Gwenno Saunders

Infobox musical artist 2
Name = Gwenno


Img_capt = Gwenno Saunders performing live at the Echoplex in Los Angeles, CA on October 25, 2007.
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Cardiff, Wales
Genre = Electropop, Pop
Years_active = 2002–present
Label =
URL = [http://myspace.com/gwenno Official MySpace]
Current_members =
Past_members =

Gwenno Saunders (born Gwenno Mererid Saunders [ [http://www.ascap.com/ace/search.cfm?requesttimeout=300&mode=results&searchstr=1756325&search_in=c&search_type=exact&search_det=t,s,w,p,b,v&results_pp=20&start=1 ASC
] ] on 23 May 1981) is a Welsh dancer and solo artist. However she is best known for being a singer and keyboardist with The Pipettes.

Biography

Saunders was born in Cardiff [ [http://sweepingthenation.blogspot.com/2006/07/friendly-chat-with-gwenno.html Sweeping The Nation: "A Friendly Chat With Gwenno"] ] , and is the daughter of noted Cornish poet and linguist Tim Saunders [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/music/sites/gwenno/ BBC Wales: Gwenno] ] . From the age of five she attended the Seán Éireann-McMahon Academy of Irish Dance [ [http://hjem.get2net.dk/theplace/bio3.html Lord of the Dance biographies] ] and was a cast member of Michael Flatley's productions of Lord Of The Dance [ [http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/entertainment/music/rock_and_pop/s/218/218018_dotty_about_the_pipettes.html Manchester Evening News: "Dotty about The Pipettes"] ] and Feet of Flames by the age of 17, playing a lead role in a Las Vegas production of the former. In 2001 she had a role in the Welsh language soap opera Pobol y Cwm on S4C, for whom she would later host her own programme "Ydy Gwenno'n Gallu...?". She is fluent in Welsh and also speaks Cornish and Gaelic [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/cornwall/connected/stories/gwennointuneincornish.shtml BBC.co.uk: "Gwenno - in tune, in Cornish!"] ] .

Music career

Pre-The Pipettes (2002-2004)

In the years prior to her joining The Pipettes, she had been a solo electropop singer, mostly in the Welsh and Cornish languages, releasing two solo EP's, "Môr Hud" [ [http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=156221711&s=143444 "Môr Hud" on iTunes] ] (2002) and "Vodya" [ [http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=159162875&s=143444 "Vodya" on iTunes] ] (2004). In 2003, she was approached by Polydor Records to appear on BBC's Fame Academy, however withdrew from the competition before it started. [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/cymru/eisteddfod2003/maes/sgwrs_gwenno.shtml BBC Cymru] ] After this, Saunders represented Cornwall in the Alternative Eurovision Song Contest and won the People's Choice Award for her performance of "Vodya".

The Pipettes (2005-present)

Gwenno joined The Pipettes in April 2005 after founding member Julia left. She is most notable for her lead vocals on the single "Pull Shapes" and the chorus of "Your Kisses Are Wasted on Me". She has more recently posted solo material to her Myspace page, and made a free download of a mini album titled "U & I" available in October 2007.

In April 2008 Gwenno's younger sister Ani joined the Pipettes after the departure of singers Rosay and RiotBecki.

Personal Life

Saunders is currently dating Simon Goldring, former drummer of The Ordinary Boys.

Notes and references

External links

*
* [http://www.seaneireannmcmahon.co.uk/ The Seán Éireann-McMahon Academy of Irish Dance]