Gwenno Morgan, pianist & composer

Who or what inspired you to pursue a career in music?

It was a combination of the incredible piano teachers I had growing up – people who believed in me and pushed me to be the best I could be – alongside the community I found during university in Leeds. Being surrounded by musicians, playing in orchestras and bands, and going to countless gigs created such a strong sense of belonging through music.

At the same time, without trying to sound cliché, I’ve always had a deep feeling that music was what I was meant to do. I’m still working towards making it my full-time career, but over the past four years in particular, I’ve realised that composing – whether as an artist or for film – is what brings me the most joy. That certainty means there’s no doubt I’ll continue to pursue it.

Who or what have been the most significant influences on your musical life and career as a composer?

For me, the most significant influences are experiences, relationships, and places I’ve travelled to. My writing process is very intuitive and improvisational, so life itself naturally feeds into the music.

Growing up in North Wales has undoubtedly shaped my musical identity. Being immersed in Welsh culture through the Youth and National Eisteddfod – whether competing in piano competitions from the age of seven into my twenties or attending Welsh music festivals – had a huge impact. Seeing bands perform there also sparked my desire to perform, whether as a keyboardist with bands or through my own projects.

What have been the greatest challenges of your career so far?

Like many musicians, I’ve experienced plenty of obstacles, particularly because the work is so deeply personal. Imposter syndrome is something I’ve worked hard to overcome over the years, especially coming from a small place in North Wales and entering a competitive industry.

When I first started releasing music, promoting my own work felt incredibly unnatural -almost uncomfortable – but it’s something I’ve gradually learned to embrace. Social media, although sometimes frustrating, plays such a significant role in helping your music reach people.

Being an independent artist also comes with practical challenges: financial uncertainty, constant admin, and wearing multiple hats. Composing and practising piano can also be quite solitary at times, which is why sharing and releasing music feels so rewarding – it transforms something personal into a shared experience.

How do you work? What methods do you use and how do ideas come to you?

My compositional process is very intuitive and often depends on my mood on a given day. I usually begin by sitting at the piano and improvising until I discover something that feels natural and satisfying under the fingers – although what feels good physically doesn’t always translate musically.

I also love the production process. Building a sound world – whether through synth textures, strings, or a combination – is one of my favourite parts of creating.

This contrasts quite strongly with working on sync briefs, where you’re given specific creative parameters and instructions. Interestingly, I sometimes enjoy that structure even more; there’s something almost mathematical about solving a brief, and I’ve always enjoyed maths.

How would you characterise your compositional language/musical style?

I’ve always found this a difficult question, mainly because artists are often expected to fit neatly into genre boxes. If I had to describe it, I would say my music sits within cinematic neo-classical, fused with elements of Welsh folk and jazz influences.

Of which works are you most proud?

I’m most proud of my debut album ‘gwyw’, which I released independently at the end of 2024. It was the result of over a year of work while I was also working full time in a corporate job, so it required a huge amount of dedication and emotional investment.

I poured a wide range of emotions into the music – grief, heartbreak, hope – and co-producing the album with my friend and collaborator Arthur Brouns elevated the entire experience. Co-writing with Jasmine Myra, an artist I deeply admire, was also a real honour.

I loved creating the visual world around the project too, and that interdisciplinary aspect is something that draws me strongly towards film scoring long-term.

As a musician, what is your definition of success?

For me, success means being surrounded by a strong community of people who believe in what you do, while also finding genuine joy in the process of creating. The best outcomes tend to come when you make something you truly love, rather than trying to predict what others might want.

What advice would you give to young or aspiring composers?

I would love to do more work with younger musicians and composers, because growing up I didn’t really have someone doing what I’m doing now to look up to.

My advice would be that your educational background or the paths others take don’t define what’s possible for you. You can carve your own route in music. It’s also never too late to start – something I still remind myself.

I think women in particular can feel there’s a deadline attached to success, which simply isn’t true. Trust the timing of your life, work hard, and you will create opportunities for yourself. There’s no such thing as “just luck” – luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.

What’s the one thing we’re not talking about in the music industry which you really feel we should be?

One important conversation is that talent alone doesn’t equal career success. No matter how gifted an artist is, ability by itself isn’t enough to navigate today’s music industry. Artists are now expected to be creators, entrepreneurs, marketers, strategists, public figures, and business managers all at once – which is an enormous and often unrealistic expectation.

There also needs to be far more transparency about how the industry actually works, particularly for artists at the beginning of their careers.

What next? Where would you like to be in 10 years time?

I’m currently about three-quarters of the way through creating my second album – I very quickly caught the album-making bug – and I’m hoping to release it in the autumn.

Ten years feels like a long time, and life always has its own plans, but ideally I’d love to be scoring feature films while also travelling internationally to perform my own music, whilst being happy and healthy.

Gwenno Morgan’s new single siheilw is out now

https://www.gwennomorgan.com/