The Covid-19 pandemic forced many people to reevaluate their lives, including their careers, and those working in the creative and performance industries were forced to take to Zoom to perform and write and record music in their spare bedroom if they didn't have a home studio. But for one Welsh music legend the time in lockdown gave her the time to ponder how to back-up her songwriting and performing career with a secondary job that would keep the income flowing; so she swapped a microphone for a spatula, a guitar for a frying pan. Sian Evans, lead singer and songwriter of electric pop rock band Kosheen who, with band mates songwriter-producer Ron Mcelroy and drummer Mitchell Glover have had hit songs, albums and tours since the success of their first hit single 'Hide U' off their debut, platinum selling album Resist in 2001.
For more property stories sent to your inbox twice a week sign up to the property newsletter here . READ MORE: I stayed in 'the strangest town in Wales' and completely fell in love YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: I stayed at Charlotte Church's life-changing wellbeing rural retreat and I am desperate to go back Still touring and making music, based in Bristol, when the pandemic hit Sian decided to completely pack up her life in England and move back home to Wales. When looking for her new forever home she came across Sea View, nestled into the winding lanes of Laugharne, Carmarthenshire , a stunning detached Georgian property that was once home to legendary Welsh poet and author Dylan Thomas and wife Caitlin.
Sian says: "It was a hell of a move for me because I didn’t know a soul here and it was a brave move because it’s a big old house, and it wasn’t what I was looking for - I was looking for some land so I could grow my own vegetables and produce. "The initial move was because of the pandemic and not knowing where my performing career would become buoyant again so I decided to move here, start a new life and business here, maybe let out a few rooms, and it has taken off really beautifully." On paper the two professions might not sit comfortably together in many people's eyes - singer, songwriter and performer versus bed and breakfast host and landlady, but now Sian has been doing it for almost three years, based on her experience, she would disagree.
Sian says: " Hospitality and performance are the same energy. When people come to my shows I want them to leave feeling replenished and energised and having had a good time, it’s not about the performer, it’s about the audience and what they take away from it and it’s the same with the B&B - I want guests to eat well, sleep well and genuinely unpack their lives and enjoy this environment in Laugharne that I’ve come to absolutely love." Some people might also find the transition from making music to making scrambled eggs for strangers staying in three of their home's bedrooms a bit too abstract.
But Sian has become very comfortable at morphing from singer to chef, and then back again as the band are in demand, currently touring in Europe as well as Sian running music workshops from her Laugharne home. Sian says: "It’s an old fashioned B&B, I have answered the door in my nightie and curlers or a pinnie, but t he gigs have come back, and they’ve come back with vengeance, thick and fast so now, some days, I don’t know if I’ve got a frying pan or a microphone in my hand! I’m dropping my bags in the hallway and starting a fry up!" Sea View captivated Sian's heart from the moment she stepped inside, even making her feel light-headed with excitement at the connection she felt instantly - find out more about that here . She says the house feels even more special when it is filled with people and music, laughter and chat - when a creative vibe roams through the rooms and fills the spaces as it has done for over 150 years.
Sian says: " I love it, I run a breathwork retreat here, I’ve done singing workshops and lessons here, and my grandfather's piano is very well employed here, including breakfast guests playing it after breakfast. "This house, even in the silence, it rings with music, creativity and the odd, past argument, you can feel there’s a lot has gone on in this house, I never feel alone here, even though we’re quite possibly very haunted I don’t feel intimidated or if I'm sharing a space with anything negative, it’s so positive, I think it’s memories of all of the nights of creativity here, brainstorming over politics and literary discussions. "I’ve had a few parties here with the community too - that was a real gift for me to give to the community - every Christmas I have a party here and it’s absolutely teeming with people here, they go through the buffet like locusts and it’s just so lovely to have that energy in the house again, for it to be ringing again, full of singing again, and I think this house loves that, I don’t think it was feeling happy when I moved here because it has been empty for such a long time.
" When most people move into a new home they are filled with thoughts of how they are going to change the design and decor, but Sian says Sea View was virtually perfect as it was, she has changed very little apart from moving in her furniture and hanging her artwork. Sian explains: "I’m very happy with how it is - Martin, the previous owner, had a fantastic eye for design, I think he did Brown’s (pub and restaurant) as well, and it’s so in keeping with the Georgian vibe." The very welcoming and enthusiastic singer come landlady says she hasn't spent much time or money on changing things inside the house except the floors and the front garden where she decided, with two dogs living at the house she would change the carved up lawn for cockle shells on top of a membrane, as a homage to this cockle town's past.
Sian adds: " Whatever money comes in goes back into the house,, the heating and the maintenance because they are old houses are like old ladies, they need a lot of tender loving care. I also think she gives that back too." The whole house is full of items from Sian's travels and items that mean something to her, including the display of gold and platinum discs on one wall.
She says: "Guests don’t generally make the music connection, I’ve got a few of my discs on the wall, I'm quite sheepish about my achievements really - they have been in boxes for years but now they’re on the wall and people notice them and they’re like, ‘oh, I know that song’ or ‘I know that band’ and I say, ‘well, that’s me’ and they go, 'NO!' - because, you know, I’m standing there in my pinnie!" But Sian's favourite item in her home is the mahogany dining room table, built for her by her best friend and band member Ron mcElroy. She says: "I love it, sat here writing songs, just sat looking out of the window drinking wine. When it is set up for eight people who are staying in the B&B and they all sit around it, chatting and laughing, eating and pouring tea, it’s so lovely, it makes my heart burst to have this table in the centre of it all, it will hold all the good memories.
" Sometimes Sian sits in Sea View, surrounded by things that mean so much to her and a community that has fully and instantly embraced and welcomed her, in a location that is breathtakingly beautiful, and she can't quite believe her good fortune. As part of trying to give back, Sian states that she does her best to keep stays at Sea View as reasonable as possible, especially for families, compared to the expense of going on holiday abroad. She says: "Being here is very grounding for me, I think service and hospitality is a beautiful practice, it’s a practice of humility and part of my service to this life because I am so grateful for what life has afforded me.
It’s amazing actually, for a little girl from Risca, to be sat here in Dylan Thomas’ house." Making a new start somewhere is a risk and can be challenging but Sian says: "Take a deep breath and just do it, take a punt, if it doesn’t work you can do something else. My whole life has completely changed for the better, for finding this place, for finding Laugharne, the environment here, it is so beautiful for my dogs and me.
Every morning I wake up and breathe fresh air, and I wouldn’t change a thing." For more property and renovation stories join our Amazing Welsh Homes Facebook group here . Find your own forever home here:.
