Live webchat with Cerys Matthews, Radio 6 presenter, singer, songwriter and former member of Catatonia, Wednesday 12 June, 10.30am

[RachelMumsnet]

Cerys Matthews is coming along to Mumsnet Towers on Wednesday 12th June for a mid-morning webchat and to tell us about her beautiful new book, Hook Line and Singer that has just been published. Everyone who joins the webchat will be entered into a draw to win a signed copy (total here at MNHQ of the lucky winner)

Cerys is best known as a singer and songwriter from the band Catatonia. (Remember RoadRage and Mulder and Scully?) She now produces and presents the popular Sunday morning show on BBC Radio 6, makes documentaries for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 2, curates festivals and regularly appears on television shows like the Culture Show and The Voice where she joins Sir Tom Jones as a singing coach. She lives in West London and has five children.

Hook, Line and Singer is the result of this lifelong love-affair with singing: a beautiful songbook filled with Cerys' favourite songs, ballads and lullabies from around the world. The book is completed with music scores to make this the perfect sing-a-long book. Interspersed with the songs are personal anecdotes and tips of how to sing the songs and even suggested dances.

Put the date in your diary to join Cerys at 10.30am on Wednesday and if you're unable to make that time, post a question to her in advance on this thread.

[nickstmoritz]

Cerys
I loved your show with Ballet Cymru. Have you had any ballet lessons yet?

[CerysMatthews]

@AnAirOfHope

PS im a huge fan, thanks for doing the webchat

hey, my pleasure xc

[CerysMatthews]

@Catiinthehat

Hi Cerys,

If you weren't a singer/song writer, what alternative career do you think you would have taken?

I couldnt think what Id do, Im a music obsessive, but i also loved biology and gardening...so maybe a kitchen gardener that sang?xc

[WoTmania]

Another one who hasn't got a question (well I have loads but can't think of them right now) but just wanted to say You Are Fab. Love your music and radio show.

[CerysMatthews]

@Katn

Hello Cerys! I listen to your show all the time on 6 Music. How did you get into DJing and what's your favourite type of music to play when you're on? And you plays such a wide range of stuff, have you ever played something really antisocial for a Sunday morning?

Hello.thanks for listening and joining this happy musical family.I love a mix of music but totally love playing 1920's jazz and country blues as to me they are as exciting and from the gut as any music since.I also love music rfom aroudn the world, Cuba, Mali, Korea..but its the mix that makes me excited and more now since its become so popular it means that many of you agree that a mix is good. not just another feed of formula/same sounding marked mulch. I have played some Crass onSunday am and some Trembling Bells which have super loud drums, but I usually play them nearer midday just in case some folk are still half asleep. But thanks for the question and listening, I absolutely love picking all the songs and the features for the show xc

[Sneets]

I popped a question on at 07:00 if you look back.love your voice.
What do you do to relax?

[CerysMatthews]

@Rumours

Hi Cerys is there going to be a cd to go with the book for those of us that can't read sheet music?

No, not for the moment. The point of the book is to not compare with other recorded versions but to make your own-I imagine that most of the songs in there are well known enough for you to try?even if you're not a music reader..also Ive written them out as simply as possible-high notes are the high dots, and if the notes go low, the dots go low. You can 'see' the melody this way? give it a go, and come back to me? id love to hear your opinion on this xc

[Littlesmoke]

Thanks for your advice. x

When it comes to 'story telling' in music, have you got any favorite songs?

[CerysMatthews]

@Sneets

Hi Cerys. Oh I loved XFiles so when you did Mulder & Scully I was in my element!
So now I'm a Dr Who fan, you could do a song about that please!

What do you do to relax?

I want to be Doctor Who. Its time for Dr to be a female . aha ha ah ha
no song, but if I were made Doctor, Id sing all the time..something about time travelling probably.or ...'when you wish uopn a star'..
to relax?My fave afternoon recently was sitting outside a local Spanish restaurant watching people trying to dislodge a football from a tree with a bagel. that was very relaxing,

[Rumours]

Thanks Cerys, I'm always making up songs for my ds's so it sounds like it could be a lot of fun , just to go for it I suppose.

[Littlesmoke]

(One of mine is 'Ruby' by Kenny Rogers...)

[CerysMatthews]

@mignonette

Cerys, congratulations on the book. I am a happy listener of your 6Music show and want to thank you for providing me with an expanded soundtrack for my life.

Would you consider re-mixing and recording the songs in your new book and if so, who would be on your 'shopping list' to record alongside?

This is an album that I would buy for every child-'owning' friend I know.

Thanks for joining me every Sunday-we are a growing family and its a wonderful feeling. As for cd of book,im not planning on recording them-I dont want comparables- the book is to encourage people to make their own sounds and noises no matter how good or bad. I judt love for us to not worry what we lok or sound like as long as we are jumping in and having fun together. its a good change from all of our online lives ;)
AND MASSIVE THANKS for buying books fro your friends. Its been amazing watching people and children smile xxx

[CerysMatthews]

@trice

Hi Cerys, I love your Sunday show on 6 music, I am frequently to be seen dancing around my kitchen or loudly singing along. From all of recorded history who would you choose to sing you a lullaby?

Louis Armstrong or Snooks Eaglin or Judy Garland or memphis Minnie...the list will continue all day :)
thanks for joining me each Sunday. Means everything xxx

[Jammygal]

Shw Mae Cerys
Do you miss Pembrokeshire? Do you still spend lots of time here? What would your advice be for a budding welsh writer ? X

[CerysMatthews]

@Littlesmoke

Thanks for your advice. x

When it comes to 'story telling' in music, have you got any favorite songs?

Many of the songs in the book are my fav. story led songs- whos gonna shoe your pretty little feet, daft wee article,house of the rising sun, waltzing matilda, even eviva espana as a very funny story line xx

[CerysMatthews]

@gallicgirl

Given the opportunity, Mulder or Scully?

scully. defo.

[CerysMatthews]

@HesterShaw

Hello Cerys, just wanted to say you are the object of a bit of a girlcrush. That's all

im flattered. you have great taste ;)

[Sneets]

Controversial, female Dr, sorry but it would have to be me, but I'd rather take over David Tennant's body!!!
That football in tree incident would have me rolling round the floor!

[CerysMatthews]

@Bexicles

Hi Cerys,

You have such a unique voice, which female artists (if any) have influenced your vocal style?

I love characters in music, like louis Armstrong,Bob Dylan, Judy garland, memphis Minnie..but I think if you're starting out, the most important thing is to be confident in your own sound and not try and copy (but yes, totally be inspired by your heroes)

[BoltonCVS]

Thanks Cerys, am such a big fan of yours, this has made my year.

Any support for our scheme would be so helpful, big ask I know but liking our facebook page (facebook.com/CVSBolton) or tweeting about our scheme 'Breastfeeding Friendly Bolton' would really help us get people on board twitter :@boltoncvs

Thanks and good luck with the new venture.

[CerysMatthews]

@shivs1974

If you were on Desert Island Discs, what luxury item would you choose?
My youngest is called Cerys...what's the most ridiculous pronunciation of your name you've ever heard? We once had "cerise"...

is a machete a luxury item or do i get that as a basic tool that id need?luxury?hmm, well a record player and some great records, or a guitar. defo a guitar x
cherish...i dont mind though, funny pronunciations make me chuckle. hello to cerys x

[CerysMatthews]

@Jammygal

Shw Mae Cerys
Do you miss Pembrokeshire? Do you still spend lots of time here? What would your advice be for a budding welsh writer ? X

I love pembs and we were there in half term. a lot of my family are still there so its still home.As for a budding writer? same advice as i give to musicians. find your own voice and be confident with it. then with that, its work, work work work work at it :) x good luck

[futuresandpasts]

Hi Cerys , Brilliant webchat .. hope Doctor Who people have rung you by now ! No question except to say it's brilliant to see your career unfolding in these amazing ways , and wish we could see you at the Eistedfodd event in Cardiff... loved your coverage on TV last year, so hopefully will see some of your performance on this year's programmes

Great advice on musicians enjoying playing / writing in private but maybe also finding they can perform where they didn't expect to be able to . Thanks and very best wishes

[CerysMatthews]

@weebarra

Hi Cerys, love the 6 music show and was a big fan of Catatonia.
"You've got a lot to answer for" still has me singing very badly in the car.
I sing my boys a lot of traditional Scots lullabies, do you sing ones from around the world or mostly the ones you grew up with?

i love songs from all over the world as you might see in the collection in 'Hook, Line and Singer' I have included the Scottish tale 'the twa brothers and 'whos gonna shoe your pretty little feet as well as a Scots Gaelic song 'fhir na bhata'
i sing any song from anywhere if i love it :) x

[Hellohippo]

Hi,
Was being in the jungle as hard as it seems? Sorry it's not a musical question!