‘STYGIAN WAVz’: Envy of none’s wonderful escape for sense of liberation
This year’s sophomore release via Kscope, titled ‘Stygian Wavs’, is the sound of Envy Of None basking in the radiant glow of creative confidence and coming into their own, staggering the listener with every twist and turn encased within their heady mix of genre-splicing brilliance.
“The title goes back to the Roman poet Ovid,” explains Alex. “There was a poem he’d written that speaks of stygian waves and turbulence at the gates of hell, which seemed appropriate at times. There has been a lot of growth both musically and individually on a personal level for all of us, especially for Maiah, I can see how she’s really blossomed. After a long career in a very active band, Envy Of None has been a wonderful escape for me, bringing this sense of liberation. I’m proud of my past, but I finally feel like I’ve disconnected from it. I’m doing something that’s valid, exciting and enormously satisfying. It’s not about that guy from Rush anymore, not that there’s anything wrong with him! In this band I’m just another player who adores music and is lucky enough to be making it with other people.”
“There’s a very special musical bond between us,” agrees Maiah. “I pushed myself a lot more this time, and part of that was due to the growth and trust in each other. We created a space where we could experiment more and encourage each other to really push the limits.”
The 11 tracks that make up Stygian Wavz are as powerful and evocative as music can get. They offer the listener front row seats into the church of noise, almost as if the band are performing just metres away, baring their souls while exploring each varying nuance of emotional truth.
So what’s next for Envy Of None? As of yet, the four members have not been seen on stage together, but calls for a world tour have been growing to the point where they can’t be ignored. Right now, nothing is set in stone, but conversations are being had. Where they will lead remains to be seen. “We have been imagining what this would be like on stage,” winks Andy. “It’s a hot topic for us right now.”
For Alex, it’s all about putting on the right kind of show that can do the songs justice. As he’s proved time and time again over five decades of making music, the art must always come first and he’s giving some serious thought to how that can be done. There’s simply no such thing as half measures when a musician of his calibre is involved…
“We’re discussing it,” he agrees. “In a perfect world we’d love to do something, because this music would translate incredibly well, especially in the right venue – somewhere with 3000 seats, a great sound and a tight light show. We’d bring out accompanying musicians to do it as an aural extravaganza. Doing the two records would be a beautiful evening of music, something super special. So who knows? The fact that we are talking about it is positive…”
