Carwyn Ellis and Bendith (Wales / UK)

Bendith is a collaboration between Welsh pop-folk group Plu and multi-instrumentalist Carwyn Ellis of Colorama, blending their distinct musical voices into a sound that is warm, nostalgic, and rooted in place and memory. With a focus on vocal harmonies and intricate instrumentation, the project celebrates Welsh culture and landscapes through a lens of universal emotion. Their debut album and subsequent EP have earned acclaim for their beauty and sincerity, with contributions from guest musicians such as Georgia Ruth and Patrick Rimes adding orchestral texture.

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“Hwiangerdd Takeda” is a Welsh-language adaptation of the traditional Japanese “Takeda Lullaby,” made famous by the 1969 version from Japanese folk group Akai Tori. The original lyrics speak from the perspective of a young girl working as a babysitter in rural Japan, dreaming of returning to her family. The translated refrain carries gentle sorrow: “This child continues to cry / Every day I grow thinner / I would quickly quit and go back / To the other side of the mountain / I can see my parents’ house.” Bendith’s interpretation honors the song’s delicate melancholy with subtle grace. “Hwiangerdd Takeda” appears on the Bendith EP, a collection released for Welsh Language Music Day in 2017.

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