21 February 2014

 You can now hear the six songs that will compete for the Cân i Gymru 2014 title on the S4C website. This is the first chance to hear all six songs which will battle it out live in the final on S4C on Friday 28 February 7.45pm.

Listen at s4c.co.uk/canigymru and share your first impression by using #CIG2014 on Twitter or leave a comment on Facebook – facebook.com/canigymru

And as they spoke about participating in this year's event, many of the finalists have said that the recent changes to the competition rules contributed to their decision to take part this year.

In 2013, the competition format was changed to allow each composer the freedom to produce their song for the final, working with a producer and studio of their choice.

Giving this freedom to the composers was one of the factors which persuaded Gwilym Bowen Rhys, lead singer of Y Bandana and member of the folk group Plu, to try this year.

Gwilym said, "Although I competed two years ago, the change in the competition format drew me back once again since it offered the composers/performers more freedom."

Another finalist, Gruff Siôn Rees, agrees: "The chance to record the song in a professional studio of my choice appealed to me."

And Joseff Owen, one of the members of the band Y Cledrau from Bala, says that the new rule was a factor: "This definitely contributed to our desire to compete. Getting the chance to perform on a national stage will be an amazing experience and a lot of fun!"

Gaynor Davies, S4C Entertainment Content Commissioner, is glad to see that the changes were well received: "It's good to hear that musicians have welcomed the changes and that it was a factor in their decision to take part this year. One of the aims was to give the composers more freedom to prepare the final song like they intended it to be. The six songs on this year's shortlist are varied and reflect the style of the individual musicians."

Elin Fflur and Gethin Evans present this year's event from the Anglesey pavilion. The songs and their composers are: Aderyn y Nos by Gruff Siôn Rees; Agor y Drws by Y Cledrau - Joseff Owen, Marged Gwenllian, Ifan Prys ac Alun Roberts; Ben Rhys by Gwilym Bowen Rhys and Siân Harris; Brown Euraidd by Kizzy Meriel Crawford; Dydd yn Dod by Ifan Davies and Gethin Griffiths; Galw Amdanat Ti by Barry and Mirain Evans.

The songs will also be heard on Radio Cymru and C2 in the days leading up to the event and the S4C weekday magazine show Heno feature interviews with each composer.

Ends