In 2019, Toby Hay released New Music for the 12 String Guitar, the concept for which was dreamt up by the London label The state51 Conspiracy. The idea was to ask Roger Bucknall of Fylde Guitars to build a new custom instrument specifically for a guitarist to write and record music for.
The twelve-String was made with Macassar Ebony and Englemann Spruce, resulting in a very responsive piece with a big voice and broad range. In an interview with KLOF’s Glenn Kimpton, Toby shared how the resulting Fylde twelve-string guitar was built around his requirements: “I wanted a guitar that was built in a way that suited my playing style, which is alternatively tuned…”. The results were impressive, with Thomas Blake calling Hay “a master musician at work” and adding, “It is only two years since his debut, and he is already one of the finest guitarists of his generation.”
Since then he has released two collaborative albums, 2023’s self-titled ‘Jim Ghedi & Toby Hay’ released on the legendary Topic label, and 2024’s ‘After a Pause’, with Aidan Thorne, released on his own, Cambrian Records.
For his new album, New Music for the 6 String Guitar (out on June 6th via The state51 Conspiracy – pre-order here), the skills of Roger Bucknall of Fylde Guitars have been called upon once more. The resulting ‘Curlew’ is a custom six-string made from Macassar Ebony & lightcoloured Cedar and is set up, once again, to play in Toby’s unique tunings. The naming of the guitar after the Curlew is a nice touch; Hay has worked for the Radnorshire Wildlife Trust whose wetlands are vital to wading birds like the Curlew whose numbers are in decline.
Alongside the album announcement, we have the pleasure of premiering the video for his lead single, Celyn, which is released today. Toby told us:
“Celyn is one of the first tunes that I wrote for this new album. It is a love song, like so many of the tracks on the record. I filmed and edited the video entirely on my phone, as I thought it would be an interesting creative challenge to have that limitation. It is made from clips I shot around my home here in the Cambrian Mountains, throughout Spring 2025.”
The results speak for themselves. Don’t miss Toby’s upcoming tour dates in June/July, details below.
The album was recorded over three days in the Wood Room at Real World Studios. All tracks are live performances with no overdubs.
“It is a beautiful studio, my brother Tim engineered the session. It is a very honest album, just me, in a room, one guitar, a mixture of compositions and improvisations. We were invited to watch the football with Peter Gabriel and a few of his friends on the final evening, a memorable experience!”
The natural world is a recurring theme across these 12 tracks, with inspiration ranging from Hay’s time working for the Radnorshire Wildlife Trust, to his recent Masters in Music & The Environment from the University of the Highlands and Islands. Inspiration also comes from Hay’s connection to his local landscape, his home in the Cambrian Mountians, and his sheep dog Bear. But ultimatley this is an album that explores the relationship between musician and instrument.
With the guitar being built by Roger Bucknall, the album mixed by Tchad Blake, and the photography by Julian Broad, this album is full of talented contributuions from masters in their fields.
“I have been very lucky. Tchad and Julian are both local to me here in mid Wales, and to have them involved is such a privelidge. Roger is an absolute legend in the world of guitar making, and this instrument is stunning”
Pre-Order New Music for the 6 String Guitar
CD/LP/DL – The state51 Conspiracy (CON1010).
Toby Hay Tour dates:
June 6th | The Lost Arc | Rhayader
June 7th | Broadside Hacks Folk Club at Theatreship | London
June 11th | The Feather Star | Wirksworth
June 12th | Cafe#9 | Sheffield
June 15th | Bettws Triangle Festival | Bettws-y-Crwyn
June 21st | Cwtch Cafe | Pembroke Dock
June 24th | Weirdshire | Hereford
June 29th | The Globe | Hay on Wye
July 3rd | Bank Vault | Aberystwyth
July 5th | Parc Arts | Pontypridd
July 10th | Bandcamp Live Stream | Online
