Biography

The brain-child of West Wales native Owen Shiers, Cynefin (pr. ‘kuh-neh-vin’) is a musical mapping project which traces a line from the past to the present. Uncovering lost voices, melodies and stories as it goes, the project gives a modern voice to Ceredigion’s rich yet fragile cultural heritage and presents forgotten and neglected material in a fresh new light. Owen grew up immersed in Welsh music -from the sonorous melodies emanating from his father’s harp workshop to school life and festivals such as the Cnapan. Nominated for ‘Best Solo Artist’ at the inaugural 2019 Welsh Folk Awards, Cynefin gives Owen a platform to ply his fine arranging and guitar skills whilst taking him right back to his roots. The word ‘cynefin’ itself is a word swaddled with layers of meaning - a Welsh noun with no direct equivalent in English, its origins lie in a farming term used to describe the habitual tracks and trails worn by sheep in hillsides. The word has since morphed and deepened to conjure a very personal sense of place, belonging and familiarity. The artist Kyffin Williams describes it as ‘that relationship: the place of your birth and of your upbringing, the environment in which you live and to which you are naturally acclimatised.’ "A stunning new talent" - The Guardian “Remarkable…compelling listening” – MOJO “Evocative and beautiful” – The Folk Show, BBC Radio 2 "An essential masterpiece" - Folk Radio "Flawless" - From The Margins "Epic work" - Living Tradition