Cerys Matthews (born April 11, 1969) is a Welsh singer, songwriter, author, and broadcaster. She first became widely known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of Catatonia, one of the defining bands of the late-1990s Welsh alternative music movement. Since the group disbanded, Matthews has developed a broad career that combines rock, folk, blues, poetry, radio, television, and literature.
Born in Cardiff and raised in Swansea, Matthews learned guitar as a child and grew up with a strong interest in Welsh traditional music. That early connection to folk songs remained important throughout her career, even as she became involved in the independent music scene. In 1992, she formed Catatonia with guitarist Mark Roberts. The band's early releases established a distinctive sound that combined alternative rock, pop hooks, dark humor, and Matthews' expressive, unmistakable voice.
Catatonia's breakthrough came with the album International Velvet in 1998. It reached number one on the UK Albums Chart and produced several successful singles, including "Road Rage," "Mulder and Scully," and "I Am the Mob." Matthews became one of the most recognizable figures associated with "Cool Cymru," the period when Welsh musicians achieved an unusually strong presence in British popular culture. Her collaborations also widened her public profile. In 1997, she appeared with Liverpool band Space on "The Ballad of Tom Jones," while a later recording of "Baby, It's Cold Outside" paired her with Welsh singer Tom Jones.
Catatonia released four studio albums before splitting in 2001. Matthews then moved to Nashville, where she explored the city's country and roots traditions while developing her solo work. Her first solo album, Cockahoop, appeared in 2003. It moved away from the tightly focused indie rock of Catatonia and introduced a more open mixture of country, folk, soul, and acoustic songwriting. Never Said Goodbye followed in 2006, and the bilingual projects Don't Look Down and Paid Edrych I Lawr appeared in 2009, reflecting her continuing commitment to both English- and Welsh-language music.
Her later albums have emphasized traditional songs, poetry, and cross-cultural influences. Tir, released in 2010, drew particularly strongly on Welsh musical heritage, while Explorer and Hullabaloo extended her interest in international folk and family-oriented material. Matthews has also worked with contemporary artists and ensembles, including Hidden Orchestra. Their collaborative project We Come From the Sun was released in 2021 and combined spoken word, electronic textures, poetry, and contributions from musicians and sound artists.
Broadcasting gradually became as important to Matthews as recording. She has presented programs for BBC Radio 6 Music, BBC Radio 2, and BBC Radio 4, and has made documentaries about music, poetry, Wales, blues history, and cultural figures. Her BBC work is marked by an eclectic taste that connects traditional performers with contemporary artists. From 2021 to 2024, she co-presented the Radio 4 music program Add to Playlist, which won both the Prix Italia and Prix Europa in 2022.
Matthews is also an author and cultural organizer. Her books include children's stories, the food and travel work Where the Wild Cooks Go, and an illustrated adaptation of Dylan Thomas' Under Milk Wood. In 2014, she received a St David Award for culture and was appointed an MBE for services to music. Through recording, broadcasting, writing, and festival work, Matthews has remained an influential advocate for Welsh culture while continuing to present music as a living, international tradition.