"McKellar reaches heights that most vocalists can only dream of."   

- Consequence of Sound

 

"...a breath of fresh air in the alternative and indie rock scene." 

 - Audio Inferno

​

"ETHIO...An arresting sonic soliloquy to society"

- Texxandthecity

​

"...a man with a real talent for writing...with a divine voice.

- Velvet Underground

​

Steven Dayvid McKellar is a South African born musician, songwriter, poet and painter. 

 

At twenty-one, McKellar moved to the U.S. to pursue his music career as lead singer and bass player for the band Civil Twilight.  They released three critically acclaimed records (a self-titled album, Holy Weather, and Story of an Immigrant) with numerous songs featured in television shows and films including Vampire Diaries, Pretty Little Liars, and McKellar’s songs continue to be featured in shows.  After extensive touring at major festivals from Bonnaroo to Rockin' the Daisies in Cape Town, the band has gone on an indefinite hiatus.  

 

Over the last few years, McKellar, who is multi-instrumentalist shifted his focus to creating a collection of distinctive solo releases. McKellar’s acclaimed project on Sonic Ritual Records, “ETHIO," is a collection of songs exploring eight unique characters, tied together by a mutual frustration, alienation and desire, within a modern world. The result is a singular work, one that, both musically and lyrically, captures the essential confusion of our times.  McKellar's second release with the label, "NAMA" was released in 2022 includes the dramatic video of "One and Zero." Velvet Thunder calls the LP, " eclectic and ethereal indie rock that simply takes your breath away.”

 

McKellar continues to perform shows and at his art exhibits.