Ynys (Welsh for “Island”) is the project of Aberystwyth’s Dylan Hughes, former member of much-loved Welsh bands Race Horses and Radio Luxembourg. Now reimagined as a five-piece live outfit, Ynys blends hazy, melancholic harmonies with lush, layered instrumentation – think 80s sequencers, 70s string machines, swirling fuzz guitars, and wistful vocal melodies that evoke golden-hour nostalgia with a shimmer of psych-pop oddness.

Since their formation, Ynys has steadily carved out a unique place in the UK’s alternative music scene with two critically acclaimed albums on Libertino Records: the self-titled debut Ynys (2022), and the richly cinematic Dosbarth Nos (2024). Both records explore themes of memory, place, and dreamlike disconnection, delivered through Hughes’ deft ear for hooks and off-kilter arrangements.

The band’s unique sound has earned widespread acclaim, with Mojo awarding their second album a glowing 4-star review, while God Is In The TV called them “one of the most quietly brilliant bands in Britain right now.” Their vibrant, emotionally resonant live shows have graced major festival stages including Other Voices, Green Man, FOCUS Wales, SUNS Europe (Italy) and Sŵn, with extensive touring across the UK building a loyal and growing fanbase.

Radio support has been strong and consistent, with singles hailed as “Track of the Week” on Amazing Radio and BBC Radio Wales. Ynys has also recorded two live sessions for BBC 6 Music’s Marc Riley, cementing their status as one of the most compelling and idiosyncratic acts emerging from the Welsh music scene today.

Their latest album Dosbarth Nos (Night Class), released in 2024 and shortlisted for the prestigious Welsh Music Prize, is a dazzling, synth-soaked collection where Northern Soul rhythms meet dreamlike romanticism. The record dances between shadows and neon light – a cinematic blend of melancholic melodies and euphoric choruses that channel the flickering beauty of late-night radio, forgotten seaside discos, and the quietly ecstatic moments between memory and invention. It’s a soundtrack for daydreamers and the heartbroken alike – a joyful melancholy that shimmers with both longing and release.

In 2025, Dosbarth Nos received one of Welsh music’s highest honours, winning Welsh Language Album of the Year (Gwobr Albwm Cymraeg y Flwyddyn) at the National Eisteddfod in Wrexham. The judges praised its adventurous spirit, dynamic arrangements, and its ability to capture the electricity of Ynys’s live performances – a recognition that cements the album as both a creative high point and a cultural landmark.

“Dosbarth Nos, is absolutely crammed with hook-laden earworms…if you like Super Furry Animals or Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci, you need Ynys in your life” – Brooklyn Vegan

“The Aberystwyth band’s latest is an absolute blast, overflowing with energy, joie de vivre and timeless glamour.” – CLASH Magazine

“There are layered harmonies and pop hooks aplenty and dreamy textures that almost drift away on the wind.” – Shindig! Magazine

“Ynys have grasped their potential…pure Badfinger powerpop…prime 1970s Paul McCartney…Great stuff” – Mojo ★★★★