Mali Hâf shares excitement ahead of Glastonbury performance

Stephen Price

Welsh pop sensation, Mali Hâf has shared her excitement ahead of a dream-come-true performance at this weekend’s Glastonbury Festival.

The Welsh singer-songwriter, whose most recent single, a feminist take on the Welsh National anthem, titled Mae Hen Wlad fy Mamau, made waves across radio and social media recently, is set to play Glastonbury Festival 2025 on the BBC Introducing stage after impressing judges in the festival’s Emerging Talent Competition.

Taking to Instagram to share the news, Mali wrote: “Eekkk !! Catch me living my dreams at Glasto🥹🦋💓 Amdani bois bach!!”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Mali Hâf (@malihahahaf)

Mali told Nation.Cymru: “I feel a bit bad for everyone around me because I can’t stop talking about it! My socials are full of it, my mind is full of it…Also I’ve got around 90 acts saved on my Glasto app already. (I wonder how many I can manage to see!)

“There’s deffo some nerves though –  I’ve got 4 shows across the weekend, one a day, and I still want to party hard and see all my faves.

“But honestly, this is one of those dreams that felt too big to ever really happen and well now it is.

“I think little Mali Hâf would be amazed. I’m unbelievably grateful to the people who believe in my art.

“As for what to expect… a Welsh Witch might just bless the stage. With her cwcw la la dance moves and my groovy llais. Dewch i weld! Come and find out.”

Celtic pop

Mali Hâf, who describes her unique style as Celtic Pop is readying her next single, Llais, which is due on 11 July.

“I believe if you want to change the world or find your purpose, you have to look inside first. The singles and the upcoming album will reflect that.”

The song was inspired by female pop icons who are not afraid to be themselves, artists such as Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter and Marina.

“They celebrate their identity and their femininity without making excuses, and I wanted to create a Welsh song that conveyed the same feeling – positive, personal, and full of colour.”

“Llais” was written in a time when things were not so good in the artist’s life.

She shared: “Sometimes, listing things I’m grateful for changes my perspective… but this time, I thought: ‘Why not turn that into a song?’ And when I mentioned being grateful for my voice, a wide smile came to my face.”

Mali also shared the journey of learning to use her voice in the studio: “Especially as a woman, it wasn’t easy from the beginning. But I’m starting to believe in my voice by now. Every voice is unique, and worth hearing.”

“I feel like I’m trying to create music that stands for self-care and believing in yourself. Because if you can learn to do that, you can be there for others – help, share your light in a world that can feel dark. Share your voice.”

Glasto

Mali can barely contain her excitement for Glastonbury. Ahead of her career-highlight of a set, Mali told Nation.Cymru: “My next single, Llais, will hopefully be your new favourite Welsh summer pop tune!!

“If you’ve been watching ‘The Voice’ in Welsh, you’ll know Llais means “Voice.”

She said: “I wrote it in my little home studio, which I call ‘Gwefus Mefus’, and I actually wasn’t in the lightest mood that day.

“I often turn to songwriting when I feel like that but this time, I thought..what if I wrote a song to cheer me up like a gratitude list? What am I thankful for? My very own LLAIS ( my voice.)

“As a woman working in music and just in life generally – using my voice, learning to speak up, be confident, set boundaries… it hasn’t always come naturally. But this song is like me saying: “Hey, I’ve come a long way,” both in my music and as a person.”

She added: “I think it’s so important we all recognise how powerful, beautiful, and unique our voices are. And not just in music but in creating change. Whether it’s showing more kindness, standing up for others, or challenging injustice, it all starts with one thing – believing in your own voice !!

“That kind of self-belief is contagious when one person starts to speak up, others find the courage to do the same. ‘Llais’ is my celebration of that. It’s bold, colourful pop inspired by the powerful women in the pop world right now (Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, Marina).

“I just wanted my ‘Cymraeg’ llais to have her moment, too.”

Llais arrives on 11 July, but in the meantime you can hear more from Mali on Spotify and all streaming services.

Glastonbury performances 

Iau/Thursday: The Wishing Well 14:00
Sadwrn/Saturday: Bread and Roses 13:30
Sul/Sunday: BBC Introducing 14:30