THE WINTYR

If you’ve ever heard Evelyn Hart’s enchanting sultry voice you’ll know that it grabs a hold of you and does not easily let go, and why would you want it to? With so many levels of emotion in her range, it’s a thrilling ride to experience. The songstress has once again joined forces with long-time collaborators Brendyn Rossouw and Tristan Carmichael to form The Wintyr, and their debut album “Fury” is unlike anything I have listened to in a long time.

Synth-infused electro folk sounds carry Hart’s souring vocals through the moving tracks. Carmichael’s synth contributions give the album a cinematic feel and with Rossouw’s Japanese-inspired percussion the overall effect is captivating to say the least, ‘To The World’s End’ is a great example of this. Hart shows off her lower register juxtaposed with high pitched oriental-sounding string synths. As soon as the chorus hits, with lyrics “Until the world’s end/ I’ll look for you” the music paints a wintery, warlike scene to play host to the narrative they manage to convey so well. Throughout the album these scenes are drawn with incredible ease, while still leaving the music open for interpretation. It’s a fine line that’s hard to tread, but they’ve done a fantastic job.

Lyrically, the storytelling theme is seen throughout. ‘Knight’s Vision’, the beautiful closing track is a fairy tale told in a lullaby-like format, but the dark undertones and sombre lyrics give the song a chilling depth. The song takes a look into the dying moments of a knight, as the love of his life sits by him, comforting him as he slips away – it’s one of the most poignant songs I’ve heard.

Hart moves through her repertoire as a vocalist with incredible ease, from captivating ethereal lines to inspiring anthemic choruses and of course, the chanting Celtic themes she is well known for. Because of this, the album flows beautifully with the narrative theme reinforced by Rossouw and Carmichael’s immense talents. - Texx and the City (African Blogger of the year 2016)

Cape Town – We just love discovering new and exciting music, and when it’s right here from our shores, even better!
Meet The WINTYR. They are an alternative folktronic trio currently based between the cities of London and Cape Town.
Consisting of songwriter and frontwoman Evelyn Hart, Tristan Carmicheal (synth, piano & guitars) and Brendyn Rossouw (percussion), the band boast a dark and dreamy synth sound.
We recently had a chat with the band to find out more about them.
Check it out here:
Where are you guys at the moment?
At the moment, two of the three of us (Brendyn and myself, Evelyn) are currently in the UK, while our third band member, Tristan, is in Cape Town, gearing up to join us before our first show in London at the end of August.
What are you doing in the UK?
We are travelling in the English countryside, visiting family, and having meetings in London. Tristan will be flying over in a few weeks time. It’s becoming something of a yearly migration for the three of us, as we take so much inspiration from British music culture and tend to meet the most amazing industry people each year that we visit! The change of scenery is always refreshing and often breeds new ideas and sounds. Both Tristan and Brendyn are music producers, so they can often be found walking around the streets of London with pocket microphones, sampling the sounds of the city. - Channel 24

The last few years have seen each of The WINTYR’s South African band members travelling to and from the UK individually for various pursuits. This year, however, will see them coming together and playing a series of shows for the first time, gathering fans in venues ranging from London to Gloucester.

Consisting of songwriter and frontwoman Evelyn Hart, Tristan Carmicheal (synth, piano and guitars) and Brendyn Rossouw (percussion), the group was formed in studio as they came together to write material and produce tracks for Evelyn’s solo album.

The collaboration resulted in a significant progression in sound and energy, characterised by ethereal vocals, soaring synths and warlike oriental-inspired percussion. Combined with a storyteller’s depth, The WINTYR’s music has been described as cinematic & emotive, eliciting comparisons to the music of London Grammar, The Naked & Famous and M83.

Following two years of work, an album was born. ‘Fury’, had its worldwide online debut on the 18th of November 2015, reaching no.1 on the electronic charts for iTunes South Africa on its first day.

The first half of 2016 saw The WINTYR performing their first ever live gig to a 6000-strong crowd at Kirstenbosch Gardens, opening the show for South African favourites Prime Circle, and since then have been introducing audiences to their unique blend of alternative, electronic folk and have performed in well-known venues around the cities of Cape Town & Durban.


The 2016 UK tour lineup includes the following venues:

27 August at Hope & Anchor, Islington. Guest acts include The Bottomless Coffee Band (South Africa) and London local Dan Shears. Tickets: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/date/272283

2 September at Dr Foster’s Liquor Co, Gloucester. FREE ENTRY

3 September at GJ’s, Wandsworth. Tickets: http://www.gj-s.com/

Lead singer and songwriter, Evelyn Hart, says, “Our music is essentially about battlefields; examining kingdoms and getting psyched up for self-reflection. We’re drawn to and inspired by storytelling, film, world cultures, exploring. We wanted the soundscape to reflect that.”

Watch the music video for Followers by visiting The WINTYR’s YouTube channel.

Follow The WINTYR on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter. - The South African