Meinir Gwilym
Encyclopedia
Meinir Gwilym is a Welsh-language pop
and folk
singer. Raised in Llangristiolus
, Anglesey
, she released her first EP
, "Smôcs, Coffi a Fodca Rhad" (translates into English as "Smokes, Coffee and Cheap Vodka") in 2002. Her website claims that she is amongst the best-selling Welsh language musicians in history.
Gwilym worked as a radio presenter on the afternoon request show for Radio Cymru, the BBC
’s Welsh-language service, alongside Dylan Wyn. She now works on S4C's nightly magazine show 'Wedi 7', and presents weekend shows on Heart Cymru in Anglesey and Gwynedd.
. Gwilym comes from a musical family, with a grandfather who played the piano, her other grandfather who wrote lyrics, and a mother and sister who are fond of singing. She competed in the Urdd Eisteddfod as a child, and began writing songs around the age of fourteen.
Meinir completed a degree in Welsh Literature and Philosophy in July 2004 at Bangor University
. She had begun her degree at Cardiff University
, but the last twelve months were completed at Bangor.
, "Smôcs, Coffi a Fodca Rhad" in 2002. In the same year, she signed on to the Welsh record label Gwynfryn Cymunedol, and won 'Composer of the Year' and 'Best Female Artist' at the BBC Radio Cymru Rock and Pop awards. She released her first album, "Dim Ond Clwydda" (translates into English as "Only Lies") in November 2003, and following the success of this release, she came under the sponsorship of Yamaha
in 2004.
’s Welsh-language service, alongside Dylan Wyn. for a period of three years until the show was axed. She currently presents weekend shows on Heart Cymru in Anglesey and Gwynedd.
She has also made many television appearances, particularly on the Welsh-language channel S4C
. In 2005, Blwyddyn Meinir Gwilym (Welsh: “Meinir Gwilym’s Year”), a one-hour documentary that followed Meinir’s steps for an entire year was broadcast. Most recently, she has been hosting a music programme on S4C, Noson Chis a Meinir (Welsh: “Chis and Meinir’s Night”) alongside Huw Chiswell. Since January 2009 she has worked on S4C's nightly magazine show 'Wedi 7'.
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...
and 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....
singer. Raised in Llangristiolus
Llangristiolus
Llangristiolus is a village in the middle of Anglesey, Wales, southwest of Llangefni, and is named after Saint Cristiolus. The River Cefni flows through the village...
, Anglesey
Anglesey
Anglesey , also known by its Welsh name Ynys Môn , is an island and, as Isle of Anglesey, a county off the north west coast of Wales...
, she released her first EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, "Smôcs, Coffi a Fodca Rhad" (translates into English as "Smokes, Coffee and Cheap Vodka") in 2002. Her website claims that she is amongst the best-selling Welsh language musicians in history.
Gwilym worked as a radio presenter on the afternoon request show for Radio Cymru, the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
’s Welsh-language service, alongside Dylan Wyn. She now works on S4C's nightly magazine show 'Wedi 7', and presents weekend shows on Heart Cymru in Anglesey and Gwynedd.
Childhood
Meinir Gwilym was born in Wales in 1983, and educated at Ysgol Henblas in Llangristiolus, and later, Ysgol Gyfun in LlangefniLlangefni
Llangefni is the county town of Anglesey in Wales and contains the principal offices of the Isle of Anglesey County Council. According to the United Kingdom Census 2001, the population of Llangefni was 4,662 people and it is the second largest settlement on the island...
. Gwilym comes from a musical family, with a grandfather who played the piano, her other grandfather who wrote lyrics, and a mother and sister who are fond of singing. She competed in the Urdd Eisteddfod as a child, and began writing songs around the age of fourteen.
Meinir completed a degree in Welsh Literature and Philosophy in July 2004 at Bangor University
Bangor University
Bangor University is a university based in the city of Bangor in the county of Gwynedd in North Wales-United Kingdom.It was officially known for most of its history as the University College of North Wales...
. She had begun her degree at Cardiff University
Cardiff University
Cardiff University is a leading research university located in the Cathays Park area of Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. It received its Royal charter in 1883 and is a member of the Russell Group of Universities. The university is consistently recognised as providing high quality research-based...
, but the last twelve months were completed at Bangor.
Career
Gwilym released her first EPExtended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, "Smôcs, Coffi a Fodca Rhad" in 2002. In the same year, she signed on to the Welsh record label Gwynfryn Cymunedol, and won 'Composer of the Year' and 'Best Female Artist' at the BBC Radio Cymru Rock and Pop awards. She released her first album, "Dim Ond Clwydda" (translates into English as "Only Lies") in November 2003, and following the success of this release, she came under the sponsorship of Yamaha
Yamaha
Yamaha may refer to:* Yamaha Corporation, a Japanese company with a wide range of products and services** Yamaha Motor Company, a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company...
in 2004.
Television and Radio
Gwilym worked as a radio presenter on the afternoon request show for Radio Cymru, the BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
’s Welsh-language service, alongside Dylan Wyn. for a period of three years until the show was axed. She currently presents weekend shows on Heart Cymru in Anglesey and Gwynedd.
She has also made many television appearances, particularly on the Welsh-language channel S4C
S4C
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...
. In 2005, Blwyddyn Meinir Gwilym (Welsh: “Meinir Gwilym’s Year”), a one-hour documentary that followed Meinir’s steps for an entire year was broadcast. Most recently, she has been hosting a music programme on S4C, Noson Chis a Meinir (Welsh: “Chis and Meinir’s Night”) alongside Huw Chiswell. Since January 2009 she has worked on S4C's nightly magazine show 'Wedi 7'.
Discography
- Smôcs, Coffi a Fodca Rhad (2002)
- Dim Ond Clwydda (2003)
- Sgandal Fain (2005)
- Tombola (2008)