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Local artist of the week – Will Mills x Hijac

Published

8 years ago

April 12, 2016

AFTER growing up in Tenby, 21-year-old rapper Will Mills moved to the big city of London to study advertising, where he met his DJ, Hijac. The Herald spoke with the two musicians while they were visiting Pembrokeshire this week.

They’ve just been booked to play Secret Solstice in Iceland this Summer, where they will be joining names such as Action Bronson, Die Antwood, Radiohead and Lady Leshur.

Will has always loved telling stories, creating and performing and music has always been the easiest outlet for that.

However, he feels that rapping as a profession is so far away from who he is: “Sequential, seaside, town bound, country – I guess I like to break those kind of boundaries. I like to shock.”

Initially, when Will started creating music, he did not rap. He told us: “I made noises with my mouth that Niall, my twin brother, could spit to.

“The first ever line I heard of his was ‘Born, born 1995, it was a hard time kiddin’, beach side house by Tenby we were livin’. We didn’t produce anything for another few years. It was all videos at the start; mobile phone, three megapixel type stuff.”

Jac (Hijac) realised that he wanted to pursue music when he started to hate the idea of committing himself to a job he didn’t like.

“The dream was to pursue a career in a hobby,” he told us, “I became so obsessed with it – it became ridiculous. I’d be on the toilet, listening to new music on Soundcloud just to get my fix.”

Not long after, Jac created his first song ‘Feather-riots’.

“I’d paid a guy off Gumtree £20 an hour to teach me over Skype. I’d like to thank him for this, but I can’t remember his name. We never stayed in touch.”

When Will first started rapping he found that he sounds was very London based, after he’d been to see Wiley in Cardiff.

“Bringing a genre like that to Pembrokeshire is really difficult,” Will said, before stating that he hadn’t achieved the sound he’d been looking for until now.

“Only now can I listen to a track of ours and think, ‘I’d listen to this myself’. Since moving to London I’ve really had the chance to escape those beach-esque, laidback tones and create something I’m proud of – something that pops.”

Jac’s tastes are constantly changing, and his music follows that pattern as a result. Originally, the DJ only made Moombahton, a kind of slowed down version of Reggaeton, but he has since experimented with House, Trap, and testing BPMs.

“I enjoy merging different aspects of genres together,” he commented.

We asked the boys how they would describe their music, to which they replied: “You can definitely dance to it; it’s high energy stuff. I don’t think South Wales has been witness to it before. It’s very different and it’s been harder than it should have been to find a club that accepts it.”

During their live show, Will and Jac always try to project a mix of emotions.

“The goal is to make the audience laugh, dance and cry all in one night. There’s a beginning, middle and end to every show.”

“How does playing in west Wales differ from playing in London?” we asked.

“People tend stare a lot more in Wales, maybe they’re more awake. You can be in London and the audience will lose themselves. Sometimes playing in Wales can feel like you’re holding an assembly, but I like it. It’s attentive. I know they’re listening.”

Will then went on to discuss west Wales’ music scene, stating: “It’s definitely unique right now, but I wish it was easier to infiltrate.”

“It’s so much harder than it should be to get a voice. Maybe if some of the more popular clubs took locals in to play I’d like it. Don’t get me wrong, If you have a guitar, and you can attract a crowd by doing a few covers then you’ll be fine.

“The venues are all so afraid. That’s why I like West Coast Arts in Penally. They’re a celebration of music. Their success as a club takes a back seat. We need this.”

Both of the musicians would like to advise those thinking of creating their own music not to refine themselves.

“I’m as capable as the next guy. I just have to mould myself that way. Try everything. Just have a go,” they said.

We went on to ask: “What has been the most memorable response to your music?”

Will replied: “Probably Annie’s, my girlfriend. We played a local pub over Christmas. She knew every single word. Those gaps where I’d forget, she’d fill. That was amazing.”

“The face of disgust when I showed my friend the first song I created,” Jac said, “I didn’t tell him it was mine. That’s true judgement.”

Will told us that we should definitely be listening to local musician Rye Milligan.

“He’s been there since the start. He uses a loop to fuse so much together. His guts and his presence on stage is undeniable. I caught up with him in London a few months back. We’re the same age, so I guess we’ve had the same experience. We’ve seen improvements in each other and always been honest.”

Community

Anzac Day commemoration service held in Milford Haven

Published

1 day ago

April 28, 2024

Tom Sinclair

IN a service held on Sunday (Apr 28), the Milford Haven Branch of the Royal British Legion led a poignant commemoration service to mark Anzac Day, honouring the valor and sacrifices of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) during the Gallipoli campaign in World War I.

The service, which took place at 11:00am, on Hamilton Terrace, Milford Haven, witnessed a significant turnout.

Attendees included members of the Australian Signals and Signal Company as well as representatives of Milford Haven Town Council and the Milford Haven Sea Cadets.

The service commenced with a welcome and introduction by Lt Col Warren Coetzer, followed by a rendition of the National Anthems of Australia, New Zealand, and Wales, embodying a spirit of unity and remembrance. The anthems were a moving tribute to the camaraderie and international bonds formed in times of conflict.

***ANZAC service: Remembering soldiers who fought bravely (Pic: MHTC)***

During the service, the Ode of Remembrance was recited, a profound moment that prompted reflection on the courage and fellowship of the ANZAC forces.

The emblematic Rising Sun Cap Badge and the Union Flag were prominently displayed on the event programme, symbolising the service and sacrifice of those who served under them.

Local dignitaries laid wreaths, and a two-minute silence was observed, offering a chance for personal reflection on the cost of war and the price of peace.

**Sea Cadets and member of the public at the service (Pic: MH Sea Cadets)**

The commemoration concluded with a prayer for peace, leaving the attendees with a message of hope and a renewed commitment to the values for which the ANZAC soldiers bravely fought.

The service was not just a remembrance of past sacrifices but also a reminder of the enduring spirit of the ANZACs, which continues to inspire and guide future generations.

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Survey of Picton Castle reveals groundbreaking medieval architecture

Published

1 day ago

April 28, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE first ever detailed architectural survey of Picton Castle, Pembrokeshire, has revealed a medieval castle ahead of its time in terms of design and high status living. Much altered in the Georgian period, the castle was surveyed by the author, Neil Ludlow, with Phil Poucher of Heneb – Dyfed Archaeology (formerly Dyfed Archaeological Trust) and funded by the Castle Studies Trust: it reveals a sophisticated building fit for royalty.

However, the building was actually built between 1315-20 by a senior royal government official called Sir John Wogan, who held office in Pembrokeshire, Northern England and Ireland and possibly fought on a military campaign in Gascony.

While outwardly it retains much of its medieval flavour, the interiors were extensively made over during the eighteenth century so that it now presents itself first and foremost as a Georgian country seat. But beneath this veneer, much medieval work still survives – though a lot of it is tucked away behind stud-walls, in cupboards, or is otherwise obscured.

Picton’s unique layout makes it a castle of great importance and architecturally ground-breaking for when it was built in the early fourteenth century. Most castles have at least some close parallels, but Picton is effectively one of a kind. Close study shows that it resolves as a central first-floor hall, flanked by services and a chamber-block to form a very early example of the three-unit ‘H-plan’ house.

The gatehouse – unusual in buildings of this kind – led onto an equally unusual ‘grand stairway’ to the hall; a second ground-floor entry probably led to an external kitchen and bakehouse.

The castle’s spatial disposition, access and circulation are meticulously planned, while the domestic appointments show a remarkable level of sophistication for the period, including what appear to be vertical serving-hatches between the ground floor and the service rooms above. At second-floor level, the east towers and gatehouse form two integrated suites of residential apartments either side of a chapel, in a manner firmly rooted within royal planning. The opposite pair of towers, at the west end, seem to have been united internally to form a residential chamber-block, for Wogan’s officials and guests, possibly served by latrines in the former west tower; the present partition walls are later.

Neil Ludlow told The Pembrokeshire Herald: “The enigmatic castle at Picton in Pembrokeshire is best-known for its magnificent Georgian interiors. But beneath this veneer is a medieval castle, from around 1315-20, with a unique layout. A towered hall-block with a pioneering ‘H-plan’, it reveals elements derived from royal planning, and sophisticated domestic arrangements including serving hatches between the floor levels. These innovations show it to have been a castle that was ahead of its time.”

Castle Studies Trust Chair of Trustees Jeremy Cunnington added: “The Castle Studies Trust is delighted to have funded the first ever detailed survey of Picton Castle and to have learned so much more about the medieval form of this unique building.”

Dr Rhiannon Talbot-English, Director at Picton Castle Trust told this newspaper: “Picton Castle has always been something of an enigmatic mystery: hidden gothic alcoves and arches, secret spiral staircases and untouched medieval Undercroft. Picton Castle Charitable Trust is extremely grateful to the Castle Studies Trust for its generous financial support which has enabled this research to be undertaken and we look forward to sharing this new knowledge with the public in a new exhibition about the early castle.”

Community

Solemn tributes at Freshwater West for WWII maritime tragedy

Published

1 day ago

April 28, 2024

Tom Sinclair

IN an emotional gathering at Freshwater West, Pembrokeshire, the public and veterans convened on April 29, to honour the memory of the 85 souls lost in the tragic sinking of Landing Craft, Gun (LCG) 15 and LCG 16 during a brutal storm in April 1943.

The memorial service took place near the scenic, surf-popular beach, where the community assembled to reflect on the calamity that struck during a perilous wartime operation.

The service highlighted the sacrifices made by those aboard the LCGs, as well as six valiant crew members from the HMS Rosemary, who perished while attempting a daring rescue amidst the tempest.

Originally designed as Landing Craft, Tanks (LCTs), LCG 15 and LCG 16 were converted at Belfast’s Harland & Wolff shipyard to support amphibious operations by equipping them with heavy artillery.

Their redesign included the installation of two 4.7 inch guns intended for use during D-Day, suggesting that, had they survived, these crafts and their crews could have played a pivotal role in the Normandy Landings.

The crafts were en route to Falmouth when they encountered severe weather off the coast of Freshwater West.

Compounded by their flat-bottomed design, which was ill-suited for rough seas, both vessels tragically succumbed to the stormy conditions.

Denied shelter at Fishguard, they were compelled to continue towards Milford Haven, a decision that ultimately led to their sinking.

Today, the wrecks of LCG 15 and LCG 16 lie as protected war graves, and a poignant memorial stands overlooking the beach, a testament to the bravery and enduring legacy of the men lost to the sea.

Visitors to the memorial site at Freshwater West, which also hosts another commemorative marker at Thornton Cemetery in Milford Haven, can reflect upon the harrowing experiences faced by wartime naval personnel and the profound impact of their service.

The event served not only as a remembrance but also as an educational experience, particularly for younger generations unaware of the perils faced by their forebears during such tumultuous times.

The memorial at Freshwater West remains open to the public, offering a place for contemplation and respect, against the backdrop of one of Wales’ most beloved surfing beaches, where the echoes of history resonate with the sounds of the waves.