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]
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 the Welsh 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.
Release | Title | English translation | Label |
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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 |
Release | Title | English translation | Type | Label |
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2013 | Du a Gwyn | Black and White | EP | Rasal Miwsig |
2015 | Sŵnami | Sŵnami | Album | Recordiau I Ka Ching |
Welsh musicians | ||
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2010s |
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1990s Cool Cymru |
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