The Writers of Wales Database

HAYES, KELVIN

Website: www.myspace.com/kelvinhayesofficial
 

Kelvin Hayes was born in Wales and raised in both New Zealand and the UK. This led to its fair share of complications notably in his education and cultural identity. None the less, having experienced both hemispheres, Hayes’ work offers a blend of European mystique and Australasian directness with influences drawn from music, literature, film and of memory and travel.

Like his main parable Brian Eno he followed an education in the visual arts although his interests are cast too wide for him to be called any one thing (at the last count writer/photographer/critic). However, it’s the former for which he is best known or unknown? In either case, rather than pursue music which already existed, integrity led him to form the small press equivocal in 1998 through which he released several books of poetry including: A Lyrical Oasis (1997), Notate (2000) and Circles & Bumps (2004) as well as travelogues Voyage of Nomad (2001), Returning/Repeating (2003) and Temp (2005) based on explorations of Europe (including a stint at legendary Paris bookstore/writers’ retreat Shakespeare & Co.), Australasia and London respectively.

He has contributed to many publications and websites, mainly All Music Guide, Record Collector and Lonely Planet Wales. In 2004 his compiled project RE:COVERED - a history of New Zealand music cover art went online and last year, a new poems retrospective Symposium of Empty Envelopes 1992-2007 was issued. His books have been acquired by libraries worldwide and aroused the interest of many luminaries such as rock legend Robert Fripp, Iva Davies (Icehouse), Cocteau Twins, Lloyd Cole and travel writer Peter Moore. Sadly some of the multi-disciplinary projects he intended with musicians, animators and film makers have never materialised. Still, Hayes remains a cultural nomad producing work which is both contemporary and which push boundaries.

His books have been among the first to feature ’strong language’ warnings, DVD style ’making of’ featurettes and in some cases hidden content - unheard of in the book world. While during a hugely busy 2008 he has found time to exhibit photography, support blind charity RNIB, consult Christchurch Airport on their website, interview a-ha and promote Where I’m Calling From - his collaboration with Portugal’s O Atlas which was aired on BBC 6 music radio and his latest short stories book Beats Per Minute which in turn signals the end of equivocal after a ten year tenure.

Reviews:

"…Written realistically, Voyage of Nomad pops any bubbles the novice traveller may have formed…"
Buzz (South Wales Arts & Entertainment guide)


Selected Publications:
Poems:
A Lyrical Oasis (Equivocal, 1997)
Notate (Equivocal, 2000)
Circles and Bumps (Equivocal, 2004)
Symposium of Empty Envelopes; Poems 1992/2007 (Equivocal, 2007)

Short Fiction:
Beats Per Minute (Equivocal, 2008)

Travelogue:
Voyage of Nomad (Equivocal, 2001)
Returning/Repeating (Equivocal, 2003)
Temp (such is life) (Equivocal, 2005)

Available through amazon.co.uk, gwales.com and the website.
 
Contributed to:
All Music Guide to Electronica (contributor) (Backbeat UK, 2001) 
All Music Guide to Rock (contributor) (Backbeat UK, 2002)
All Music Guide to Soul (contributor) (Backbeat UK, 2003)
Rough Guide to Wales (contributor) (Rough Guides, 2003)
Lonely Planet (Wales) (contributor) (Lonely Planet Publications, 2004)











 

Beats Per Minute (Equivocal, 2008)

Due to be published on September 15th, 2008, the 40 page book will be issued as an e-book only and priced at £7. The book features 25 vignettes and 3 link pieces as well as a making of featurette. Customers will also receive a seperate file of cover artwork.

To purchase this title, please visit the website