A budding rap artist from Pontypridd has had a second chance at stardom thanks to one of Wales’s oldest learning institutions.
It’s a long way from the valleys of South Wales to the Gwynedd coast and the fortress town of Harlech but 25-year-old Clayton Georges made the trip in his search for a new start.
He enrolled at adult learning college Coleg Harlech nine months ago and now Clayton, from Glyncoch, Pontypridd, has a brand new CD, a brand new qualification in Music Technology and a hoped-for place at university this September.
He said: “I was meant to come to Coleg Harlech about five years ago after a youth worker gave me information but things just drifted and I just got caught up in all the usual things of bill-paying and the responsibilities of life.
“But I had always wanted to make a career in music and it has offered me a second chance and I’m just glad I have taken it.”
Clayton, originally from Butetown in Cardiff, performed two songs at Coleg Harlech’s graduation ceremony and one of his self-penned numbers included the lyrics, ‘A long way from civilisation, this is a test of patience, will I fail?’ and he admitted: “Harlech is a lot different to Cardiff and even Pontypridd and it was quite strange being here even though it’s a beautiful place.
“That song is entitled ‘Will I Fail’ and was written in the Common Room with a fellow student, Luke Winkworth, in the first term and was based round the experience of being in Harlech and achieving all my dreams and aspirations against all adversities.
“I’ve loved being on campus and it was a massive culture shock but I had to stick with it and it’s been worth it, the staff and students have been fantastic.
“It was a really good experience and I did enjoy it and have taken a lot from it and my family are very pleased.”
Music Technology lecturer Charles Goodall said: “Clayton has done fantastically well and gained distinctions in all his modules. He’s a great performer and his qualification, a foundation degree in Music Technology, will enable him to go on to study at the University of Glamorgan.
“He’s like so many of our students. It’s an over-20 college so we get a good balance of ages from 20 to people in their 60s and it’s given him a chance to make a career in the music industry where his strength is performance.
“With the expertise we have here he’s been able to produce his own CD which was part of his final submission and that’s given him experience of studio work as well.”
Coleg Harlech Principal Trefor Owen said: “Coleg Harlech really is a college of second chances, it’s never too late to come here and to get back on the learning trail.
“We provide a wide range of courses and educational opportunities, both here at Harlech and at venues and workplaces across North Wales and North Powys.
“Many of our students go on, like Clayton, to university and there their life experiences make them a valuable part of the student intake and we’re just glad to have been able to help them fulfil themselves.”
Clayton, whose stage name is Tytun – it used to be Tyranik – said: “I’m into urban lyricism and rap but I consider myself to be a diverse songwriter. People do have other misconceptions about rap, that it’s more aggressive and more confrontational but I don’t see it like that.
“I had drifted away from performing and doing this at the graduation was my first performance for about two years so it’s good to be back.
“I’ve supported a few big acts in the past, r’n’b singer Shola Ama and reggae artist Tippa Irie and I’ve appeared at Radio One’s Big Weekend and at the Toucan Club, in Cardiff, and this is what I want to do, become a recording artist.
“My CD is entitled ‘Meet My Cronie The Phone’ and it was recorded and produced here and I hope it’s the start of something bigger for me.”
He hopes to be performing songs from the CD at Cardiff Arts Institute in September and his music is also available to listen to on www.soundcloud.com/tytun
For more information about the courses offered by Coleg Harlech contact the Student Admissions Officer, Julie Roberts, by ringing 01766 781900 or emailing [email protected]. You can also log on to: www.harlech.ac.uk
