Carwyn Ellis & Rio 18

Possibly the world’s only musical group to fuse Latin music of all kinds with the Welsh language, Carwyn Ellis &amp; Rio 18 are an international collective formed by songwriter, singer, multi-instrumentalist and producer <a href="spotify:artist:0vp8dA0MyvHGm4oIDBVHtY" data-name="Carwyn Ellis">Carwyn Ellis</a> after his first visit to South America in 2018 as a touring member of <a href="spotify:artist:0GByy3DcfbQwDvXGCWmzv9" data-name="Pretenders">Pretenders</a>. Indeed - the idea to fuse Welsh language songs with latin music came from <a href="spotify:artist:2ozLlEZTdSV3pjHgWwZMsi" data-name="Chrissie Hynde">Chrissie Hynde</a> herself! Over the course of 5 albums, this vibrant project has brought together a brilliant collection of personnel, as talented as they are varied - artists who&#39;ve worked with Rio 18 include <a href="spotify:artist:3qQloBz05T6e0rKubNCmjG" data-name="Young Gun Silver Fox">Young Gun Silver Fox</a> (UK/USA), <a href="spotify:artist:3KNQV3MQsTnUfJaVpZUfCk" data-name="Kassin">Kassin</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:20fu3DuGFu7HW0v8pJyagn" data-name="Nina Miranda">Nina Miranda</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:57IX1XTNL4DPilyY5pQsaK" data-name="Moreno Veloso">Moreno Veloso</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:5Xx27g4aSstcsU3WF4waDC" data-name="Domenico Lancellotti">Domenico Lancellotti</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:6a3loWAysYxkjTW2bxxs8b" data-name="Silvia Machete">Silvia Machete</a> (all from Brazil), <a href="spotify:artist:0fvZBLytYfksZVpmQr5JPY" data-name="Luzmira Zerpa">Luzmira Zerpa</a> (Venezuela), <a href="spotify:artist:5ozUXaDjc4mfVyDIWCJH4E" data-name="Little Barrie">Little Barrie</a> (UK) and <a href="spotify:artist:5aC4E0zUYjfN871T66NHge" data-name="Coco Maria">Coco Maria</a> (Mexico).
The latest album, &#39;Fontana Rosa&#39; sees Carwyn Ellis &amp; Rio 18 this time drawing inspiration from slightly different musical corners, including Chicano Soul, Nuyorican pop, and Salsoul disco - Latin sounds filtered through the cultural spectrum of the U.S.A.
Significantly, the album was among the last ever to be recorded by the acclaimed producer Liam Watson at his legendary studio and shrine to all things analogue, Toerag Studios - a decades long influence on Carwyn.
Carwyn Ellis &amp; Rio 18 make tropical-infused songs of hope, history and harmony, recorded in a spirit of international brother and sisterhood, showing just what we can achieve if we dream, work and play... together.