“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.

The official Linkin Park SoundCloud.
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 “Big A” born Aaron Sprouse on September 10th 1991 grew up on the streets of Cherokee county, South Carolina. “A” began writing poetry at age five, rhyming was natural to him and it became his only escape from the pains of his day to day life. An impoverished family in a neighborhood filled with drugs, and in a town with no hope.  “A” continued to write poetry, it was his outlet, it was the only way he could truly express himself.  At age 8, a man who lived in Aaron’s apartment complex named Gabriel Gregory gave him a CD case full of classic hip hop albums. A’s life would change forever.  Music was now his escape. As his parents fought and screamed, as the drug abuse surrounded him, his rap records and his headphones landed “A” in a world where he felt as though he could dream, and achieve.  Those albums opened his mind to a new style of rhyming and within a week of having that CD case, “A” was rapping himself.  He earned a local reputation as being one of the meanest emcees in his town. Freestyling at school then coming home and rapping on the “curve” right below the apartments. As Aaron grew older he fell into the same routine as the older kids in his neighborhood. He found himself addicted to Oxycontin and engaging in criminal activities at an early age. His passion for rap had dwindled and his underground battle rap reputation had faded. At only 17 years old Aaron was headed to the South Carolina department of corrections, “A” had blew it. While inside, he battled several rappers, maintaining his undefeated record. In his mind though, he would never seriously rap again. Upon returning home Aaron still didn’t change, drugs, crimes, it was a way of life. A life that most men never escape. His parole agent sent him to rehab and there Aaron finally decided it was time to man up; to grow up and be somebody. He started writing again and came home refreshed and energized, with a passion for hip hop stronger than it ever was.  “A” has since been regaining traction on the underground, and with two and a half years off of oxy’s under his belt; his rhyme skill has went through the roof. “A” gained statewide attention when he released a freestyle on YouTube titled “a felons mind” and just like that “A” was back. Proving lyrical ability “A” wow’d fans across the upstate of South Carolina when he released a two minute freestyle using only words that start with the letter A; it was titled “the amazing A.”` Big A has since been working hard, releasing several freestyles every week on the internet. After a short hiatus for soul searching and personal reflection after the loss of his brother and best friend “Zackery Spencer” Aaron began work on His first studio album. On 03/08/2014 Aaron signed a record deal with Well-respected indie label PEC RECORDS out of Los Angeles CA. The mindset of the Label and the artist seem to mesh perfectly, holding firm to true meaning of hip hop. 

 

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