The Welsh indie boys have made a playlist of their hometown heroes and you’re going to love it.
Meet Sŵnami. They’re a band from Wales and they make precisely the kind of effortlessly sun-soaked indie-pop that you need in your life right now.
Like their new single, ‘Theatr’. If you asked us about it, we’d probably tell you that it’s a Welsh-language indie-pop bop that’ll leave you longing for the day when you can be stood in a festival field with your mates again. If you asked the band’s Ifan Ywain about it, however, he’d probably tell you something like this:
“‘Theatr’ is about a toxic relationship, where one person wants to get back with the other. It feeds into the wider idea of escapism in terms of wanting to escape a broken, unhealthy situation and wanting something more. The song is very much a conversation between two people.”
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Now, if there’s one thing we’ve learned over the last ten years, it’s that people who make great music tend to have pretty great taste in tunes themselves.
Sometimes, these tunes are ones that we might’ve heard of – but often, they’re not. And, to tell you the truth, that’s usually where the real gold lies.
That’s why we asked Sŵnami to make us a playlist of their favourite under-the-radar Welsh-language acts, exclusively for the listening pleasure of you lovely lot.
You can find the band’s full playlist at the bottom of this page – but, for now, here are a few words from the boys about why they chose a handful of the tracks on their list:
Thallo – Mêl
‘Thallo is Elin Edwards’ jazz indie folk musical project, originally from Penygroes, but now resides in London. We’re all massive fans of Elin and her unique sound. Her songs are intricate, delicate, and emotional.’
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Sywel Nyw – Crio Tu Mewn
‘An absolute banger. Lewys Wyn is a close friend of the band, and I remember him playing this track to me for the first time on a night out, and I woke up the following day still singing the chorus hook.’
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Carwyn Ellis and Rio 18 – Dwfn
‘Yes, even Wales has some Welsh Bossa Nova / Cumbia to offer. This is the last track on Carwyn’s new album ‘Mas’ and is a slower offering, which is a personal highlight of ours.’
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Breichiau Hir – Yn Dawel Bach
‘Heavy, angsty rock music that bears a likeness to Basement and IDLES. Having grown up with this band, I’ve seen them play many shows, each one brimming with organised chaos and energy.’