Sŵnami () are a Welsh indie rock group from Dolgellau, North 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.
Career Sŵnami was formed around the beginning of 2011. The band's lead singer is Bangor University graduate, Ifan Davies, who is from outside Llanegryn, Gwynedd. The other members of the band are Ifan Ywain (guitar), Gerwyn Murray (bass), Lewis Williams (drums), Gruff Jones (synth). They describe their style as "rocky with a bit of synth".
The band won the Brwydr Y Bandiau (Battle of the Bands) at the 2011 National Eisteddfod in Wrexham. 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.
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.
The band's first album, Sŵnami, was nominated for the Welsh Music Prize in 2016 and was the winner of Welsh-Language Album of the Year at the 2016 National Eisteddfod held in Abergavenny.
Ifan Davies (lead singer) also plays guitar for Yws Gwynedd and Yr Eira, and Lewis Williams plays the drums for Candelas.
Discography Singles 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 Ching2017 "Dihoeni" Pining Recordiau Tp 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 ReleaseTitleEnglish translationTypeLabel 2013 Du a Gwyn Black and White EP Rasal Miwsig 2015 Sŵnami Tsunami Album Recordiau I Ka Ching 2022 Sŵnamii Tsunami Album Recordiau Côsh
Compilation Albums +YearTitleEnglish TranslationSŵnami Songs2015#40Mawr#Big40"Gwreiddiau" at #24 "Gwenwyn" at #352016#40Mawr#Big40"Gwenwyn" at #39 "Trwmgwsg" at #232017#40Mawr#Big40"Gwreiddiau" at #32 "Trwmgwsg" at #27
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