9Bach stand as one of Wales' most visionary bands, establishing themselves as a unique creative force on the music scene. Led by Lisa Jên Brown, they have broken new ground by combining Welsh musical heritage with contemporary sounds.
Groundbreaking Collaboration with Andy Gangadeen
In 2025, the band reached a completely new stage in their musical journey through collaboration with Andy Gangadeen - an artist with extensive experience working with leading bands, among them, Chase & Status and Lava La Rue. This marks the first opportunity to hear their exciting musical partnership, bringing "powerful big beats and up-tempo grooves" to 9Bach's unique sound.
This new material draws deeply from Lisa and Martin’s personal roots in the acid house movement of the '80s and '90s. It was an amazing time of togetherness. Although Martin and Lisa didn’t know each other then, they both connect on a level where those powerful beats of a London warehouse party or rave in a North Wales quarry puts them both back in that joyful place of freedom and euphoric pulse to move your body. It’s a powerful energy they crave to relive through their own music
The recording process has been different for this new collaboration. 9Bach’s last studio album Anian was recorded live in Real World Studios, but the new material has been recorded by Lisa, Martin & Andy in different cottages around North Wales, with Andy’s mobile 101 Studio, Sdiwdio 9Bach in Bethesda and Andy’s 101 Studio’s in Bow, with Mirain & Dan adding sparkle from their home studios in London and Cardiff.
Lisa “This time round I’ve composed songs whilst listening to Andy’s drum sequences as inspiration. It’s good to mix things up with a different approach to tease something new out of me. Songs for me have always started by the piano, but I’ve loved having a dance beat to vibe me up as I stare at the blank page!”
9Bach was formed by Lisa Jen and Martin Hoyland in 2005. The name is a play on numbers and words. Lisa: "9 is as in Nain, (pronounced nine), which means grandmother in the North of Wales; Bach means little and is also a term of endearment in Welsh. In one language 9 is something so mundane as a number, but in Welsh Nain is a cozy, family-orientated, lovely thing. Your grandmother is a person we can relate to and visualise."
The band comprises:
● Lisa Jen Brown: Vocals
● Martin Hoyland: Guitars
● Dan Swain: Bass Guitar
● Mirain Haf Roberts: Vocals, Piano
● Andy Gangadeen: Drums, Musical Director
9Bach’s songs reflect their strong roots in home, the free party scene, and their frequent international travels. Their music becomes a bridge between generations, between past and present, capturing the complexity of cultural identity through sound. 9Bach's music is a rich, textured soundscape that weaves together the essence of Welsh cultural heritage with cutting-edge musical innovations. Their compositions create an immersive journey, blending deep-rooted musical memories with modern sonic exploration. The band crafts intricate sound narratives that transcend traditional boundaries, drawing listeners into a landscape of profound emotional depth and contemporary musical expression.
The band have played live Worldwide including Spain, Holland, Canada, Aotearoa, Vietnam, Australia and the Middle East. Lisa is also a long-term vocal collaborator with Gruff Rhys of Super Furry Animals: she featured on the Candylion album, and sang live on the Candylion/ Hotel Shampoo tour dates. Lisa and Mirain also feature on Seeking New Gods and Bablesberg by Gruff Rhys. Lisa also features on Public Service Broadcasting’s Every Valley album.
The tension and interaction between local and international influences informs the group’s songwriting. As Lisa says: “I don’t do heartbreak and ballads. I have nothing to report on those kinds of themes. I’m a very emotional person; I get moved very easily, but by nature, the ghosts of our ancestors, the mountains, the history of places, images of endangered animals, radio plays, old poems about paths and rivers, books about Women running with Wolves… anything… My imagination is very vivid and I often make stories up and convince myself they are true.”