Introducing Video of the Week from Wales Arts Review. We’ll be showcasing some of the best new art in Wales with a new video shared every week. From music to drama and everything in between, videos will not be limited by medium. Today we take a look at “Theatr” from Sŵnami.
This week, our video comes from Sŵnami, with their music video for ‘Theatr’ filmed in the iconic location of Portmeirion. The song is a part of the bands new double-single, and the video stars actor Tom Rhys Harries (White Lines), with Sam Kinsella in the director’s chair. These new singles are the first to come out since the band took a four-year hiatus; now, they’re back with more dreamy synth and electro-pop.
Originally from Dolgellau in north-west Wales, Sŵnami sing primarily in Welsh (winning Welsh Language Album of the Year prize at the 2016 Eisteddfod). ‘Theatre’ explores themes of escapism and self-worth.
Elaborating on the song’s meaning, band member Ifan Ywain said: “Theatr is about a toxic relationship, where one person wants to get back with the other. It feeds into the wider idea of escapism in terms of wanting to escape a broken, unhealthy situation and wanting something more. The song is very much a conversation between two people…”
Tom Rhys Harries, who takes a lead role in the video, commented: “The story behind the video involves a man stuck between different realities. One where he lives in a perfect, glossy but fake world, and his endeavour to escape that world, even though the other reality is chaotic.”
You can watch the music video for ‘Theatr’ below.
‘Theatr’ is available to stream on Spotify now.
