GWYNEDD’S stunning landscape and welcoming people have inspired a Welsh learner and musician to write what is believed to be the first-ever Welsh language Brazilian music album.

Following a visit to Blaenau Ffestiniog, Simon Chandler from Manchester has learned the Welsh language and is about to release an album in the language, bringing two distinct cultures together for the first time.

O Hiraeth i Saudade will be officially launched on tonight (Saturday, 3 February) in the village of Croesor.

In 2001, Simon, a bossa nova musician who is a solicitor by trade, paid a visit to the quarries of Blaenau Ffestiniog and was inspired to learn Welsh by the old industries of the area, the town itself and stories about the quarrymen.

From then on, he was inspired by the language and its culture, but it would be another 15 years before he started to learn.

Simon said: “I was determined to learn despite living in Prestwich and the opportunity to use Welsh is scarce.

“I was disappointed when someone at a garage near the A55 told me to give up before I had even started!

“This, along with crucial support from other Welsh speakers, made me more determined than ever to learn and now it has become an integral part of my life.

“It’s strange what the language has done to me. I now feel like a Welshman at heart.”

Simon started learning independently with the Teach Yourself Welsh book and CDs before contacting the language and film production company, Gwefus, and since then has been receiving weekly lessons on Skype from business owner Llinos Griffin.

Both tutor and learner combined their creativity and composed the album O Hiraeth i Saudade with Llinos coming up with the Welsh lyrics.

Llinos said: “It has been a great pleasure to work on the album. It’s excellent to see an individual learn the language and using it in such a creative way.

“I have loved Latin American music and bringing everything together on this collaboration has been fantastic.”

Simon has played his samba/bossa nova sets at many locations across the north of England but the launch in Croesor will be his first gig in Wales.

The O Hiraeth i Saudade album launch will take place at Oriel Caffi Croesor, Croesor at 7.30pm on 3 February and Jamie Bevan will be the support act on the night.

Tickets are available at Siop Dewi, Penrhyndeudraeth; Siop yr Hen Bost, Blaenau Ffestiniog; and Siop Eifionydd, Porthmadog or on the Cymdeithas yr Iaith website http://cymdeithas.cymru/nwyddau/tocyn.

All profits will go to Cymdeithas yr Iaith.

For more information about the album and the launch, visit www.facebook.com/hwbcroesor/ or @HwbCroesor on twitter.