Fflur Dafydd
Encyclopedia
Fflur Dafydd is an award winning novelist, singer-songwriter and musician. Whilst predominantly publishing in Welsh
, she also writes in English. She records in Welsh, and her work is regularly played on Radio Cymru.
, who has authored over 20 books of poetry, prose, academic & educational works. As a playwright, Menna has also produced short films and has presented programmes for the BBC, HTV and S4C. She was made Poet Laureate for the Children of Wales in 2002.
Fflur grew up in Llandysul
, a Welsh-speaking community, and although she received the majority of her education through the medium of Welsh, she chose to study English in Higher Education.
She studied at Aberystwyth University, graduating in English, and it was whilst she was here that she first came to prominence, in 1999, when, as a student she won the Literature Medal at the Urdd National Eisteddfod at Lampeter
. This success led to the publication of “Y Gwir Am Gelwydd” (The Truth About Lies), a collection of 12 poems and 5 short stories.
After graduating at Aberystwyth she gained an MA in Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia
in 2000, followed by a PhD on the poetry of R.S. Thomas from Bangor University
in 2001.
Today Fflur is highly successful in the very different fields of both literature and contemporary music, such that some people have failed to realise that this is one and the same person. She now lives in Carmarthen
, but travels widely with her work.
She was nominated for a D.M. Davies award at the Cardiff International Film Festival for her short film “Bathtime" (2002).
In 2005 her first novel - "Lliwiau Liw Nos" (Colours by Night) was published, followed in 2006 by her second novel "Atyniad" (Attraction), which won the Prose Medal at the National Eisteddfod in Swansea
. Her first novel had in the previous year been short-listed for the Prose Medal.
In 2005 she was selected for the Scritture Giovani project for emerging European writers, and she has also undertaken literary residencies in Helsinki (2006) and on Bardsey Island
(2002).
In 2008 she published her first English novel, "Twenty Thousand Saints", inspired by her experience as 6 week writer-in-residence on Bardsey in 2002. Regarding her choice of language, she said, "It started out as a translation of a Welsh-language novel, and after about a year or so, I decided that it really wasn’t working – so I decided to start from scratch with a completely different story." This title won for her the prestigious Oxfam Hay Award.
In 2009 she won the Daniel Owen Memorial Prize for her novel "Y Llyfrgell" (The Library). In the same year, she was a participant in the International Writing Program
at the University of Iowa.
She has released three albums,
She emerged as a solo artist in 2005, although is supported by her regular band, Y Barf (The Beard) who, along with Fflur on guitar and piano, comprises core members Rhys 'Y Barf' James (guitar), Iestyn Jones (bass), Jon Bradford Jones (drums), and Iwan 'Llangain' Evans (keyboard & sax).
As a singer-songwriter Fflur has performed in many countries round the world, and performs regularly in literary and music festivals and events throughout Wales, including larger events such as the National Eisteddfod and the Faenol Festival
.
Coch am weddill fy oes
Un Ffordd Mas
Helsinki
Caerdydd / Porthgain
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...
, she also writes in English. She records in Welsh, and her work is regularly played on Radio Cymru.
Early life
Born in 1978, she is the daughter of eminent Welsh poet Menna ElfynMenna Elfyn
Menna Elfyn is a Welsh poet, playwright, columnist, and editor who writes with passion of the Welsh and identity. She has published ten volumes of poetry and a dozen more of children’s books and anthologies. She has also written eight plays for stage, six radio plays for BBC, two plays for...
, who has authored over 20 books of poetry, prose, academic & educational works. As a playwright, Menna has also produced short films and has presented programmes for the BBC, HTV and S4C. She was made Poet Laureate for the Children of Wales in 2002.
Fflur grew up in Llandysul
Llandysul
Llandysul is a small town in the county of Ceredigion, Wales. The community of Pont Tyweli lies directly across the Teifi River in Carmarthenshire. It is in the valley of the River Teifi and is visited for its fishing and canoeing....
, a Welsh-speaking community, and although she received the majority of her education through the medium of Welsh, she chose to study English in Higher Education.
She studied at Aberystwyth University, graduating in English, and it was whilst she was here that she first came to prominence, in 1999, when, as a student she won the Literature Medal at the Urdd National Eisteddfod at Lampeter
Lampeter
Lampeter is a town in Ceredigion, South West Wales, lying at the confluence of the River Teifi and the Afon Dulas.-Demographics:At the 2001 National Census, the population was 2894. Lampeter is therefore the smallest university town in both Wales and the United Kingdom...
. This success led to the publication of “Y Gwir Am Gelwydd” (The Truth About Lies), a collection of 12 poems and 5 short stories.
After graduating at Aberystwyth she gained an MA in Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia
University of East Anglia
The University of East Anglia is a public research university based in Norwich, United Kingdom. It was established in 1963, and is a founder-member of the 1994 Group of research-intensive universities.-History:...
in 2000, followed by a PhD on the poetry of R.S. Thomas from 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...
in 2001.
Today Fflur is highly successful in the very different fields of both literature and contemporary music, such that some people have failed to realise that this is one and the same person. She now lives in Carmarthen
Carmarthen
Carmarthen is a community in, and the county town of, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is sited on the River Towy north of its mouth at Carmarthen Bay. In 2001, the population was 14,648....
, but travels widely with her work.
Writer
Fflur has written for stage, screen and radio, and her wide repertoire includes short fiction, journalism, lecturing, songwriting, screenwriting, poetry, novels, plays and short films.She was nominated for a D.M. Davies award at the Cardiff International Film Festival for her short film “Bathtime" (2002).
In 2005 her first novel - "Lliwiau Liw Nos" (Colours by Night) was published, followed in 2006 by her second novel "Atyniad" (Attraction), which won the Prose Medal at the National Eisteddfod in Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
. Her first novel had in the previous year been short-listed for the Prose Medal.
In 2005 she was selected for the Scritture Giovani project for emerging European writers, and she has also undertaken literary residencies in Helsinki (2006) and on Bardsey Island
Bardsey Island
Bardsey Island , the legendary "Island of 20,000 saints", lies off the Llŷn Peninsula in the Welsh county of Gwynedd. The Welsh name means "The Island in the Currents", although its English name refers to the "Island of the Bards", or possibly the island of the Viking chieftan, "Barda". It is ...
(2002).
In 2008 she published her first English novel, "Twenty Thousand Saints", inspired by her experience as 6 week writer-in-residence on Bardsey in 2002. Regarding her choice of language, she said, "It started out as a translation of a Welsh-language novel, and after about a year or so, I decided that it really wasn’t working – so I decided to start from scratch with a completely different story." This title won for her the prestigious Oxfam Hay Award.
In 2009 she won the Daniel Owen Memorial Prize for her novel "Y Llyfrgell" (The Library). In the same year, she was a participant in the International Writing Program
International Writing Program
The International Writing Program is a writing residency for international artists in Iowa City, Iowa. Since its inception in 1967, the IWP has hosted over 1,100 emerging and established poets, novelists, dramatists, essayists, and journalists from more than 120 countries...
at the University of Iowa.
Musician
Fflur herself describes her sound as "a fusion of blues, soul and pop"She has released three albums,
- "Pethau Rhyfedd" (Strange Things) (2003) was released when she was part of the girl band Y Panics The Panics"
She emerged as a solo artist in 2005, although is supported by her regular band, Y Barf (The Beard) who, along with Fflur on guitar and piano, comprises core members Rhys 'Y Barf' James (guitar), Iestyn Jones (bass), Jon Bradford Jones (drums), and Iwan 'Llangain' Evans (keyboard & sax).
- "Coch am Weddill fy Oes." (Red for the rest of my days) (2005) was her first released as a solo artist. It was recorded at the Millennium Centre in Cardiff.
- "Un Ffordd Mas" (One Way Out) (2007) was her second solo album.
As a singer-songwriter Fflur has performed in many countries round the world, and performs regularly in literary and music festivals and events throughout Wales, including larger events such as the National Eisteddfod and the Faenol Festival
Faenol Festival
The Faenol Festival is a music festival organised by Welsh singer Bryn Terfel and held annually on the Faenol Estate , near Y Felinheli in Gwynedd, north Wales....
.
Albums
Pethau Rhyfedd- 1. Annioddefol
- 2. Dyn Tywydd
- 3. Leicra Lan Lofft
- 4. Pethau Rhyfedd
- 5. Pobl Chips/Cân Gwenllian
Coch am weddill fy oes
- 1. Leni
- 2. Wardrob Gefn
- 3. Ar ôl Heddi’
- 4. Deall i'r Dim
- 5. Mr Freestyle
- 6. Byth Mynd i Newid
- 7. Tu ôl i’r Gwair
- 8. Sgidie Rhad
- 9. Y Gwir am Gelwydd
- 10. ‘93
Un Ffordd Mas
- 1. 'Sa Fan 'Na
- 2. Dala Fe Nôl
- 3. Mr Bogota
- 4. Y Gân Go Iawn
- 5. Pan Oeddwn Fachgen
- 6. Cocladwdldw
- 7. Doeth
- 8. Wedi Mynd
- 9. Helsinki
- 10. Y Drwg
- 11. Tan yr Angladd
- 12. Un Ffordd Mas
Singles/EPs
Dala Fe Nôl- 1. Dala Fe Nôl
- 2. Doeth
- 3. Dala Fe Nôl (edit)
Helsinki
- 1. Helsinki
- 2. Y Drwg
Caerdydd / Porthgain
- 1. Caerdydd
- 2. Porthgain