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Merched Dylan

Published Mon 14 May 2018 - By Rufus Mufasa
Merched Dylan
Rufus Mufasa & Kevs Ford

What better day could there be to launch our new single, Merched Dylan, than on International Dylan Day.

The body of work, with the same heart as Daughters of Dylan, a war cry for gender equality, from my album Fur Coats From The Lion’s Den https://dopebiscuits.bandcamp.com/album/fur-coats-from-the-lions-den ,produced by Jamey P https://soundcloud.com/dope-biscuits , started its life as a rather angry poem. It was given a creative treatment, in collaboration with Kevs Ford, of Llwybr Llaethog http://www.llwybrllaethog.co.uk/ , while we were recently away in Aberystwyth with the Hay Scribblers Tour https://www.hayfestival.com/scribblers/the-scribblers-tour.aspx

Kevs and I arrived in Aberystwyth the night before the event. I was so excited to be away from home, I felt like I was in Las Vegas. Aine Venables, the coordinator of this beautiful opportunity and the saviour of my forgotten toothbrush situation, is expecting a body of work from me, titled Aber Vegas.

Following a beautiful dinner with writers, also part of the tour, Kevs and I returned to our hotel. Some of the other writers went out for cocktails in Aber Vegas. Kevs had the best hotel room. I had to keep my inner diva in check to not suggest swapping, but to be fair, he did all the driving. Kevs’ sea view room was the best creative space, and we sat, with my new bodies of work, allowing them to find new rhythms, marrying them with musicality, while the waves crashed in chorus, the moon our only light, the guitar our needle and thread, transferring a once angry poem in to a smooth sounding song speaking of strength, with royal ruffles of reggae.

We showcased a 50 minute set the following afternoon, at Aberystwyth University, exclusively in Welsh. I talked about our journey and relationship as artists. I shared a poem, about friends, and how friendships change when you become a mother, and how hard this can be. The poem also talks about a dear friendship, my one with Kevs, which has been monumental, one that I’d never have survived motherhood without. Kevs has held my hand since day one and was there to greet my daughters Earth side. Kevs has helped me endlessly, he has picked me up when I’ve been at my most vulnerable, treated my children as his own, all the while nurturing my artistry. Kevs is our official/unofficial Grandfather figure. My children call him PopPops, as did everyone else following the talk.

I cried when I reached the last few lines of the poem. So did Kevs/PopPops, and John Gower, who was hosting the event. I felt embarrassed that I’d cried, and made a joke of it, saying that the young people should remember today, the moment Rufus Mufasa cried in front of everyone, but then I also explained the importance of crying, and that I once went on a crying strike, following a bust up with my father, and I developed awful adult acne, that nothing could clear. Then a year into my crying strike, I cried my eyes out one night, and the following morning my skin was completely healed. A good cry is good for the soul, and for the skin.

Thank you to Hay Festival and The Scribblers Tour for inviting us to be part of this beautiful project, and for the hotel room, giving us time to breath together as artists and friends. Thanks for the sea view and the tapas that fuelled our creativity. An extra big thanks to Kevs/PopPops for supporting me on my journey as a mother, helping me raise strong daughters.

Happy International Dylan Day from Kevs and I. We hope you enjoy our song!

 

Click the image to go to the song, Artwork by Lou Lockwood/ Enta

Literature Wales