“What am I to build, if my hands are broken, if I’m not the chosen one?” sings Steven McKellar of Civil Twilight on “Story of An Immigrant”, over a lush, dynamic beat that evokes the sounds of his native South Africa while steeped in the band’s everevolving present. The foursome (Steven, his brother and guitarist Andrew, drummer Richard Wouters and Kevin Dailey on keys and guitar) are living proof of what happens when you stop worrying about being the chosen one and make music built on both the roots that grew you and the love that keeps you thriving every day. Civil Twilight’s songs embrace every corner of human emotion, balancing delicate, poetic lyrics with sweeping arrangements that touch all the senses: a phrase to make you think; a rolling drumbeat you can feel in your bones; a guitar vamp as illustrative as a picture; a shimmer of keys whose light can nearly be seen and heard. Produced by Ben H. Allen (Gnarls Barkley, Bombay Bicycle Club, Cut Copy), their third record on Wind-Up is built on this vibrancy, on the permanent dust of a Cape Town youth; on the connection that unites them all as brothers beyond blood and on their new home in America where they pull from the innate, thriving musicianship of Nashville, where they live. When you listen to Civil Twilight, from their self-titled debut, to 2012’s widely lauded Holy Weather to now, it’s easy to understand why the band has topped five million YouTube views and reached historic success with film and television syncs – because it’s music you can’t shake, that translates experience into moments and creates melodies that become imbedded deep under the skin. We’re all immigrants, in some way, and Civil Twilight’s singing our national anthem.

Curated by Shawn "JAY Z" Carter, JAY Z's Life+Times is a digital experience covering art, sports, music, fashion and culture.

WICKED LIPS OUT NOW!
https://empire.lnk.to/Wickedlips

Paul McCartney's official Soundcloud page. 

Ivor Novello Award-winner and Mercury, Grammy, and BRIT-nominated artist Lianne La Havas unveils her new single ‘Disarray.’ The track showcases a blend of emotional depth and striking vocal delivery, set against sparse, ethereal finger-plucked electric guitar —a signature of La Havas’ style. 

“The song felt very intimate, almost like a secret just for me,” says La Havas. “It’s about vulnerability, honesty, and giving listeners a window into a moment of my life.”

Over the course of her career, La Havas has released three acclaimed albums — Is Your Love Big Enough? , Blood and her self-titled Lianne La Havas  (which won the Ivor Novello Award for Best Album). She has collaborated with leading international artists and captivated audiences worldwide with her spellbinding live performances.

Released via her own Καλό μήνα (Kalo Mina) Records. La Havas embarks on an exciting new chapter, broadening her sonic horizons while remaining rooted in vulnerability and artistry.

Where to Start is out now.
wale.lnk.to/WheretoStart

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