Y Selar Awards Explained

The Y Selar Awards are awarded annually for the best Welsh language rock and pop music, by the Welsh language music magazine, Y Selar. The awards ceremony is the only one particularly for Welsh language music.^[1]

Background

The awards were first given out in 2010, in ten categories, with voting taking place via the Y Selar website, until the publication date of the March issue of the magazine.^[2]

Every February since 2014 the awards event has taken place at a 'live' event at Aberystwyth University, initially in front of an audience of 500,^[3] increasing to 700 in 2015.^[4] The organisers claimed an audience of 1,000 in February 2016.

Nominations are invited until December each year, for the twelve categories, from which a long list is chosen by the awards panel. A public vote then takes place using a Facebook app.^[5]

Winners

2013

Presented on 15 February 2014

• Best EP or Single - Du a Gwyn – Sŵnami
• Best Song - Anifail – Candelas
• Best Artwork - Llithro – Yr Ods
• Best Promoter - Nyth
• Best Music Presenter - Lisa Gwilym
• Best Solo Artist - Georgia Ruth Williams
• Best Live Event - Last Gig of Edward H Dafis, Denbigh National Eisteddfod
• Best Music Video - Gwreiddiau – Sŵnami
• Best LP - Candelas
• Best New Band or Artist - Kizzy Crawford
• Best Band - Candelas

2014

Presented on 21 February 2015

• Best EP or Single - Cynnydd / Gwenwyn – Sŵnami
• Best Song - Neb ar Ôl – Yws Gwynedd
• Best Artwork - Bodoli’n Ddistaw – Candelas
• Best Promoter - 4 a 6
• Best Music Presenter - Lisa Gwilym
• Best Solo Artist - Yws Gwynedd
• Best Live Event - Maes B, Llanelli National Eisteddfod
• Best Music Video - Gwenwyn – Sŵnami
• Best LP - Codi / Cysgu – Yws Gwynedd
• Best Musician - Lewis Williams (Sŵnami/Candelas)^[6]
• Best New Band or Artist - Ysgol Sul
• Best Band - Candelas

2015

Presented on 20 February 2016^[7]

• Best EP or Single - Nôl ac Ymlaen – Calfari
  • Best Song - Trwmgwsg – Sŵnami Best Artwork - Sŵnami – Sŵnami
• Best Promoter - Maes B
• Best Music Presenter - Huw Stephens/Lisa Gwilym
• Best Solo Artist - Yws Gwynedd
• Best Live Event - Maes B
• Best Music Video - Sebona Fi – Yws Gwynedd
• Best LP - Sŵnami – Sŵnami
• Best Musician - Gwilym Bowen Rhys
• Best New Band or Artist - Band Pres Llareggub
• Best Band - Sŵnami
• Special Contribution Award - David R. Edwards

2016

Presented on 18 February 2017

• • Best Song - Cyn i’r Lle Ma Gau – Y Bandana Best Artwork - Fel Tôn Gron – Y Bandana
• Best Independent Promoter - Maes B
• Best Music Presenter - Lisa Gwilym
• Best Solo Artist - Yws Gwynedd
• Best Live Event - Maes B
• Best Music Video - Sgrîn – Yws Gwynedd
• Best LP - Fel Tôn Gron – Y Bandana
• Best EP or Single - Niwl – Ffracas
• Best New Band or Artist - Ffracas
• Best Band - Y Bandana
• Best Instrumentalist - Osian Huw Williams
• Special Contribution Award - Geraint Jarman

2017

Presented on 17 February 2018

• • Best Song - Drwy Dy Lygid Di – Yws Gwynedd Best Artwork - Achw Met – Pasta Hull
• Best Independent Promoter - Clwb Ifor Bach
• Best Music Presenter - Tudur Owen
• Best Solo Artist - Alys Williams
• Best Live Event - Maes B
• Best Music Video - Drwy Dy Lygid Di – Yws Gwynedd
• Best LP - Anrheoli – Yws Gwynedd
• Best EP or Single - Cadno – Cadno
• Best New Band or Artist - Gwilym
• Best Band - Yws Gwynedd
• Best Instrumentalist - Osian Huw Williams
• Special Contribution Award - Heather Jones

2018

Presented on 16 February 2019.^[8]

• Best Song - Catalunya – Gwilym
• Best Artwork - Sugno Gola – Gwilym
• Best Independent Promoter - Clwb Ifor Bach
• Best Music Presenter - Tudur
• Best Solo Artist - Alys Williams
• Best Live Event - Maes B
• Best Music Video - Cwîn – Gwilym
• Best LP - Sugno Gola – Gwilym
• Best EP or Single - Croesa'r Afon – Trŵbz
• Best New Band or Artist - Lewys
• Best Band - Gwilym
• Star of the Scene - Branwen Williams
• Special Contribution Award - Mark Roberts and Paul Jones

2019

Presented on 14/15 February 2020

• Best Song - \Neidia/ – Gwilym
• Best Artwork - Chawn Beans – Pasta Hull
• Best Independent Promoter - Clwb Ifor Bach
• Best Music Presenter - Tudur Owen
• Best Solo Artist - Elis Derby
• Best Live Event - Tafwyl
• Best Music Video - Gwalia – Gwilym
• Best LP - O Mi Awn Ni Am Dro – Fleur De Lys
• Best EP or Single - Lle Yn Y Byd Mae Hyn? – Papur Wal
• Best New Band or Artist - Kim Hon
• Best Band - Gwilym
• Star of the Scene - Yws Gwynedd
• Special Contribution Award - Gruff Rhys

2020

Held between 8–11 February 2021 on BBC Radio Cymru mostly, because of the COVID-19 pandemic

• • Star of the Scene - Mared Best Artwork - Cofi 19
• Best New Band or Artist - Malan
• Best Solo Artist - Mared
• Best Song - 'Hel Sibrydion'– Lewys
• 2020 Prize - Eädyth
• Best EP or Single - Dim ond Dieithryn – Lisa Pedrick
• Special Contribution Award - Gwenno
• Best Music Video - Dos yn Dy Flaen – Bwncath
• Best Band – Bwncath
• Best LP - Bwncath II – Bwncath

2021

Presented on 17 February 2022

• Best Song (Sponsored by PRS) - Llyn Llawenydd – Papur Wal
• New Band or Artist 2021 - Morgan Elwy ^[9]
• Star of the Scene 2021 - Marged Gwenllian
• Best Artwork (Sponsored by Y Lolfa) - Cashews Blasus – Y Cledrau
• Best Solo Artist - Mared
• 2021 Prize (Sponsored by Heno) - Merched yn Gwneud Miwsig
• Best EP or Single (Sponsored by Dydd Miwsig Cymru) - Detholiad o Ganeuon Traddodiadol Gymreig – Los Blancos
• Best LP 2021 - Amser Mynd Adra – Papur Wal
• Special Contribution (Sponsored by University of Wales Trinity Saint David) - Tecwyn Ifan^[10]
• Best Music Video (Sponsored by S4C) - Theatr – Sŵnami
• Best Band - Papur Wal

2022

Winners announced on Radio Cymru in February 2023:^[11]

• Best Song (Sponsored by PRS) - Eto – Adwaith
• New Band or Artist 2022 - Dom James and Lloyd
• Star of the Scene 2022 - Owain Williams (Klust)
• Best Artwork - Sŵnamii (album) – Sŵnami
• Best Solo Artist - Mared
• Best Short Record - Crescent – Thallo
• Best LP 2022 - Seren – Angharad Rhiannon
• 2021 Prize - Izzy Rabey
• Special Contribution - Lisa Gwilym
• Best Music Video - Drama Queen – Tara Bandito
• Best Band - Adwaith

Notes and References

1. Web site: Gwobrau'r Selar – Awarding the best of contemporary Welsh language music . . February 2015 . 20 January 2019.
2. News: MUSIC: Y Selar, Awards . North Wales Live . 13 January 2012 . 17 February 2019 .
3. News: Hat-tric i Candelas yng Ngwobrau'r Selar . . cy . 17 February 2014 . 20 January 2019 .
4. News: David Owens . Yws Gwynedd, Candelas and Sŵnami triumphant at Welsh music awards . . 23 February 2015 . 20 January 2019 .
5. Web site: Canllawiau Gwobrau'r Selar . 7 March 2018 . Y Selar . 20 January 2019.
6. News: Gwobrau'r Selar 2015 . . cy . 22 February 2015 . 20 January 2019 .
7. News: Sŵnami yn brif enillwyr Gwobrau'r Selar . Golwg 360 . cy . 21 February 2016 . 26 January 2019 .
8. News: Pump o wobrau i Gwilym yn seremoni Gwobrau'r Selar . BBC Cymru Fyw . cy . 17 February 2019 . 17 February 2019 .
9. News: Cwpl enwog ein hardal ni yn cyrraedd brig Gwobrau'r Selar! . Denbighshire Free Press . cy . 1 March 2022 . 9 December 2022 .
10. News: Gwobrau'r Selar: Gwobr Cyfraniad Arbennig i Tecwyn Ifan . BBC Cymru Fyw . cy . 16 February 2022 . 9 December 2022 .
11. News: Enillwyr Gwobrau'r Selar 2022 . BBC Cymru Fyw . cy . 25 February 2023 . 3 March 2023 .