Carwyn Ellis (born Carwyn Meurig Ellis; 9 August 1973) is a Welsh musician, composer, arranger, multi-instrumentalist and record producer. He is known as the
frontman
The lead vocalist in popular music is typically the member of a group or band whose voice is the most prominent melody in a performance where multiple voices may be heard. The lead singer sets their voice against the accompaniment parts of the ...
of British
alternative band
Colorama, as a member of
The Pretenders
Pretenders are an English–American rock band formed in March 1978. The original band consisted of founder and main songwriter Chrissie Hynde (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), James Honeyman-Scott (lead guitar, backing vocals, keyboards), Pete Fa ...
and as a long-time collaborator with
Edwyn Collins
Edwyn Stephen Collins (born 23 August 1959) is a Scottish musician, producer and record label owner from Edinburgh, Scotland. Collins was the lead singer for the 1980s post-punk band Orange Juice, which he co-founded. After the group split in ...
. In 2014, they worked together on the
soundtrack
A soundtrack is recorded music accompanying and synchronised to the images of a motion picture, drama, book, television program, radio program, or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack o ...
to the film ''The Possibilities Are Endless'' which won the
Mojo 'Film of the Year' Award.
Ellis has also recorded electronic music as Zarelli,
releasing an album, ''Soft Rains'' in 2015 which featured the voice of
Leonard Nimoy
Leonard Simon Nimoy (; March 26, 1931 – February 27, 2015) was an American actor, famed for playing Spock in the ''Star Trek'' franchise for almost 50 years. This includes originating Spock in the original ''Star Trek'' series in 1966, then ...
narrating the
Ray Bradbury
Ray Douglas Bradbury (; August 22, 1920June 5, 2012) was an American author and screenwriter. One of the most celebrated 20th-century American writers, he worked in a variety of modes, including fantasy, science fiction, horror, mystery fictio ...
short story ''
There Will Come Soft Rains There Will Come Soft Rains may refer to:
* "There Will Come Soft Rains" (poem), by Sara Teasdale
* "There Will Come Soft Rains" (short story), by Ray Bradbury
{{disambiguation ...
''.
In 2017 Ellis formed the Welsh folk group Bendith
and their self-titled album was nominated for the
Welsh Music Prize
The Welsh Music Prize is an annual music prize awarded for the best album from Wales, as voted for by members of the music industry. It was founded by music promoter John Rostron and radio presenter Huw Stephens in 2011. It was originally schedul ...
and went on to win the Welsh Language Album of the Year 2017 award at
National Eisteddfod of Wales
The National Eisteddfod of Wales (Welsh: ') is the largest of several eisteddfodau that are held annually, mostly in Wales. Its eight days of competitions and performances are considered the largest music and poetry festival in Europe. Competitors ...
.
Since 2016 Ellis has hosted a regular themed radio show on
Soho Radio
Soho Radio is an independent online radio station that broadcasts over two channels, Soho and NYC + Culture. The studios are based in Soho, London, and on Lexington Avenue in New York It was founded in 2014, with the New York branch opening in N ...
.
In 2019, Ellis embarked on the first solo project under his own name, Carwyn Ellis & Rio 18. A collaborative project sung in Welsh and recorded mainly in Rio de Janeiro. The album, ''Joia!'' was nominated for the
Welsh Music Prize
The Welsh Music Prize is an annual music prize awarded for the best album from Wales, as voted for by members of the music industry. It was founded by music promoter John Rostron and radio presenter Huw Stephens in 2011. It was originally schedul ...
. A documentary film on the making of the record, ''Carwyn Ellis: Ar Y Cei Yn Rio'' went on to win the Best Welsh language short Film award at the Wales International Documentary Festival.
In 2020, Ellis releases Single ''Cherry Blossom Promenade'' and EP ''Ti'' to raise funds for
personal protective equipment
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is protective clothing, helmets, goggles, or other garments or equipment designed to protect the wearer's body from injury or infection. The hazards addressed by protective equipment include physical, ...
(PPE) for Welsh health and care workers.
During
lockdown
A lockdown is a restriction policy for people, community or a country to stay where they are, usually due to specific risks (such as COVID-19) that could possibly harm the people if they move and interact freely.
The term is used for a prison ...
in UK, Ellis released ''Chaos Wonderland'' under the
Colorama project on 31 July 2020 and the follow-up to 2019’s Welsh Music Prize shortlisted ''Joia!'', Ellis released Carwyn Ellis & Rio 18's second album ''Mas'' on 25 February 2021.
The most recent album ''Yn Rio'' by the Carwyn Ellis & Rio 18 features the
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
The BBC National Orchestra of Wales (BBC NOW) ( cy, Cerddorfa Genedlaethol Gymreig y BBC) is a Welsh symphony orchestra and one of the BBC's five professional radio orchestras. The BBC NOW is the only professional symphony orchestra organisation ...
was released on 22 October 2021, originally performed live and broadcast in March 2021 on
BBC Radio Cymru
BBC Radio Cymru is a Welsh language radio network owned and operated by BBC Cymru Wales, a division of the BBC. It broadcasts on two stations across Wales on FM, DAB, digital TV and online.
The main network broadcasts for hours a day from ...
and
BBC Radio 6 Music
BBC Radio 6 Music is a British digital radio station owned and operated by the BBC, specialising primarily in alternative music. BBC 6 Music was the first national music radio station to be launched by the BBC in 32 years. It is available on ...
.
Career
After a nomadic early childhood moving from town to town, Ellis' family settled in
Anglesey
Anglesey (; cy, (Ynys) Môn ) is an island off the north-west coast of Wales. It forms a Local government in Wales, principal area known as the Isle of Anglesey, that includes Holy Island, Anglesey, Holy Island across the narrow Cymyran Strai ...
, eventually moving to London where he studied at the
Royal Academy of Music
The Royal Academy of Music (RAM) in London, England, is the oldest conservatoire in the UK, founded in 1822 by John Fane and Nicolas-Charles Bochsa. It received its royal charter in 1830 from King George IV with the support of the first Duke ...
and worked with numerous bands through a myriad of genres.
Among the artists that Ellis has collaborated or performed with are
The Pretenders
Pretenders are an English–American rock band formed in March 1978. The original band consisted of founder and main songwriter Chrissie Hynde (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), James Honeyman-Scott (lead guitar, backing vocals, keyboards), Pete Fa ...
,
Edwyn Collins
Edwyn Stephen Collins (born 23 August 1959) is a Scottish musician, producer and record label owner from Edinburgh, Scotland. Collins was the lead singer for the 1980s post-punk band Orange Juice, which he co-founded. After the group split in ...
,
Saint Etienne,
Sarah Cracknell
Sarah Cracknell (born 12 April 1967) is an English singer-songwriter and lead singer of the electronic music band Saint Etienne.
Career
Cracknell's career started with the Windsor-based indie band The Worried Parachutes in 1982. Following the d ...
,
Oasis
In ecology, an oasis (; ) is a fertile area of a desert or semi-desert environment[Shane MacGowan
Shane Patrick Lysaght MacGowan (born 25 December 1957) is an Irish singer, songwriter, and musician. He is best known as the lead singer and songwriter of Celtic punk band the Pogues. He was also a member of the Nipple Erectors and Shane MacG ...]
,
UNKLE,
North Mississippi Allstars
North Mississippi Allstars is an American blues and southern rock band from Hernando, Mississippi, founded in 1996. The band is currently composed of brothers Luther Dickinson (guitar, lowebow, vocals) and Cody Dickinson (drums, keyboards, ele ...
,
James Hunter,
Roddy Frame
Roddy Frame (born 29 January 1964) is a Scottish singer-songwriter and musician. He was the founder of the 1980s new wave band Aztec Camera and has undertaken a solo career since the group's dissolution. In November 2013, journalist Brian Do ...
,
Thee Hypnotics,
The 2 Bears
The 2 Bears are a British musical duo formed in 2009 composed of Joe Goddard (of electronic band Hot Chip) and Raf Rundell (previously of 1965 Records). The duo produces original material amalgamating various styles including 2-step, house and ...
,
Tracyanne & Danny,
Gemma Ray,
Lay Low
Lovísa Elísabet Sigrúnardóttir (born 10 September 1982), better known by her stage name, Lay Low, is an Icelandic musician and singer.
Biography
Lovísa was born to a Sri Lankan father and an Icelandic mother. She moved to Iceland at a ...
(Sri Lankan-Icelandic artist) and
Quruli (Japanese artist).
In 2008 Ellis moved to
Cardiff
Cardiff (; cy, Caerdydd ) is the capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of Wales. It forms a Principal areas of Wales, principal area, officially known as the City and County of Cardiff ( cy, Dinas a ...
, emerging as a
frontman
The lead vocalist in popular music is typically the member of a group or band whose voice is the most prominent melody in a performance where multiple voices may be heard. The lead singer sets their voice against the accompaniment parts of the ...
in his own right and calling his band
Colorama. They released their Japan-only debut album ''
Cookie Zoo
A cookie is a baked or cooked snack or dessert that is typically small, flat and sweet. It usually contains flour, sugar, egg, and some type of oil, fat, or butter. It may include other ingredients such as raisins, oats, chocolate chips, ...
'' on
Noise McCartney in April 2008, and released their debut single ''Sound'' via Redbricks Recordings in July 2008.
In 2009, Colorama announced that their double bass player, Ellis's best friend
David Fletcher, had died at the age of 37 on 29 June, from a
heart attack
A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which m ...
suffered in his sleep, just days after Colorama's appearance at
Glastonbury Festival
Glastonbury Festival (formally Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts and known colloquially as Glasto) is a five-day festival of contemporary performing arts that takes place in Pilton, Somerset, England. In addition to contempo ...
.
September 2009 saw the UK release of Colorama's album ''Magic Lantern Show'' on Redbricks Recordings, featuring songs in Welsh and English. ''Magic Lantern Show'' was enthusiastically received with extensive radio play on
XFM
Radio X is a British National commercial radio station focused on alternative music, primarily indie rock, and owned by Global. Radio X launched in 1989 as a pirate radio station, a licensed London-wide station in 1997 and nationally in 2015 ...
,
BBC 6 Music
BBC Radio 6 Music is a British digital radio station owned and operated by the BBC, specialising primarily in alternative music. BBC 6 Music was the first national music radio station to be launched by the BBC in 32 years. It is available on ...
,
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It specialises in modern popular music and current chart hits throughout the day. The station provides alternative genres at night, including electronica, dance, ...
,
BBC Radio Wales
BBC Radio Wales is a Welsh radio station owned and operated by BBC Cymru Wales, a division of the BBC. It began broadcasting on 13 November 1978, replacing the 'Radio 4 Wales' opt-out service (previously the Welsh Home Service). Radio Wales ...
, C2 and
BBC Radio Cymru
BBC Radio Cymru is a Welsh language radio network owned and operated by BBC Cymru Wales, a division of the BBC. It broadcasts on two stations across Wales on FM, DAB, digital TV and online.
The main network broadcasts for hours a day from ...
.
Early in 2010, Ellis joined forces with
Shane MacGowan
Shane Patrick Lysaght MacGowan (born 25 December 1957) is an Irish singer, songwriter, and musician. He is best known as the lead singer and songwriter of Celtic punk band the Pogues. He was also a member of the Nipple Erectors and Shane MacG ...
,
Nick Cave
Nicholas Edward Cave (born 22 September 1957) is an Australian singer, songwriter, poet, lyricist, author, screenwriter, composer and occasional actor. Known for his baritone voice and for fronting the rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, C ...
,
Bobby Gillespie
Robert "Bobby" Gillespie (born 22 June 1961) is a Scottish musician, singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. He is best known as the lead singer, founding member, and primary lyricist of the alternative rock band Primal Scream. He was als ...
,
Chrissie Hynde
Christine Ellen Hynde (born September 7, 1951) is an American musician. She is a founding member and the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter of the rock band the Pretenders, and one of the band's two remaining original members alon ...
,
Mick Jones,
Glen Matlock
Glen Matlock (born 27 August 1956) is an English musician, best known for being the bass guitarist in the original line-up of the punk rock band the Sex Pistols. He is credited as a songwriter on 10 of the 12 songs on the Sex Pistols' only albu ...
,
Paloma Faith
Paloma Faith Blomfield (born 21 July 1981) is an English singer and actress. Her debut studio album, '' Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful?,'' was released in 2009 and was certified double platinum in the UK. The album spawned the si ...
,
Cait O'Riordan
Caitlín O'Riordan (born 4 January 1965) is a British musician of Irish and Scottish descent. She played bass guitar for the Irish punk/folk band the Pogues from 1983 to 1986. She later played with Elvis Costello (her husband from 1986 to 2002) ...
,
Johnny Depp
John Christopher Depp II (born June 9, 1963) is an American actor and musician. He is the recipient of multiple accolades, including a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award, in addition to nominations for three Academy Awar ...
, Robert and
James Walbourne
James Walbourne is a British singer, guitarist, and multi-instrumentalist. He is the current lead guitarist in The Pretenders as well as one-half of The Rails.
Biography
When he was young he wanted to play in clubs around America and to fulfil ...
, to release a charity single covering the
Screamin' Jay Hawkins
Jalacy J. "Screamin' Jay" Hawkins (July 18, 1929 – February 12, 2000) was an American singer-songwriter, musician, actor, film producer, and boxer. Famed chiefly for his powerful, operatic vocal delivery and wildly theatrical performances of ...
hit ''
I Put a Spell on You
"I Put a Spell on You" is a 1956 song written and composed by Jalacy "Screamin' Jay" Hawkins, whose own recording of it was selected as one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. It was also included in Rober ...
''. All the proceeds from the single went to
Concern Worldwide
Concern Worldwide (often referred to as Concern) is Ireland's largest aid and humanitarian agency. Since its foundation 50 years ago it has worked in 50 countries. According to its latest annual report, Concern helped 28.6 million of the world's ...
to provide assistance to the victims of the earthquake that devastated
Haiti
Haiti (; ht, Ayiti ; French: ), officially the Republic of Haiti (); ) and formerly known as Hayti, is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean Sea, east of Cuba and Jamaica, and ...
.
In autumn 2010, Ellis released Colorama's third album ''BOX'' on
Noise McCartney / Bad News Records (
Victor Entertainment
, also known as in Japan, is a subsidiary of JVCKenwood that produces and distributes music, movies and other entertainment products such as anime and television shows in Japan. It is known as JVC Entertainment in countries where Sony Music E ...
) in Japan and via See Monkey Do Monkey Recordings in UK. Shortly afterwards, they released a Christmas single, ''Cerdyn Nadolig (Christmas Card)'', which garnered them the Welsh Christmas Number 1 on the
BBC Radio Cymru
BBC Radio Cymru is a Welsh language radio network owned and operated by BBC Cymru Wales, a division of the BBC. It broadcasts on two stations across Wales on FM, DAB, digital TV and online.
The main network broadcasts for hours a day from ...
chart. BOX was also nominated for the inaugural
Welsh Music Prize
The Welsh Music Prize is an annual music prize awarded for the best album from Wales, as voted for by members of the music industry. It was founded by music promoter John Rostron and radio presenter Huw Stephens in 2011. It was originally schedul ...
.
Amid other projects, Ellis produced and arranged Italian artist Emma Tricca's album ''Minor White'', which was released on
Finders Keepers / Bird Records in the UK, and he worked with French artist
Fabienne Delsol on her album ''ON MY MIND'' (
Damaged Goods), also
Dan Sartain
Daniel Fredrick Sartain (August 13, 1981 – March 20, 2021) was an American musician. His music encompasses a variety of genres, including rockabilly, punk rock and the blues.
Career
After releasing two self-produced albums through independe ...
's album ''
Dan Sartain Lives'' (
One Little Indian Records
One Little Independent Records (formerly One Little Indian Records) is an English independent record label. It was set up in 1985 by members of various anarcho-punk bands, and managed by former Flux of Pink Indians bassist Derek Birkett. In th ...
),
The Keys' album - ''Fire Inside'' (See Monkey Do Monkey Recordings) and
Edwyn Collins
Edwyn Stephen Collins (born 23 August 1959) is a Scottish musician, producer and record label owner from Edinburgh, Scotland. Collins was the lead singer for the 1980s post-punk band Orange Juice, which he co-founded. After the group split in ...
' album ''
Losing Sleep'' (
Heavenly Recordings
Heavenly Recordings is a London-based independent record label founded by Jeff Barrett in 1990. Heavenly released the first albums from Saint Etienne, Beth Orton and Doves, and early singles by Manic Street Preachers. Current Heavenly artists ...
).
In October 2011, Colorama released ''Llyfr Lliwio (Colouring Book)'', which was their first predominantly Welsh-language collection. During this period Ellis was a member of
Roddy Frame
Roddy Frame (born 29 January 1964) is a Scottish singer-songwriter and musician. He was the founder of the 1980s new wave band Aztec Camera and has undertaken a solo career since the group's dissolution. In November 2013, journalist Brian Do ...
's touring band.
August 2012 saw their fifth album release - ''Good Music'', produced by
Edwyn Collins
Edwyn Stephen Collins (born 23 August 1959) is a Scottish musician, producer and record label owner from Edinburgh, Scotland. Collins was the lead singer for the 1980s post-punk band Orange Juice, which he co-founded. After the group split in ...
and Sebastian Lewsley, and released on Collins's new AED Records label, followed by a 12-inch single, ''Hapus? (Happy?)'', on Aficionado Recordings in November 2012.
In autumn 2012, Ellis toured Asia playing keyboards, guitar and percussion with the
Pretenders.
In 2013, Ellis focused on studio work, recording with
Edwyn Collins
Edwyn Stephen Collins (born 23 August 1959) is a Scottish musician, producer and record label owner from Edinburgh, Scotland. Collins was the lead singer for the 1980s post-punk band Orange Juice, which he co-founded. After the group split in ...
,
Gemma Ray,
Roddy Frame
Roddy Frame (born 29 January 1964) is a Scottish singer-songwriter and musician. He was the founder of the 1980s new wave band Aztec Camera and has undertaken a solo career since the group's dissolution. In November 2013, journalist Brian Do ...
and in early 2014, Japanese artists
Quruli. He also produced and arranged the second album, ''Relic'' for Emma Tricca, released by
Finders Keepers / Bird Records in May 2014 and co-produced the first album by Nev Cottee, ''Stations'' (Roleplay Records).
In 2014, Colorama released a new EP, ''Heaven's Hotel'', a new album ''TEMARI'', followed by a split single, ''Yn Rhydiau'r Afon / Forget Tomorrow'' with
The Joy Formidable
The Joy Formidable is a Welsh alternative rock band, formed in 2007 in Mold, Flintshire, and currently based in London, England. The band consists of Rhiannon "Ritzy" Bryan (lead vocals, guitar), Rhydian Dafydd (bass, vocals) and Matthew James ...
.
A compilation of all of Ellis's Welsh songs as Colorama was released in November 2014, entitled ''Dere Mewn!'', on his own, new Agati label.
Ellis collaborated with
Edwyn Collins
Edwyn Stephen Collins (born 23 August 1959) is a Scottish musician, producer and record label owner from Edinburgh, Scotland. Collins was the lead singer for the 1980s post-punk band Orange Juice, which he co-founded. After the group split in ...
and Seb Lewsley on the
soundtrack
A soundtrack is recorded music accompanying and synchronised to the images of a motion picture, drama, book, television program, radio program, or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack o ...
to the film ''The Possibilities Are Endless'', composing much of its original score, which opened in October 2014 to great critical success, winning the
Mojo 'Film of the Year' Award.
February 2015 saw Ellis release his first album as Zarelli, ''Soft Rains'' on the Seriés Aphōnos label – a mostly instrumental synthesizer record, featuring the voice of
Leonard Nimoy
Leonard Simon Nimoy (; March 26, 1931 – February 27, 2015) was an American actor, famed for playing Spock in the ''Star Trek'' franchise for almost 50 years. This includes originating Spock in the original ''Star Trek'' series in 1966, then ...
reading the
Ray Bradbury
Ray Douglas Bradbury (; August 22, 1920June 5, 2012) was an American author and screenwriter. One of the most celebrated 20th-century American writers, he worked in a variety of modes, including fantasy, science fiction, horror, mystery fictio ...
short story ''
There Will Come Soft Rains There Will Come Soft Rains may refer to:
* "There Will Come Soft Rains" (poem), by Sara Teasdale
* "There Will Come Soft Rains" (short story), by Ray Bradbury
{{disambiguation ...
''.
''Soft Rains'' received a nomination for the
Welsh Music Prize
The Welsh Music Prize is an annual music prize awarded for the best album from Wales, as voted for by members of the music industry. It was founded by music promoter John Rostron and radio presenter Huw Stephens in 2011. It was originally schedul ...
2015.
In June 2015 the LP ''
Red Kite
The red kite (''Milvus milvus'') is a medium-large bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other Diurnality, diurnal Bird of prey, raptors such as eagles, buzzards, and harrier (bird), harriers. The species currently b ...
'' by
Sarah Cracknell
Sarah Cracknell (born 12 April 1967) is an English singer-songwriter and lead singer of the electronic music band Saint Etienne.
Career
Cracknell's career started with the Windsor-based indie band The Worried Parachutes in 1982. Following the d ...
of
Saint Etienne was released, which was co-produced, co-written and arranged by Ellis. A single, ''
Nothing Left To Talk About'' (featuring
Nicky Wire
Nicholas Allen Jones (born 20 January 1969), known as Nicky Wire, is a Welsh musician and songwriter, best known as lyricist, bassist and secondary vocalist of the Welsh alternative rock band, Manic Street Preachers.
Prior to the group, Wire ...
of
Manic Street Preachers
Manic Street Preachers, also known simply as the Manics, are a Welsh rock band formed in Blackwood in 1986. The band consists of cousins James Dean Bradfield (lead vocals, lead guitar) and Sean Moore (drums, percussion, soundscapes), plus Nic ...
) reached Number 1 in the UK vinyl singles chart on its release. A collection of instrumentals from the album, ''Kites'', was released in September 2016, also on
Cherry Red Records
Cherry Red Records is a British independent record label founded in Malvern, Worcestershire by Iain McNay in 1978. The label has released recordings by Dead Kennedys, Everything But the Girl, The Monochrome Set, and Felt, among others, as we ...
.
Early in 2016, Ellis began presenting an ongoing weekly radio show, ''X Marks The Spot'' on
Soho Radio
Soho Radio is an independent online radio station that broadcasts over two channels, Soho and NYC + Culture. The studios are based in Soho, London, and on Lexington Avenue in New York It was founded in 2014, with the New York branch opening in N ...
in London.
He also presented a series called ''Antur Sonig'' on the Welsh language station
BBC Radio Cymru
BBC Radio Cymru is a Welsh language radio network owned and operated by BBC Cymru Wales, a division of the BBC. It broadcasts on two stations across Wales on FM, DAB, digital TV and online.
The main network broadcasts for hours a day from ...
Mwy during the autumn of 2016.
A Welsh language collaborative album, ''Bendith'' made by Carwyn Ellis with the folk trio, Plu was released on Ellis's Agati label in October 2016., followed by a five track EP which was released on the Aficionado Recordings label in February 2017.
A documentary film about the making of the album, ''Bendith: Yn Fyw O Acapela'' was broadcast on
S4C in November 2016. The Bendith album received a nomination for the inaugural
Welsh Music Prize
The Welsh Music Prize is an annual music prize awarded for the best album from Wales, as voted for by members of the music industry. It was founded by music promoter John Rostron and radio presenter Huw Stephens in 2011. It was originally schedul ...
2017
and went on to win the
Welsh Language Album of the Year 2017 award at
National Eisteddfod of Wales
The National Eisteddfod of Wales (Welsh: ') is the largest of several eisteddfodau that are held annually, mostly in Wales. Its eight days of competitions and performances are considered the largest music and poetry festival in Europe. Competitors ...
that same year.
Ellis's collaboration with
Sarah Cracknell
Sarah Cracknell (born 12 April 1967) is an English singer-songwriter and lead singer of the electronic music band Saint Etienne.
Career
Cracknell's career started with the Windsor-based indie band The Worried Parachutes in 1982. Following the d ...
continued into 2017 with the release of
Saint Etienne's critically acclaimed ''
Home Counties
The home counties are the counties of England that surround London. The counties are not precisely defined but Buckinghamshire and Surrey are usually included in definitions and Berkshire, Essex, Hertfordshire and Kent are also often inclu ...
'' album which featured two songs co-written and co-produced by Ellis. A single, ''Dive'' which was produced and co-written by Ellis was released in September 2017, and reached Number 1 in the UK vinyl singles chart on its release.
He continued to work with
Edwyn Collins
Edwyn Stephen Collins (born 23 August 1959) is a Scottish musician, producer and record label owner from Edinburgh, Scotland. Collins was the lead singer for the 1980s post-punk band Orange Juice, which he co-founded. After the group split in ...
through 2016 and early 2017 on new recordings, including a collaborative song, ''Fulmar'' released in August 2017 as part of the ''Avocet Revisited'' EP, commissioned by Earth Recordings as a companion piece to
Bert Jansch
Herbert Jansch (3 November 1943 – 5 October 2011) was a Scottish folk musician and founding member of the band Pentangle. He was born in Glasgow and came to prominence in London in the 1960s as an acoustic guitarist and singer-songwriter ...
's 1979 album, ''
Avocet
The four species of avocets are a genus, ''Recurvirostra'', of waders in the same avian family as the stilts. The genus name comes from Latin , 'curved backwards' and , 'bill'. The common name is thought to derive from the Italian ( Ferrarese) ...
''.
In May 2017, Ellis resumed touring with
The Pretenders
Pretenders are an English–American rock band formed in March 1978. The original band consisted of founder and main songwriter Chrissie Hynde (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), James Honeyman-Scott (lead guitar, backing vocals, keyboards), Pete Fa ...
, again playing keyboards, guitar and percussion. In October 2017, a special edition version of their album ''ALONE'' which included a live bonus disc was released.
''Some Things Just Take Time'' came out in September 2017 on the Wonderfulsound label, and showed the group taking a more acoustic, folk-influenced direction.
2018 saw the tenth anniversary re-issue of Colorama’s debut album, ''Cookie Zoo'', made available for the first time outside of Japan via a new Madrid-based record label, Banana & Louie Records.
In 2019, Ellis embarked on the first solo project under his own name, Carwyn Ellis & Rio 18. A collaborative project sung in Welsh and recorded mainly in Rio de Janeiro, it was produced by legendary Brazilian producer,
Alexandre Kassin Alexandre may refer to:
* Alexandre (given name)
* Alexandre (surname)
* Alexandre (film)
See also
* Alexander
Alexander is a male given name. The most prominent bearer of the name is Alexander the Great, the king of the Ancient Greek kingdom ...
who was introduced to Ellis by
Chrissie Hynde
Christine Ellen Hynde (born September 7, 1951) is an American musician. She is a founding member and the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter of the rock band the Pretenders, and one of the band's two remaining original members alon ...
who suggested they work together during
The Pretenders
Pretenders are an English–American rock band formed in March 1978. The original band consisted of founder and main songwriter Chrissie Hynde (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), James Honeyman-Scott (lead guitar, backing vocals, keyboards), Pete Fa ...
tour of South America in early 2018. Musicians who collaborated on the project include
Alexandre Kassin Alexandre may refer to:
* Alexandre (given name)
* Alexandre (surname)
* Alexandre (film)
See also
* Alexander
Alexander is a male given name. The most prominent bearer of the name is Alexander the Great, the king of the Ancient Greek kingdom ...
,
Domenico Lancellotti, André Siqueira,
Shawn Lee,
Nina Miranda
Nina Miranda is a Brazilian-born English singer and songwriter who was a member of English bands Smoke City, Shrift and Zeep.
Life and career
Miranda was born in Brasília, Distrito Federal. Her mother is the English Liz Thompson-Miranda; ...
, Manoel Cordeiro,
Georgia Ruth and
Gwion Llewelyn. A documentary film on the making of the record, ''Carwyn Ellis: Ar Y Cei Yn Rio'' was shown on
S4C (Channel 4 Wales) in March 2019 and went on to win the Best Welsh language short Film award at the Wales International Documentary Festival.
The album, ''Joia!'' came out in June 2019.
In 2020, Ellis releases Single ''Cherry Blossom Promenade'' & EP ''Ti'' to raise funds for personal protective equipment (PPE) for Welsh health and care workers. Ellis was initially inspired by his record label in Madrid, Banana And Louie Records, taking part in Music for Gloves and contributing a couple of songs himself to help provide PPE in Spain.
During the UK
lockdown
A lockdown is a restriction policy for people, community or a country to stay where they are, usually due to specific risks (such as COVID-19) that could possibly harm the people if they move and interact freely.
The term is used for a prison ...
, the eighth full-length album under the
Colorama project ''Chaos Wonderland'' was released on 31 July 2020.
The second album from his solo project Carwyn Ellis & Rio 18 called ''Mas'' was also released on 25 February 2021. ''Mas'' is a truly international project, featuring players from Wales, Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina, France, England and the USA.
The most recent album ''Yn Rio'' by the Carwyn Ellis & Rio 18 with the
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
The BBC National Orchestra of Wales (BBC NOW) ( cy, Cerddorfa Genedlaethol Gymreig y BBC) is a Welsh symphony orchestra and one of the BBC's five professional radio orchestras. The BBC NOW is the only professional symphony orchestra organisation ...
was released on 22 October 2021, originally performed live and broadcast in March 2021 on
BBC Radio Cymru
BBC Radio Cymru is a Welsh language radio network owned and operated by BBC Cymru Wales, a division of the BBC. It broadcasts on two stations across Wales on FM, DAB, digital TV and online.
The main network broadcasts for hours a day from ...
&
BBC Radio 6 Music
BBC Radio 6 Music is a British digital radio station owned and operated by the BBC, specialising primarily in alternative music. BBC 6 Music was the first national music radio station to be launched by the BBC in 32 years. It is available on ...
.
Discography
Studio albums
Carwyn Ellis & Rio 18
Colorama
Carwyn Ellis
Bendith
Zarelli
Edwyn Collins & Carwyn Ellis
Edwyn Collins, Carwyn Ellis, Sebastian Lewsley
With
Edwyn Collins
Edwyn Stephen Collins (born 23 August 1959) is a Scottish musician, producer and record label owner from Edinburgh, Scotland. Collins was the lead singer for the 1980s post-punk band Orange Juice, which he co-founded. After the group split in ...
With
The Pretenders
Pretenders are an English–American rock band formed in March 1978. The original band consisted of founder and main songwriter Chrissie Hynde (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), James Honeyman-Scott (lead guitar, backing vocals, keyboards), Pete Fa ...
With Saint Etienne
With
Sarah Cracknell
Sarah Cracknell (born 12 April 1967) is an English singer-songwriter and lead singer of the electronic music band Saint Etienne.
Career
Cracknell's career started with the Windsor-based indie band The Worried Parachutes in 1982. Following the d ...
With Tracyanne & Danny
With Gemma Ray
With
The Rails
The Rails is a folk rock band from London, England, composed of husband and wife James Walbourne and Kami Thompson. Thompson and Walbourne first met during the recording sessions for ''Versatile Heart'' by Thompson's mother Linda Thompson in 2 ...
With Fabienne Delsol
With Raf Rundell
With Nev Cottee
With Emma Tricca
With Quruli
With
Roddy Frame
Roddy Frame (born 29 January 1964) is a Scottish singer-songwriter and musician. He was the founder of the 1980s new wave band Aztec Camera and has undertaken a solo career since the group's dissolution. In November 2013, journalist Brian Do ...
With
Shane MacGowan
Shane Patrick Lysaght MacGowan (born 25 December 1957) is an Irish singer, songwriter, and musician. He is best known as the lead singer and songwriter of Celtic punk band the Pogues. He was also a member of the Nipple Erectors and Shane MacG ...
& Friends
With
Dan Sartain
Daniel Fredrick Sartain (August 13, 1981 – March 20, 2021) was an American musician. His music encompasses a variety of genres, including rockabilly, punk rock and the blues.
Career
After releasing two self-produced albums through independe ...
With The Keys
With
Lay Low
Lovísa Elísabet Sigrúnardóttir (born 10 September 1982), better known by her stage name, Lay Low, is an Icelandic musician and singer.
Biography
Lovísa was born to a Sri Lankan father and an Icelandic mother. She moved to Iceland at a ...
With Pete Molinari
With James Hunter
With Simon Scott
With
Bap Kennedy
Martin Christopher Kennedy (17 June 1962 – 1 November 2016), known as Bap Kennedy, was a singer-songwriter from Belfast, Northern Ireland. He was noted for his collaborations with Steve Earle, Van Morrison, Shane MacGowan and Mark Knopfler, as ...
With
Proud Mary
"Proud Mary" is a song written by John Fogerty and first recorded by his band Creedence Clearwater Revival. It was released by Fantasy Records as a single from the band's second studio album, '' Bayou Country'', which was issued by the same ...
With
John's Children
John's Children were a 1960s mod rock band from Leatherhead, England that briefly featured future T. Rex frontman Marc Bolan. John's Children were known for their outrageous live performances and were booted off a tour with the Who in Germany i ...
With
North Mississippi Allstars
North Mississippi Allstars is an American blues and southern rock band from Hernando, Mississippi, founded in 1996. The band is currently composed of brothers Luther Dickinson (guitar, lowebow, vocals) and Cody Dickinson (drums, keyboards, ele ...
With Southern Fly
With Unkle
Remixes
Saint Etienne
John Stammers
AM & Shawn Lee
Soundtracks / scores
The Guts of The Sea
The Possibilities Are Endless
The World Is Not Enough
''The World Is Not Enough'' is a 1999 spy film, the nineteenth in the ''James Bond'' series produced by Eon Productions and the third to star Pierce Brosnan as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. It was directed by Michael Apted, from an o ...
References
External links
IN CONVERSATION: Colorama’s Carwyn Ellis on new ‘Chaos Wonderland’ albumFred Perry Subculture : Carwyn Ellis InterviewWillwork4funk : Carwyn Ellis BiographyBarKino #55 – A World with Carwyn Ellis- 2021 interview with Pedro Montenegro on ''
Soho Radio
Soho Radio is an independent online radio station that broadcasts over two channels, Soho and NYC + Culture. The studios are based in Soho, London, and on Lexington Avenue in New York It was founded in 2014, with the New York branch opening in N ...
''
PODCAST: Show Me Magic! Dydd Miwsig Cymru/Welsh Language Music Day special with Carwyn Ellis & Cath Holland- 2020 interview with Cath Holland on ''God Is in The Tv''
Carwyn Ellis yn cyfri Bendith-ion- 2017 interview with Owain Schiavone at ''
Y Selar (Welsh language music magazine)''
In Conversation with Carwyn Ellis- 2015 interview with Graham Tomlinson at ''
Wales Arts Review''
The changing man - Carwyn Ellisat ''Western Mail'' (2013)
BBC's musical biography of ColoramaPlaylists with ColoramaCarwyn Ellis discogs
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ellis, Carwyn
1973 births
Living people
Welsh-language singers
Welsh singer-songwriters
Psychedelic folk musicians
Alumni of the Royal Academy of Music
Welsh multi-instrumentalists
21st-century Welsh male singers
Place of birth missing (living people)
British male singer-songwriters