Gwilym Bowen Rhys Trio

Gwilym Bowen Rhys is a singer and songwriter widely regarded as one of the distinctive voices in contemporary Welsh folk music. Known for his solo work and for his earlier involvement with Welsh-language bands such as Calan and Plu, his music is deeply rooted in Welsh song tradition while shaped by a clear modern sensibility.

The material is largely made up of original songs written by Gwilym, often crafted in ways that echo older folk forms. There is a strong focus on voice and text, with a direct, unadorned vocal style that puts storytelling and atmosphere ahead of ornament or display.

Performed as a Trio, the songs are presented in an intimate, carefully balanced setting. The arrangements are restrained and attentive, making use of space, repetition, and subtle shifts in dynamics. The result is live music that rewards close listening, drawing from Welsh folk practice while remaining quietly contemporary.

Mae Gwilym Bowen Rhys yn gantor a chyfansoddwr sy’n cael ei adnabod fel un o leisiau mwyaf nodedig cerddoriaeth werin gyfoes Cymru. Yn adnabyddus am ei waith unigol ac am ei gyfraniad blaenorol i fandiau Cymraeg fel Calan a Plu, mae ei gerddoriaeth yn gwreiddio’n ddwfn mewn traddodiad canu Cymreig, tra’n cael ei siapio gan sensitifrwydd cyfoes clir.

Mae’r caneuon yn bennaf yn wreiddiol, wedi’u hysgrifennu gan Gwilym ei hun, ond yn aml wedi’u llunio mewn dull sy’n adleisio ffurfiau gwerin hŷn. Mae’r pwyslais ar y llais a’r testun, gyda dull canu clir a diarhebol sy’n blaenoriaethu’r stori a naws y gân dros addurn neu arddull ormodol.

Yn y Trio, caiff y caneuon eu cyflwyno mewn trefniadau agos-atoch ac ystyriol, lle mae gofod, ailadrodd, a newidiadau cynnil mewn deinameg yn chwarae rhan bwysig. Dyma gerddoriaeth sy’n gwahodd gwrando’n ofalus, gan greu profiad byw sy’n dawel, dwys, ac yn gysylltiedig â thraddodiad ond heb fod yn gaeth iddo

Source: The Harrison website