Carwyn Ellis released Joia!, an album unlike any other in that it was heavily influenced by Brazilian music and recorded in Rio, but with lyrics in Welsh; a true transatlantic collaboration. For Ellis, who is known in indie pop circles as the front-man for Colorama, and also plays guitar with The Pretenders, the album was the culmination of a burgeoning admiration for Brazilian music. With his Carwyn Ellis & Rio 18 band, he followed that album up with another , Mas, released earlier this year, that was once more recorded in Rio (at Audio Rebel), but also hinted at some other Latin American influences outside of Brazil. This Under The Influence is a chance to get to know more about the records and sounds that led to, and influenced, these two records of Ellis, and also find out how Latin American music cast a spell upon him.