Gavin and Stacey actor hopes his band will be 'the next Stereophonics'

Gavin and Stacey fans will likely remember Oscar Hartland, or Neil the Baby, for his heart-warming performance of The Beatle's Blackbird in the sitcom's 2024 finale. The episode was watched by about 12.3m people on Christmas day and saw Hartland's character serenade the crowd at the wedding of his on-screen dad Smithy, played by James Cordon. But that was just the start for Hartland, now 17, who says his band is aiming to be "the next 'Phonics, or something like that".He has recently released a new single and he and his fellow band members are on a "mission to create a new modern sound for Wales".Hartland, from Machen, Caerphilly county, said his latest release, Wild Bull, was rooted in "being a bit crazy" and the challenges of growing up in the south Wales valleys. The actor and singer went on his first tour in 2025 and said the past few months had been about "figuring out the earth behind the sound" with his bandmates Cayden Hughes on bass, Aiden Williams on drums, and Deacon Ball on electric guitar."We've had lots of people say it's rocky, but it's Welsh and it's got lots of stuff behind it," he told Lucy Owen on BBC Radio Wales. "Growing up, I was just a wild bull, I was just mental, you know, in school, just out and about, playing rugby, being wild, being crazy. I know loads of my friends who are just the same."It's very hard as a young lad, especially Wales in the valleys, to keep yourself contained, because there is so much trouble to get up to."Hartland added support was "always there" from his fellow Gavin and Stacey cast members, which was "lush"."A lot of people don't really know what it would be like to be in our boots, I suppose, sort of, with the size of it," he said.He said it was nice to see cast members pursuing "other adventures" too, such as Melanie Walters, who played Gwen, recently taking part in Strictly Come Dancing. Hartland has been recording at Rockfield studios in Monmouth, which has also played host to the likes of Oasis, Iggy Pop and Queen. "I want to record there all the time, because I just love what the place is about and I want that to be behind me as well," said Hartland. "It's spectaular, you feel all of the presence of the past bands there looking at you like 'is he going to make a good song?'"