Gai Toms
| Gai Toms | |
|---|---|
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Gareth J Thomas |
| Born |
14 September 1976 Bangor, Gwynedd, Wales |
| Origin | Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd, Wales |
| Genres | Folk, brythonicana, rock, pop |
| Occupation(s) | Composer, producer |
| Instruments | Guitar, bass, drums, banjo |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Labels | Sbensh / Sain (UK) |
| Associated acts | Anweledig |
| Website | www |
Gareth 'Gai' J Thomas 'Toms' (born 14 September 1976 in Bangor, Wales) is a Welsh singer-songwriter, music artist and producer. In 1992 he co-formed the popular Welsh language ska rock band Anweledig. From 1997 to 2007 he performed using pseudonym Mim Twm Llai. He is also an actor and writes music for television and theatre.
Gai Toms' songs are mainly based on lyrics, some very poetic, backed with eclectic music styles. He performs live with a 5 piece band of drums, bass, electric guitar, acoustic guitar and backing vocals. He also performs solo on acoustic guitar. His latest work is a double album titled Bethel (2012)
Toms was raised in the Meirionethshire slate quarry community of Tanygrisiau near Blaenau Ffestiniog, Wales. Son of ex-quarryman / heavy goods driver / bus driver Robert Meurig Thomas and school caretaker Margaret Gwenda, younger brother of Elaine. On his 13th birthday, Toms taught himself to play guitar on his sister's Spanish guitar.
At secondary school, Ysgol y Moelwyn, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Toms was a keen footballer but music quickly overthrew his passion for sport. Toms and his friends were musically motivated by the bands of the time, especially Welsh-language bands such as Mistecs, Cylchoed Hud, Ffa Coffi Pawb and Hanner Pei. Popular mainstream indie bands also influenced them e.g. Stone Roses, EMF. With all these influences Toms and friends decided to form a band, Anweledig. Anweledig's music was eclectic, early songs we're 90's indie rock but as they experimented and broadened their musical preferences, they developed a [World Music] sound with strong [Ska] and [Reggae] influences.
Toms mainly performs in his first language, Cymraeg (Welsh), though he has written in English. He mainly writes in narrative form, allowing lyrical rhythms to guide the music. Some have dubbed him a poet, his early solo material (Mim Twm Llai) was compared to Welsh-language pop/folk pioneer Meic Stevens and later work described as Waitsian. Toms's music styles include folk ballad, reggae/ska, blues, rock and pop, all peppered with experimental tendencies and political subversiveness.
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