Ynys (Welsh for “Island”) is the project of Aberystwyth’s Dylan Hughes, formerly of much-loved Welsh bands Race Horses and Radio Luxembourg. Now expanded into a five-piece live outfit, Ynys blend hazy, melancholic harmonies with lush instrumentation – 80s sequencers, 70s string machines, fuzz guitars and wistful vocal melodies that shimmer with psych-pop oddness and golden-hour nostalgia.
Since their formation, Ynys have carved a distinctive place in the UK alternative scene with two acclaimed albums on Libertino Records: Ynys (2022) and the cinematic Dosbarth Nos (2024). Both explore memory, place and dreamlike disconnection, delivered with Hughes’ ear for hooks and off-kilter arrangements. Dosbarth Nos was shortlisted for the Welsh Music Prize and, in 2025, won Welsh Language Album of the Year at the National Eisteddfod. Judges praised its adventurous spirit, dynamic arrangements and ability to capture the electricity of Ynys live.
Their sound has earned glowing reviews: Mojo ★★★★ hailed them as “pure Badfinger powerpop… prime 1970s Paul McCartney”, while CLASH praised their “energy, joie de vivre and timeless glamour”. God Is In The TV described them as “one of the most quietly brilliant bands in Britain right now.”
On stage, Ynys are vibrant and emotionally resonant, with performances at Other Voices, Green Man, FOCUS Wales, SUNS Europe (Italy) and Sŵn, alongside extensive UK touring. Radio support has been strong, with singles picked as “Track of the Week” on Amazing Radio and BBC Radio Wales, plus two BBC 6 Music sessions for Marc Riley.
Dosbarth Nos is a dazzling, synth-soaked collection where Northern Soul rhythms meet dreamlike romanticism. It drifts between shadows and neon light – melancholic melodies, euphoric choruses and the flickering beauty of late-night radio and forgotten seaside discos. A joyful melancholy, it confirms Ynys as one of Wales’ most compelling and idiosyncratic bands.