This playlist comes from a simple place: a love of music built up over time.
We invited Cardiff-based producer and recent Welsh Music Prize winner, Don Leisure, to put together a playlist that carries us forward into 2026. It’s a varied collection, not just a snapshot of what he’s listening to right now, but a reflection of the sounds that have shaped him over time.
Of course, Cardiff sits at the heart of the playlist. Don has long spoken about how the city’s multicultural character feeds into both his own music and the records he gravitates toward. That influence is shown throughout the playlist.
You might notice some Welsh Legends in the mix. The late great Geraint Jarman, Heather Jones and Young Marble Giants, all written in Cardiff and carrying an unmistakable sense of place. There’s also a Sonia track that, in Don’s words, “sounds like Cardiff.”
A stand out for us is the minimalist art-pop of Young Marble Giants, formed in Cardiff in 1978.
Some tracks carry fond memories. Metabeats’ “Bootney Fawnsworth” is a core Cardiff moment for Don, produced by Barry resident Earl Jeffers in 2012, and became a staple in Don’s DJ sets for years. He remembers playing it constantly at Gwdihw and other now-gone venues around the city. Tracks like this act as a time machine back to packed dance floors.
The playlist doesn’t just look back, though. It also hints at where Don is heading creatively, particularly with more projects planned alongside Welsh label Sain Recordiau in 2026 and beyond. Don adds, “It was only right to include some of my favourite Sain tracks from artists like Delwyn Sion, Geraint Jarman and Y Nhw,”.
We also asked Don about the role cafes and coffee shops play in sharing music, something we think about a lot at Hard Lines. He told us that no matter where he is, he can’t help but tune in to what’s playing. If the music’s good, he’ll always come back. Thankfully for us, he reckons the music, food and coffee at Hard Lines are “always on point.”
As for the perfect way to listen to this playlist? Don imagines it soundtracking a walk through Bute Park on New Year’s Day, “feeling ready to kick the sh** out of 2026!”
For us, its the perfect backdrop to the first flatty of the New Year. Blwyddyn Newydd Dda pawb!
