An Interview with Envy the West
I am pleased to announce that Envy the West aren't a typical local band blasting out the same old garage rock from their... well, garage. All it took was the first few seconds of listening to their MP3 of 'The Letter' to realize that these folks are doing their own thing, and not only did the song start well, it kept getting better and never took a pause to look in the rear view mirror.
My initial thoughts always hint towards connections with Mogwai, Dead Can Dance, and even Cocteau Twins when I start the song, but that all goes to pot halfway through and I am left with no definitive comparison. That has to be a good thing.
I wish i had heard it sooner actually, but that's my own fault. I was too lazy to listen to the recommendations but I got there eventually. Hopefully everyone else will not be as slow as me, but here I am trying to repent.
The following questions were kindly answered by bassist Geriejan.
Location: Roosendaal
Band Members:
Pim - vocals, guitar
Marcus - vocals/guitar
Robert - synthesizer,melodica,percussion
Geriejan - bass
Antal - drums, percussion
When was your band formed?
We formed in october 2001.
What is the history of your band?
Marcus once got an invitation to play at some lo-fi festival. He decided not to play there on his own but with a complete band, so he asked some musicians he already knew to participate and the first rehearsals began. Funny fact is that the particular lo-fi festival never took place but the band enjoyed playing together so Envy the West was born.
So far we've been playing live and have shared the stage with bands such as Orange Black, Lawn, Stockholm Syndrome and others.
What is the music scene like in Roosendaal/Breda?
There are a lot of bands active in the Roosendaal area but there is no tight scene. Some bands are more entwined and are playing together once in a while.
I don't know much about the Breda scene as we don't have any relation to it, but there are more venues to play than in Roosendaal.
Do you have recordings available?
Last April Envy the West spent a weekend at Studio 195 to record some songs. In September we’re going back there to record more songs. At the end of this year we want to release our debut, though we haven’t decided yet if it will be an EP, LP, or how it will be released. It would be nice if a record label picks us up, but if not we’ll do it by ourselves.
What are your musical influences?
It’s not easy to describe our music. Each band member has his own musical
interests. Keywords of our music are variety, tension, mood and modesty.
People compare our music to Bonnie prince Billy, Johnny Cash, Calexico, Lambchop
and Migala.
What has been your favourite gig so far?
I think it was our gig in Breda last June as we played very well that night. The sound both onstage and in the audience was great and we got some great response from the crowd.
Any upcoming gig dates?
In September we’re playing at someone’s wedding party. That’s the only upcoming gig in our agenda at the moment but we’re working on changing that.
I think your band sounds good but I can`t imagine you fitting in at a wedding. Will you be reduced to playing Chris DeBurgh songs in 7/4 timing?
The guy who once played in Stockholm Syndrome is getting married and he invited a couple of other bands to play at his party instead of a boring "Everly Brothers" type band. We're gonna play one or two typical wedding party songs for fun so it should be interesting.
If you were given the choice to support any signed act, who would it be?
Migala, the Tren Brothers, Knife in the Water.
What would you like to say that I haven`t asked yet?
Visit our website
and listen to our songs.
Also check out the following bands; Stockholm Syndrome (in which Antal, our drummer, plays bass), Walker Diver, the Coffinkids, Zomotta and the Light Brigade. This is the proof that there are also good bands outside ‘de Randstad’.
There you go. Definitely a band worth looking into.
Steven McCarron
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