproportionately trans people of colour - and the horrible, hurtful words of she-who-must-not-be-named - I feel like I have to do something, I have to put my money where my mouth is.

I don't have any money, but I do have privilege so I want to use it. I'm privileged to have been able to afford to learn the skills and buy the kit needed to make films that tell stories. I want to help you tell yours.

Are you a trans person, a trans person of colour, or a gender-diverse person? Then I want to make a film with you. I was the first storyteller in the third sector in Wales, I create digital content and stories for a living. Telling stories through film and digital content is my passion.

Here's some of my work:

My vimeo

My website

You might be wondering why I'm doing this. The answer's easy - it's because I give a shit.

I want to hear from you if you're a Welsh trans person

Here's a quick FAQ:

About you

You're trans

You're Welsh (born in Wales, living in Wales, speak Welsh or not. If you feel Welsh, that's good enough for me, cariad)

You're willing to share your story

What you get

My time (filming, editing)

A 5-10 minute film to do with what you want (copyright and ownership will be yours)

Social media graphics to help share your film

A new friend  and ally

How do I get in touch?

Shout me on Twitter @andygwaith

Comment on this blog (comment are moderated)

Is there a time limit?

No. I'm totally flexible. It makes sense to wait a bit due to covid, but there's no rush

Please share this with anyone. Diolch x

I wrote a nocturne

I've always wanted to write a nocturne, so here's my first attempt. Am I being pretentious giving it an opus number? Oh yes, totally!

I also made a slushy drone version, and another version of one of my favourite Chopin nocturnes.

"Nos" means "night" in Welsh. Free to download. 

New album - Blodeuben

“Mae brawd gan Blodeuwedd, a'i enw yw Blodeuben.”
“Blodeuwedd has a brother, and his name is Blodeuben.”

I’ve always been interested in the stories of the Mabinogion ever since my Grandmother used to tell them to me when I was small.

I’ve rewritten the story of Blodeuwedd so that she has a brother, Blodeuben, who becomes Gwydion’s lover.

“He lifted his arms and circled the remaining flowers, chanting under his breath. As he circled widdershins, the flowers began to glow again. He watched as the flowers melted together and formed the body and limbs of a beautiful young man, who sprung out of the pit into Gwydion's waiting arms.”

The Erlking is borrowed from German literature. In Wales he is
Y Gwernfrenin, and he’s here for your sons.

“Pwy sy'n marchogaeth mor hwyr trwy'r nos?
Y tad sydd yno, gyda'i blentyn tlos;
Mae'n meddwl mae’r bachgen yn iawn dan ei fraich,
Mae’n dal e’n dynn, trwy ystod y daith.”

“Who is that riding so late through the night?
The father holds his little son tight;
He thinks he’s safe, tucked under his arm,
He holds him tight, he’ll not come to harm."

The three sons of Gwydion and Gilfaethwy, born as a wolf cub, a fawn, and a wild boar piglet, are adopted by Math Mathonwy.

“Math then called the wolf and she-wolf, Gwydion and Gilfaethwy, and struck them both with his wand and they returned to their own trembling flesh.

Too scared to look at each other, unable to look at anything else.”

I wanted to make something that sounded and felt as Welsh as the tales that inspired it.

Diolch
Andy x

7 tracks, plus a bonus track, for £1.