Rio 18
Birthed in Brazil and cultivated in Cymru, Rio 18 is an international collective formed by songwriter, singer, multi-instrumentalist and producer Carwyn Ellis after his first visit to South America in 2018 as a touring member of Pretenders. This vibrant project has brought together a collection of brilliant personnel as talented as they are varied, coming from Wales, Brazil, Venezuela, the USA, France and England – each of whom being compelling artists in their own right. After three albums as Carwyn Ellis & Rio 18, all of which bearing their trademark tropical tunes sung in Welsh, Carwyn has stepped back from the mic to focus on showcasing the group’s other members, alongside collaborations with some of the magical friends they’ve made along the way. By it’s very nature “Radio Chévere”, the new album by Rio 18 and their host of guests cannot be categorised simply: at once both a Latin mixtape and a radio show, it’s also an internationalist love letter, an offering to the goddess of Tropical Music and all that it encompasses.
With the voice of guest DJ Coco Maria as our guide, “Radio Chévere” takes us on a journey through myriad musical styles and stories. Stopping off at Uruguay, Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Mexico, California, New York and countless other sonic destinations via Samba, Salsa, Funk, Cumbia, Joropo, Disco, Psychedelic and Electronic stylings, “Radio Chévere” is also a musical metaphor for migration – a journey from one continent, one life to another.
Rio 18 is an internationalist collective with Celtic and Latin roots and love at their core.