Cerys Matthews avoids 'road rage' and records song in electric car

Former Catatonia Front women Cerys Matthews has recorded an all-new single while travelling in electric vehicles to highlight the quiet and relaxing ride offered by alternatively-fuelled cars.

Titled 'Float On Down To Monte Carlo', Matthews and her band (Mason Neely, Byron Waller and Neil Charles) all captured their separate musical elements from inside a BMW 225xe, a Kia Soul EV, a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and a Nissan e-NV200 Combi.

Cerys – who also has a radio show on BBC 6Music on Sunday mornings – worked with the government and the automotive industry-backed Go Ultra Low campaign to record the bossa nova-inspired tune.

The video which accompanies the song sees the musicians on a ‘journey’ from noisy towns and cities to a tranquil countryside setting, a scenario that was designed to emphasise the refined driving experience of electric vehicles, which are becoming increasingly popular with British motorists. 

Speaking of the experience, the singer, who was awarded an MBE in 2014, said: "I want my family to live a greener life, and electric cars give us the opportunity to do that. What was surprising when we drove one was that it's actually a much more enjoyable ride for the driver and passengers, no more having to shout (or sing!) above the engine noise – it's a more relaxing experience.

"The inspiration for the song is the idea of being taken away from noisy and complicated everyday life to a place where you can hear yourself think and dream."

Poppy Welch, head of Go Ultra Low who collaborated with Matthews on the track, said: "A quiet, peaceful ride is one of the best things about driving an electric car. Combined with compelling financial savings and zero tailpipe emissions, it's no wonder British motorists are turning to electric cars in record numbers."