Sŵnami
Sŵnami | |
|---|---|
 Sŵnami in 2012 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Dolgellau, Gwynedd, Wales |
| Genres | Indie Rock |
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Labels | Rasal (2012–14) I Ka Ching (2014–2021) CÔSH (2021–present) |
| Members | Ifan Davies Ifan Ywain Gruff Jones Gerwyn Murray Lewis Williams |
| Past members | Huw Ynyr Tom Ayres |
Sŵnami (Welsh pronunciation: [suːˈnaːmi]) are a Welsh indie rock group from Dolgellau, north-west Wales, who sing predominantly in Welsh. They won the Welsh Language Album of the Year prize at the 2016 National Eisteddfod of Wales. Their name is a play on the word "tsunami" and the Welsh word for sound, "sŵn", to convey the idea of a wave of sound.[1]
Background[edit]
Sŵnami was formed around the beginning of 2011.[1] The band's lead singer is Bangor University graduate Ifan Davies, who is from outside Llanegryn, Gwynedd.[2] The other members of the band are Ifan Ywain (guitar), Gerwyn Murray (bass), Lewis Williams (drums), Gruff Jones (synth).[3] They describe their style as "rocky with a bit of synth".[1]
The band won the Brwydr Y Bandiau (Battle of the Bands) at the 2011 National Eisteddfod in Wrexham.[3] In 2012 they beat nine other bands to win Wakestock Battle of the Bands and secure a place on the line up of that year's Wakestock festival.[1]
In 2015 Sŵnami won awards for Best EP or Single (for their single "Cynnydd" / "Gwenwyn") and Best Video (for "Gwenwyn") at the Welsh Y Selar music awards.[4]
The band's first album, Sŵnami, was nominated for the Welsh Music Prize in 2016[5] and was the winner of Welsh-Language Album of the Year at the 2016 National Eisteddfod held in Abergavenny.[6]
Ifan Davies (lead singer) also plays guitar for Yws Gwynedd and Yr Eira, and Lewis Williams plays the drums for Candelas.[citation needed]
Discography[edit]
Singles[edit]
| Release | Title | English translation | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | "Mynd a Dod" | Come and go | Rasal Miwsig |
| 2012 | "Eira" | Snow | Rasal Miwsig |
| 2014 | "Gwenwyn" | Poison | Recordiau I Ka Ching |
| 2014 | "Cynnydd" | Growth/Progress | Recordiau I Ka Ching |
| 2017 | "Dihoeni" | Pining | Recordiau Tp[7] |
| 2021 | "Theatr" | Theatre | Recordiau Côsh |
| 2021 | "Uno, Cydio, Tanio" | Unite, Embrace, Ignite | Recordiau Côsh |
| 2022 | "Be Bynnag Fydd" | Whatever Will Be | Recordiau Côsh |
| 2022 | "Paradis Disparu" | Lost Paradise | Recordiau Côsh |
| 2022 | "Wyt Ti'n Clywed?" | Do you Hear? | Recordiau Côsh |
EPs and albums[edit]
| Release | Title | English translation | Type | Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Du a Gwyn | Black and White | EP | Rasal Miwsig |
| 2015 | Sŵnami | Album | Recordiau I Ka Ching | |
| 2022 | Sŵnamii[8] | Album | Recordiau Côsh |
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d "Dolgellau group Swnami wins 2012 Wakestock Battle of the Bands". Wales Online. 20 June 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
- ^ Daniel Bissett (22 October 2016). "Relive the performances leading Welsh bands in Gig y Pafiliwn". North Wales Daily Post. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
- ^ a b "Horizons - Sŵnami". BBC. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
- ^ David Owens (23 February 2015). "Yws Gwynedd, Candelas and Sŵnami triumphant at Welsh music awards". Wales Online. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
- ^ "Welsh Music Prize shortlist for 2016 unveiled - BBC News". BBC News. 8 September 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
- ^ "Swnami win this year's Welsh Language Album of the Year". Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru. 5 August 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
- ^ "Dihoeni by Sŵnami on Amazon Music". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
- ^ "Sŵnamii". Wales Arts Review. 12 January 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
External links[edit]
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