Artist Review : The Civil Wars

What happens when California pop collides with folk rock Alabama? Hauntingly beautiful and mesmerizing harmonies of The Civil Wars. They are musical detox for the over synthesized ears that today's over saturated market currently brings. Singer/ Songwriter Joy Williams and artist songwriter John Paul White make up the remarkably talented duo that is The Civil Wars. Officially the two teamed up in February of 2009 and have been playing intimate settings across the U.S. California native Joy Williams has been in the music industry since 2000. She and her husband, Nate Yetton, started their own label/ management firm in 2008- Sensibility Music ( where Joy and The Civil Wars are both signed) -Joy has released three records  and has a new record due April 2010. She also has received 11 Dove Award nominations. Her songs “Charmed Life”, “Speaking a Dead Language” and “Sunny Day” have been in episodes of the hit ABC drama Grey’s Anatomy which is where I originally heard “Poison and Wine” the Civil Wars' debut single . See that video HERE
Alabama boy, and Johnny Depp look-a-like, John Paul White the other half of this amazing act released his solo album “ The Long Goodbye” ( featuring, “Alien”, “Over My Head”) in August 2008. John Paul White also has co-written songs for Rascal Flatts, LeAnn Rimes, Jason Aldean among others. Joy and John Paul met at a music writing camp in TN a little over a year and a half ago and immediately found their niche with each other. The chemistry between the two is undeniable and comes through in their music. The Civil Wars released their first EP in November 2009 “Poison and Wine” and I along with so many countless others were captivated. Perhaps it's because so many of us can identify with the song, or maybe they saw the video and was moved by it's simplistic beauty, one thing is certain- The Civil Wars had tapped into something and left us wanting more!

So what makes their music so captivating? . The audience connects with the music. Their sound is stripped down to few instruments- mainly JP's acoustic guitar and occasionally Joy will play the piano making way to display their finest instruments- their harmonic and emotional vocals. Their songs are haunting and you feel the the raw emotion the lyrics elicit in “Falling” , with its melancholy and minor chords , the song describes falling out of love with your significant other.

The brooding tones in “My Father's Father” stir up sentimental sadness of returning home after being gone for so long. Just when you think you can't take any more heartbreak , “ If I Didn't Know Better” lightens the mood with its taunting message of wanting to cheat and the temptations that come along reluctantly singing: “Why do I keep drinking, wasting my time on you? If I didn't know better... dammit I do” the audience erupts with laughter and the song is a hit!

In November of last year, The Civil Wars played at Eddie's Attic in Decatur, GA and released the songs for free to the public. The reception was quite encouraging as fans through word of mouth and internet social networking quickly propelled the The Civil Wars from the obscure to local favorites around the Southeast and now they are targeting for more widespread appeal. Not only do they perform their own music but have also done some note worthy covers such as Leonard Cohen's “Dance Me To The End of Love” and they put a flirty twist on Michael Jackson's Billie Jean.
Thankfully The Civil War fans have a lot more to look forward to as they are currently in the studio recording their first full length record- Follow them on Twitter and Friend them on Facebook for their exciting updates. Until then download their FREE concert here and let me know what you think about them!