Q&A: CIVIC Brings the Rock Show to Your Headphones With New Album ‘Taken By Force’
IT’S RARE THAT THE STARS PERFECTLY ALIGN — but when they do, it allows bands like CIVIC to create a tantalizing new rock record. A five-piece band out of Melbourne, they are ready to share their latest album, Taken By Force, with the world. This second project from the group details a dystopian universe after the collapse of the Western world. Complete with air raid sirens, driving beats, and catchy guitar licks, it’s a soundtrack to help cope when the world feels chaotic.
The band effortlessly weaves together nostalgic bits of classic rock with the ever-evolving sound of punk and just a sprinkle of surf rock. Growing up in the punk scene of Melbourne, the group thrives off the energy of live performances. You can feel the fire of a live band coming together to create a unique and energetic experience for the listener throughout their project.
While the narrative of Taken By Force is strong and complex, the creation of the record came together almost flawlessly. Composed of Jim McCullough (vocals), Lewis Hodgson (guitar), Roland Hlavka (bass), Jackson Harry (guitar), and Matt Blach (drums, they traveled to the Castlemaine countryside with Rob Younger, the frontman of Radio Birdman. It was here, cut off from the modern world for a week, where they all contributed to the writing and making of the album.
If you’re looking for something to scream along, dance like a maniac, or simply listen to and appreciate the lyrics, you can find it in Taken By Force. We got to speak to the band more in depth on the making of the record and their upcoming performances at SXSW in Austin this March. Read on below to learn more about the album, the band’s recording process, and more, and enjoy the rockin’ world of CIVIC.
LUNA: As a group, did you set out to create this new dystopian world together or do you each play more individual parts in the writing process?
CIVIC: We all work on songs together. I [Lewis] definitely wrote a lot of the initial riffs and some lyrics for this one but then someone would add to it with lyrics or another part and we go from there. This dystopian universe was something that slowly developed as we wrote. We all got behind it I think, visually and as an overall theme for the record.
LUNA: How did you find isolating yourself to record this album in one go? Was it different from how you’ve recorded in the past?
CIVIC: It was great to step out of the city and cut ourselves off from distractions. We spent a week at it, which was good, but I reckon any longer and we might’ve started to lose it a bit.
LUNA: Following up on that, while you were recording did you feel like things were falling into place amongst the chaos? I say this mostly because I can’t get over the thought of you all recording with emergency sirens in real time.
CIVIC: The siren was a lucky accident. We wanted to use one anyway for the intro and there just so happened to be one going off one morning. It's the way they assemble the local team of firefighters. Jim got up and took a field recording. I think in this case it was for a car crash so maybe a not-so lucky accident. It did all just come together. Right up to the last hours we were doing vocal bits.
LUNA: The album seems to sonically bounce between classic rock, punk, and even some surf rock vibes sprinkled in there — were there any particular artists or albums you were inspired by for this project?
CIVIC: I think this record is pretty influenced by Radio Birdman, The Eastern Dark, The Masters Apprentices, and The Celibate Rifles, sonically. But it's also not trying to sound like a direct rip[-off] either. There's plenty of different influences in the band. There’s always The Stooges in the mix, I guess. Bit of an ode to Australian surf sounds, this record.
LUNA: With the themes of the record focusing on the end of the Western world, how do you think listeners will interpret or connect with the tracks?
CIVIC: I don't know. They can interpret it however they want.
LUNA: Can you tell us more about the Melbourne punk scene? How did you find your way as a band in that place, and did it help you get to where you are now?
CIVIC: The Melbourne punk scene is pretty vast and has a lot of little factions. It's pretty good for gigs and there’s heaps of bands. We just did our thing. We’d all been in other punk and hardcore bands when we were younger, playing in shitty small venues and going to a lot of wild gigs. Good times.
LUNA: When you play live shows, what is one thing you want audience members — new or old — to take with them after they leave?
CIVIC: A T-shirt and a record and a big dumb grin.
LUNA: What is your dream band or artist to tour with?
CIVIC: Phil & The Tiles.
LUNA: What American foods are you most excited to try while you’re in Austin for SXSW this year?
CIVC: Definitely gonna eat heaps of tacos. Some BBQ. Open to recommendations. Yeah, can't wait.
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