Hafana
Encyclopedia
Hafana is the third studio album by Welsh language
artist Elin Fflur
released in the United Kingdom
on July 7, 2008. The album consists of 12 tracks all recorded in Welsh
. The album mainly features pop music
with elements of pop rock
, folk
and soul
.
, Cuba
. Elin says she is fascinated by the place but also mentions that the title is a play on words as Hafana or more accurately hafan is Welsh for haven - "...a place to escape. Many of my lyrics are about escaping from things – even escaping from reality, especially the realities that hit you when you leave home and go out into the world by yourself." says Elin.
. There, she spent time recording in Avatar Studios
with Jim Steinman
, and with Take That
and Celine Dion
producer Steve Rinkoff. Elin stated "It was an amazing experience – I learnt so much from working there". She then brought her music back to Wales
, recording at Bethesda
with Dave Wrench and mastering the album at Hafod
near Cardiff
. "Working with such an experienced team on Hafana opened my eyes to new ways of writing, even of singing" Elin explained. "And all that excitement comes across on the album."
as well as working on more TV projects and began touring with the album's material in 2009. "I love playing live and meeting an audience – it's my favourite thing. With this album, I want to take my music to more people. I'd like to travel the world singing – then come back to Wales of course!" Elin said on S4C.
the English
is available next to the title in brackets.
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
artist Elin Fflur
Elin Fflur
Elin Fflur Jones is a Welsh singer and songwriter from Wales. Elin is well known in Welsh language media especially after she won the Cân i Gymru contest in 2002. Elin also had successes in the bands Carlotta and Y Moniars...
released in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
on July 7, 2008. The album consists of 12 tracks all recorded in Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
. The album mainly features pop music
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
with elements of pop rock
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
, folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
and soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
.
Name
The word Hafana is a Welsh variant of the original HavanaHavana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. Elin says she is fascinated by the place but also mentions that the title is a play on words as Hafana or more accurately hafan is Welsh for haven - "...a place to escape. Many of my lyrics are about escaping from things – even escaping from reality, especially the realities that hit you when you leave home and go out into the world by yourself." says Elin.
Recording
After writing sessions in Wales and London with bass player Sion Llwyd and guitarist Ben Main, Elin travelled to New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. There, she spent time recording in Avatar Studios
Avatar Studios
Avatar Studios, formerly known as The Power Station, is a recording studio at 441 West 53rd Street in Manhattan, New York City.The building was originally a Consolidated Edison power plant; but after a period of vacancy, it was used as a sound stage for the television game show Let's Make a Deal...
with Jim Steinman
Jim Steinman
James Richard "Jim" Steinman is an American composer, lyricist, and Grammy Award-winning record producer responsible for several hit songs. He has also worked as an arranger, pianist, and singer...
, and with Take That
Take That
Take That are a British five-piece vocal pop group comprising Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange, Mark Owen and Robbie Williams. Barlow acts as the lead singer and primary songwriter...
and Celine Dion
Celine Dion
Céline Marie Claudette Dion, , , is a Canadian singer. Born to a large family from Charlemagne, Quebec, Dion emerged as a teen star in the French-speaking world after her manager and future husband René Angélil mortgaged his home to finance her first record...
producer Steve Rinkoff. Elin stated "It was an amazing experience – I learnt so much from working there". She then brought her music back to Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, recording at Bethesda
Bethesda, Wales
Bethesda is a town lying on the River Ogwen and the A5 road on the edge of Snowdonia, in Gwynedd, north-west Wales, colloquially called Pesda by the locals.- History :...
with Dave Wrench and mastering the album at Hafod
Hafod
Hafod is a district of the city of Swansea, Wales and lies just outside the city centre in the north of the city. It falls within the Landore ward....
near Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
. "Working with such an experienced team on Hafana opened my eyes to new ways of writing, even of singing" Elin explained. "And all that excitement comes across on the album."
Promotion
Elin has recently presented a Welsh music road-show Nodyn on S4CS4C
S4C , currently branded as S4/C, is a Welsh television channel broadcast from the capital, Cardiff. The first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speaking audience, it is the fifth oldest British television channel .The channel - initially broadcast on...
as well as working on more TV projects and began touring with the album's material in 2009. "I love playing live and meeting an audience – it's my favourite thing. With this album, I want to take my music to more people. I'd like to travel the world singing – then come back to Wales of course!" Elin said on S4C.
Tracklist
As all songs are in WelshWelsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
the English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
is available next to the title in brackets.
Release history
| Country | Date |
|---|---|
| Wales Wales Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²... |
6 July 2008 |
| United Kingdom United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... |
7 July 2008 |