Gwilym (band)

Not to be confused with Meinir Gwilym, a similarly named pop and folk singer from Anglesey, nor Gwilym Bowen Rhys, a rock artist in the group Y Bandana, also from Caernarfon.

Gwilym
OriginCaernarfon and Anglesey, Wales
GenresPop rock
Years active2017 (2017)–present
LabelsRecordiau Côsh Records
MembersIfan Pritchard
Llyr Jones
Llew Glyn
Rhys Grail
Carwyn Williams
Websitefacebook.com/GwilymBand

Gwilym (transl. William) are a Welsh-language pop rock group from Anglesey and Caernarfon. The band consists of members Ifan Pritchard, Llyr Jones, Llew Glyn, Rhys Grail, and Carwyn Williams. The group was founded in 2017.[1]

History

The band consists of members from across north west Wales, including Caernarfon and Anglesey. The members are currently based at universities in London, Birmingham, and Cardiff, but continue to travel together.[2]

They released their first music video in July 2018, for their single "Fyny Ac Yn Ôl" transl. "Up and Back".[3]

In 2018 the band were named at the Y Selar Awards (organised by contemporary Welsh language music magazine Y Selar) as Best Breakthrough Act. They won again in 2019, securing five awards, including:[4]

  • Band of the Year
  • Best Song - Catalunya
  • Best Video - Cwîn transl. "Queen"
  • Best Artwork - Sugno Gola
  • Best Album - Sugno Gola

Their 2018 album Sugno Gola transl. Suck Light was one of the first Welsh language albums to receive over 100,000 streams on Spotify.[5] The title comes from the lyrics "Sugno gola, chwythu mwg" transl. "suck light, blow smoke" which appears in the song, "Llechan Lân" transl. "Clean Slate".

They performed at the Maes Stage at the 2018 Urdd Eisteddfod in Cardiff and the Ultimate World Festival, Aberdaron.[6] They have toured venues in London, Cardiff, Aberystwyth, Carmarthen, and Llanrwst (for the Eisteddfod).[7]

The band are inspired by artists including Muse, Super Furry Animals, Circa Waves, and Candelas,[8] and were involved in the launch of magazine Lysh Cymru at the Urdd Eisteddfod 2019.[9]

They were named by BBC Cymru Wales and the Arts Council of Wales in the 2019 lineup for the Horizons Gorwelion annual festival.[10][11]

Discography

Studio albums

Year Title Label
2018 Sugno Gola Recordiau Côsh Records
2023 ti ar dy ora' pan ti'n canu Recordiau Côsh Records

Singles

Year Title Label Album
2017 "Llechan Lân" Recordiau Côsh Records Sugno Gola (2018)
2018 "Cwîn" Recordiau Côsh Records Sugno Gola (2018)
2018 "Catalunya" Recordiau Côsh Records Sugno Gola (2018)
2018 "Fyny Ac Yn Ôl" Recordiau Côsh Records Sugno Gola (2018)
2019 "Tennyn" Recordiau Côsh Records
2019 "\Neidia/" Recordiau Côsh Records
2019 "Gwalia" Recordiau Côsh Records
2021 "50au" Recordiau Côsh Records
2022 "Cynbohyr (feat Hana Lili)" Recordiau Côsh Records ti ar dy ora' pan ti'n canu (2023)
2023 "IB3Y" Recordiau Côsh Records ti ar dy ora' pan ti'n canu
2023 "5:00" Recordiau Côsh Records ti ar dy ora' pan ti'n canu

Awards

Year Event Award Work
2018 Y Selar Awards Best Breakthrough Act n/a
2018 Y Selar Awards Band of the Year n/a
2019 Y Selar Awards Best Song "Catalunya"
2019 Y Selar Awards Best Video "Cwîn"
2019 Y Selar Awards Best Artwork "Sugno Gola"
2019 Y Selar Awards Best Album "Sugno Gola"
2020 Y Selar Awards Best Song "\Neidia/"
2020 Y Selar Awards Best Video "Gwalia"
2020 Y Selar Awards Band of the Year n/a

References

  1. ^ "Multiple wins for Alffa and Gwilym at Gwobrau'r Selar 2019 Welsh language music awards". Getintothis. 17 February 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  2. ^ "Multiple wins for Alffa and Gwilym at Gwobrau'r Selar 2019 Welsh language music awards". Getintothis. 17 February 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  3. ^ "Fideo: Dangosiad cyntaf 'Fyny ac yn Ôl' – Gwilym". Y Selar (in Welsh). 20 July 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  4. ^ "Multiple wins for Alffa and Gwilym at Gwobrau'r Selar 2019 Welsh language music awards". Getintothis. 17 February 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  5. ^ Selar, Y. (17 September 2018). "Albwm Gwilym wedi'i ffrydio dros 100,000 o weithiau". Y Selar (in Welsh). Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  6. ^ "Fideo: Dangosiad cyntaf 'Fyny ac yn Ôl' – Gwilym". Y Selar (in Welsh). 20 July 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  7. ^ "Clwb Ifor Bach - Exclusive: Gwilym's new single 'Neidia/'". Clwb Ifor Bach. 28 May 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  8. ^ "Radio Cymru yn cyflwyno... Gwilym". YouTube. 5 December 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  9. ^ "New online magazine launching for Wales' teenage girls". Nation.Cymru. 29 May 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  10. ^ "New artists for 2019 Horizons". 9 June 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  11. ^ Selar, Y. (9 June 2019). "Cyhoeddi 12 Artist Newydd Gorwelion". Y Selar (in Welsh). Retrieved 28 August 2019.