This folk duo is just putting out their first album, but it sounds like they’ve been going a decade strong. The maturity and sound of this album is actually quite amazing. It is refreshing to hear a band that can actually sing! In fact, John Paul White, guitar and vocals, and Joy Williams, piano and vocals, were voted as one of the best new singer/songwriters by iTunes 2010 rewind list. The Civil Wars are bringing their down south flavor to a stage near you. They recently talked with The Mass Media about the future and what they think about their own music.

How would you describe your own music? People spend a lot of time putting music in categories but where do you think your music belongs?

I guess the default is some sort of folk Americana, indie southern gothic pop…. We’ll just name every genre possible. If I had to say one word I’d say folk but we don’t classically fit into that genre. That’s as close as I can come to a one word answer.

Are the lyrics in your songs based on personal experiences?

I think that everything we write somehow, probably gives you hints or clues into our lives. It could be how we feel about a relationship or it could be that we watched a movie that we both thought was amazing, and we decide to write something about it. It’s a blend of things immediately happening or things that we’ve immediately experienced in our lives, and then there are other things that are a bit more beckoned by the muse.

How do you guys work the arrangements of songs? You’ll have piano on one song then not on the next, how do you decide which will and which won’t?

Well, we try a little bit of everything. Usually wherever the genesis of the song is, it will typically stay there. If we write the song on acoustic guitar it will be the first and foremost interest throughout the recording. That’s not to say that it’s always going to be that way but typically it is. If we write it with Joy on piano, that’s going to take the forefront. Everything else is added to the mix after the fact. Usually, all arrangement things are worked out in the middle of her and me in the middle of writing the song. If not then we’ll preform it live and we’ll do things like “You know what? This sounded a little long,” or “This felt like it should be by itself.” We do all that before we ever go into the studio.

Did you expect this much success early on?

I don’t think either of us did. It’s a very pleasant surprise. We’re both working harder than we ever have. It’s exciting, it’s really exciting.

What are the traveling arrangements for the upcoming tour?

John Paul travels by private jet. No, well we bought an 11-12 person van. So, we’ll be living the dream in the van.

Aside from the tour what’s next?

We’re going to go overseas and do some things we haven’t really announced yet. We’ll also be doing South by Southwest this year, then we’ll be shooting over to the West coast.  We also have a surprise coming in June that we can’t really announce yet. Everyday stuff is getting added and we are so, so fortunate for it.

Keep up to date on what’s new with The Civil Wars on Facebook or MySpace. Be sure to check out The Civil Wars when they play Boston at Café 939, on February 19th.