Civil Twilight is an indie/synth-rock outfit from Cape Town in South Africa. The band currently based in Nashville, Tennessee is composed of brothers Andrew [guitar] and Steven McKellar [vocals/bass/keys], Richard Wouters [drums/percussion] and Kevin Dailey [keys/vocals]. Their self-titled debut album was released in 2009, after the band already had brought it out independently the year before.

River is the current single taken from their sophomore offering. The record is entitled ‘Holy Weather’ and was released in South Africa and North America and the UK on March 26, 2012 via Wind-Up Records. The major rest of Europe had to wait quite a while till the record finally saw its local release on April 26, 2013. (Over a year’s waiting time is a shame for label and distributor in my opinion…) The band claims artists such as James Blake, Burial and The National as major influences on Holy Weather. The album was produced by John Congleton (Modest Mouse, Bono, The Roots) und Dan Carey (Franz Ferdinand, M.I.A.). The official video for River is themed on the band’s life on the road as the release of both records was followed by extensive touring. The high-speed film lets us look on the daily touring business as well as some side-trip distractions of the band, watch it above. The brilliant title track, my album favourite, can be checked out below.

Cover Art:

Tracklist:
01. River
02. Holy Weather
03. Fire Escape
04. Move / Stay
05. Every Walk That I’ve Ever taken Has Been In Your …
06. Highway of Fallen Kings
07. It’s Over
08. Shape of a Sound
09. Sweet Resistance
10. Please Don’t Find Me
11. Doorway

Follow ‘Civil Twilight’ on:
Official homepage at: http://www.civiltwilightband.com/
Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/CivilTwilight
Twitter at: https://twitter.com/civiltwilight
Soundcloud at: https://soundcloud.com/civiltwilight
Youtube at: http://www.youtube.com/civiltwilightband

Read more:
Guitar World − Interview: Civil Twilight Guitarist Andrew McKellar Discusses Gear and ‘Holy Weather’

Originally from Capetown, South Africa and based in Nashville, TN since before the debut album, the band is made up of brothers Steven and Andrew McKeller, Richard Wouters and touring member Kevin Dailey They took time out while during a promo visit to NYC to play live for us and chat about the new album. Following a spring and summer of playing festivals overseas, look for the band to hit the states in late summer/early fall. Click that mouse and check out this exclusive session!

“River”

Written and recorded in one day, the album’s opening track is the original demo version. It’ s my favorite song from it.

“It’s Over”

Recorded live in the studio while doing sessions in Hoboken, NJ. It’s one of the earliest songs written for the album.

“Doorway”

Written on the piano by Steven back home in South Africa while visiting his uncle, who gave it it’s name. The story is set in Brooklyn, NY, where Steven said many of his songs tend to be based.

The [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Civil Twilight [/lastfm]Interview

Buy the new album on iTunes

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Civil Twilight website

Genre: Alternative rock / Indie rock
Origin: Cape Town > Western Cape > South Africa
Website: civiltwilightband.com

Holy Weather - Civil Twilight (US release: 26 MAR 2012)

Civil Twilight

Civil Twilight is a band that originally formed in South Africa, Cape Town. It consists of: Steven and Andrew Mckellar and Richard Wouters. The Mckellar brothers grew up listening to jazz as well as listening to their mother play piano. Andrew then started a band in high school with Richard and later realised that Steven could sing and write songs. Steven took over bass, Andrew played guitar and Richard gave up guitar and learnt to play drums. After their studies they moves to Los Angeles where they were signed up. Their music was featured on popular TV and movies such as ‘One Tree Hill’, ‘Terminator’, ‘WWE’ and recently in ‘I Am Number 4′. For more information please see: Civil Twilight

I remember browsing the web about these guys last year and stumbling upon a comment where someone asked, “Did you name your band Civil Twilight because the lead singer looks like Edward Cullen”- That was so funny. The bands answer was obviously no, they named their band before Rob played Edward.

The first song I heard was ‘Next to Me’ and it sounded so good, I loved this guys voice, had a calming effect on me. Next up was ‘Quiet in my Town’ and ‘Letters From the Sky’. I enjoyed both songs, eventually the entire album stuck to me and I would sing it dramatically everywhere I go. My most dramatic moment may have been when I was sailing on my fathers’ boat, I stood in front titanic style and shouted ‘Is anybody out there?’ Needless to say my dad thinks I’m cracked. Good song for the moment though.

I managed to go a concert of theirs last year, 26th December. The first few songs I sat out with my friends and the picnic, but as imagined, I got restless and ran up front, followed by Tassi and L. We had such fun there, the band are entertainers for the crowd up front. The guitarist starting using his instrument as a violin, was so weird and cool. They kept throwing stuff in to the crowd which lead to me almost being trampled and being saved by the 2 mentioned friends. I also recall Steven entering the crowd and me being lifted off the ground and carried with the crowd towards him. It was fantastic. I hope to see them perform again.

After the show we managed to get in a minute meeting. They were sweet and he did look like Rob Pattinson from up close. I’m not sure why. Just did. Images of this show are in the gallery.

Now Playing: Quiet in my Town- Civil Twilight
Shameez

My favourite trio hailing from Cape Town have a treat for you. Naturally I’m talking about Civil Twilight’s new single for Soldier. Wait, don’t know Civil Twilight? Think the  best in alternative rock and impassioned vocals. Oh and their songs have  been featured on One Tree Hill and House to name a few prime time shows.

‘Soldier’ is one of my favourite song’s off their their latest album and encapsulates their sound. It’s an album I advise you get your hands on, that is if you don’t have it already.

Oh and if you haven’t heard their cover of Massive Attack’s ‘Teardrop’ I suggest you change that.

xx

yours in musical madness

Richard Wouters recently performed a showcase at the Barfly in Camden, with his band Civil Twilight. We were able to chat with the groovy sticksman before the show and asked him a few questions about his newly found fame within the U.S. Here’s what Richard had to say –  

Let’s talk a bit about how your drumming career began. what initially attracted you to the drums and what is your general approach while playing the instrument ?
 
What first attracted me to drumming was the rhythmic nature of it. I had played guitar for a while before I picked up the drums but I always enjoyed beating on stuff more than I did strumming guitar strings. I remember when I was a little kid I used to make miniature drum sets out of pots and pans and pillows and play along to music on the radio. I must have been 6 or 7 years old at the time. I guess it was always kinda in me.
 
Do you, find time to practise your drumming now that the band are on the road so much ? If so, what does your general practice routine look like ?
 
I try practice on the road, but I don’t get to nearly as much I’d like. When I was younger I was practicing 4-6 hours a day, sometimes more. I’m really into rudiments and I have a whole routine that I do that covers a range of different sticking combinations and accenting at different tempos. You can get a lot of mileage out of a simple paradiddle if you change up the accents, spacing, limbs that you use, and then move it around the kit. These days I just take a practice pad with me on tour and I’ll work on rudiments whenever I get the chance. I do find that playing shows every night keeps me feeling pretty good though. There’s nothing worse than feeling out of touch with one’s instrument.
 
Tell us how Civil Twilight started, as well as that initiated the move to the United States ?
 
We started as a few kids playing around and trying to write songs in our garage in Cape Town. We were really young and we had all just started playing our respective instruments, so we decided to “jam” together. Many years of jamming later, it developed into Civil Twilight. We decided to move to the States to see what it was like to play in one of the best music scenes in the world, and see if we could hold our own on an international stage. We wanted to make a career of our music and we figured if we made it in LA, we could make it anywhere. I’m not sure if that logic is entirely sound, but that was kind of our thinking.
How did the deal with Wind Up records come about ?
 
We recorded an album in America and our manager passed our record onto a music supervisor who works for Grey’s Anatomy and some other shows. She really liked the music and ended up getting a number of songs placed in TV shows. Wind-Up heard the music on a TV show and ultimately they called up our manager and said they were interested in offering us a deal. After some negotiations we decided to take it.
 

In addition to Civil twilight, what else are you up to. Also, what’s next for Civil Twilight ?
 
Right now I don’t really have time for much else besides Civil Twilight. We are very busy these days, constantly touring, and we have a very full schedule this year. Civil Twilight is kind of my thing. I’ve been in this band forever and don’t really care to play in any other band… It’s exciting because things are starting to take off for us in America now. What’s next for us is more touring in America over the summer, and then hopefully some UK and European dates. We’ve probably got about another year worth of touring on this record, and then we’ll go back into the studio and make another one.
 
Have you ever performed at, or attended any drum clinics. Regardless, how would you personally approach a drum clinic if you were performing ?
 
I’ve attended drum clinics by Efrain Toro, a master latin and jazz drummer from Puerto Rica. He later became my tutor and I learnt a lot of what I know from him. I would not be where I am today without his influence and tuition.
 
How do you warm up before a show ? Some guys do push ups, some guys play rudiments, what do you personally do to warm up ?
 
I don’t actually do warm ups before shows. I generally find that by the end of the second song I’m pretty warm as it is. I just try to get a few minutes to myself before taking the stage and just relax and calm myself down. Then I take the first couple songs slow and try get into a groove – ease into it physically and mentally. So much of performing and playing is mental – thinking right, and not thinking too much.
 


Where do you see yourself as a musician within the next five years ?
 
I’m not sure… I’ve never really had a good answer to that question, and certainly have never got any of my predictions right. Id like to keep making good music that I’m passionate about, keep building a following with Civil Twilight, and keep becoming a better musician.
 
What (if any) do you feel has been the most important lesson you have had to learn through out your career as a successful drummer/musician, and why do you feel this particular advice was so important to you ?

 
Focus on playing simply and with feel. Put emotion into your playing before speed and technique. This is what music is about and this is what will connect with your audience.
 
If you could offer our readers some advice on how to maintain a long career within the music industry (as you have), what do you think you would tell them ?
 
My career has been different to many people’s in that I’ve been playing with the same group of people my whole career. So, I would say find other people to play with that you gel with musically and as people, who you can enjoy playing music with and who you can grow with. There is no rush, and if you keep the main thing the main thing – the enjoyment of making music with others – you’ll do well. Most bands break up because they can’t get along, not because they don’t have success. Even if you have major success, you still have to get along.
 

Let’s talk briefly about your gear, tell us why you use the products you use as well as if there are any new products on the market that you would like to try ?

 
I use Vic Firth sticks, Sabian Cymbals and Evans drumheads. I use all coated 2-ply heads and Hand Hammered cymbals. Evans coated heads have really great tone and attack and Sabian’s HH cymbals are my favourite cymbals. They sound amazing; rich, dark and colourful. As for my kit, I almost always use my vintage ’76 Slingerland kit, which I love. I love vintage drums – the warm, round, full tones. Right now I have no real desire to use anything else.
 
Any last thoughts or words of wisdom ?
 
Yeah be kind.