A Llanfyllin-raised singer and guitarist who toured with global megastar Dua Lipa is about to release his Powys-inspired up-and-coming album.

Ed Seed, whose family used to run the Seeds restaurant in the town, recorded Powys 1999 with his indie-funk band Stats at a recording studio in the rolling hills of Radnorshire.

"It's not to be nostalgic. I just want to tell everyone about it [Powys] because it's so amazing," said the 38-year-old London-based singer. "It's so interesting. It's great and so important. The people deserve it."

Ed drew inspiration from the dramatic landscape, the buzzards and the military jets around his childhood home at Bwlchyddar. One of the album's tracks, Naturalise Me, was partly-inspired by Lake Vyrnwy.

"Right now we all want to be more free because of lockdown. The mountains make you feel bold and strong," he said.

While the band’s critically acclaimed debut album Other People’s Lives - loved by everyone from Elton John to Fleabag's Phoebe Waller-Bridge, whose sister Iso plays in the band - was recorded in a two-day burst, finding a short gap in front man Ed's touring duties with Dua Lipa, Powys 1999 was different. The band decamped to a residential studio near Llanbadarn Fynydd.

"The guy who mixed our first record said he was going to Wales, to Giant Wafers Studio. I said let's go to Wales and then you'll understand what it's all about without me having to tell you. I didn't have to tell them why this place is important to me.

"It's basically exactly like where I came from in Bwlch-y-ddail where I grew up. What I wanted to do was take them there, so they could feel it and soak it up. And that's what happened."

"The way that the band records is that I don't write anything in advance, we all just get in the studio and play and make things up. You just play and try it out, and pick the best bits. It's really good and more exciting than anything I could come up with and write on my own.

Ed was is a former Llanfyllin High School pupil and has fond memories of the "inspiring" people and area, including his "super glamorous" drama teacher Buz Thomas.

He added: "I think one day I can see me and Michelle [Ed's fiancee] coming back, I'd love to do it tomorrow, but you need to be near family first and foremost."

"Doing this has made me realise how much it's inside me all of the time and how I'm thinking about it even though I'm not.

"Everything I've learnt that's important, is from home."

Powys 1999 is due for release on November 13. New track Come With Me will be premiered on Lauren Laverne’s 6 Music show on November 4.