Member Since: 2/27/2006
Band Members: Gan y gwirion ceir y gwir. I love them all.
Influences: John Martyn, Ann Griffiths, Billie Holiday, Eddi Reader, Roisin Murphy, Carpenters, Shirley Horn, Dyffryn Ogwen, Nina Simone, Mahalia Jackson, Penmon, Daniel Lanois, Judee Sill, Mozart, Bill Evans, Amy Winehouse, David Lloyd, John Coltrain, Pantycelyn, Thelonious Monk, Dad, Endaf Emlyn, Mary Coughlan, Aretha Franklin, James Taylor, Maria Callas, Bessie Smith, Y Beibl, Lizz Wright, Ella Fitzgerald, U2, Lea Owen, Trashcan Sinatras, Penmon,Chet Baker, His Bobness, Iwan, Emmylou Harris, His Frankness, Bjork, Sinead O'Connor, Joni Mitchell, Y Boncathod, Jolie Holland, Jill Scott, Errol Garner, Erykah Badu, T.H.Parry Williams, hen emynau a chaneuon gwerin, Cor Meibion y Penrhyn, Ciara Civello, Manon, Bananarama, Rufus Wainwright, Kate Bush, the Beatles, Sumudu, Nina Simone, Labi Siffre, Rhiwlas, Steve Reich, Beatles, Doris Day, Carole King, Gillian Welch, storm, y Prifeirdd Iwan Llwyd a Ieuan Wyn, Khalil Gibran, the Ogwen Valley, Eva Cassidy, Mam, Afon Menai, Aziza Mustafa Zadeh, Harry Nilsson, Lena Horn, Howard Milner, Tom Waits, Etta James, Norah Jones, Lleiniog, Peggy Lee, June Tabor, Jack Kerouak, Ceiriog, Bob Marley, My Nain Bont, Maria Rita . . . ond yn fwy na dim, swn yr adar a'r nant a'r gwynt. Rain on the roof. Tawelwch. Y mor. Silence. Cariad. Duw.
Sounds Like: "Accompanied by piano and bass, or occasionally playing guitar alone, she delivered a set of songs drawn from sources as diverse as Welsh hymnody and Bob Dylan as well as her own compositions. This is the sort of gig that couldn't have happened at pre-Cheltenham Greenbelt, with the delicacy and clarity of the performance needing a proper concert hall rather than a tent. Most of the songs were sung in Welsh, and in one of the English songs she drew a tongue-in-cheek portrait of the record executives' assessment of her music - "The language that you sing/It won't bring in the bling" - but this didn't seem to put off the audience even at an English festival. Stylistically, Lleuwen's performance ranged from classically-tinged hymnody, gentle blues and jazz and with one up-tempo jazz number given added rhythm by a guesting beatboxer. With the right backing, Lleuwen could be a star in the same mould as Eva Cassidy or even another Greenbelt discovery, Corinne Bailey Rae. But I have to say that the record executives are probably right about the language barrier." GREENBELT : THE MUSIC REVIEWS ************************************************************
*****************************************"Steffan, blessed with a voice of archetypal Welsh beauty—simultaneously heavenly and earthy, a true soul whammy—is primarily a jazz singer, and she brings the slides, slurs and blue notes of her early formative influence Billie Holiday to the material, where they fit to perfection. Music born in the valleys, but bound for Zion." Chris May, ALLABOUTJAZZ.COM
Record Label: Babel Label + Sain
Type of Label: Indie