The Envy Corps – Interview
It’s an inspiring story the recent past of Iowa’s The Envy Corps. Last year when the band played in the UK, guitarist Brandon had a stroke while on stage. A moment that would shake many bands to the core, The Envy Corps have come back stronger then ever and their stunning debut album ‘Dwell’ is finaly getting it’s UK release and the band are going from strength to strength.
With all this behind them and so much in front of them, we had to grab some words with front man Luke Petipoole about how they got through that time, their impressions of British music, Japanese game shows and writing songs in prison!
noize: Hey Luke, how’s things with you today? What’s happening?
Luke Petipoole: I'm alright. We just finished soundcheck at the Barfly in Liverpool and I think the others are scouting out some curry. It's the one food Britain does better than anyone.
n: Well the UK release of your debut album ‘Dwell’ is imminent. How pleased and excited are you that it’s finally going to be out given the set-backs the release has had?
LP: We aren't excited as much as relieved. We have friends in other bands who had similar complications and their records still lay unheard on a hard drive in some label's storage facility. To think that this body of work that we toiled away at for months would be passed over was a bit stressful. It is out today, and just to be sure, when I woke up this afternoon the first thing I did was walk to HMV just to make sure it was on the shelf. And there it was.
n: It’s an inspiring story that you’re back in such a strong position given what happened. How did you all pull together when Brandon had the stoke and what was it that really drove you all to pick yourselves up and carry on from what, I would imagine, was quite a bleak moment?
LP: Well we always had the music, which we always firmly believed was something special. We've had setbacks before, people leaving the band, having labels pass on us, etc., and despite all that we all knew we were making music that we loved, and if that was all the better we could do, so be it. Brandon is a strong guy, his stroke was a result of a childhood heart defect, so he's dealt with this kind of thing all of his life. Within a couple months he was back to full form...by then it was Christmas so we decided to stay on a break, but we could have just as easily gotten right back into it then.
n: One of the great things about ‘Dwell’, and about you as a band, is that you don’t really seem to conform to any ‘scene’ you’re just your own band and make your own music how you want to and in a very honest way. Is it a definitive stance you took that you don’t want to part of any scene, is it important for you guys to make sure you keep your feet on the ground and focus on the music you’re making and not get dragged into the ‘rock star’ side of it?
LP: As an American peering into the British culture, what we do see is a lot of fickleness. Bands get hyped by the NME based on one decent track, an interesting haircut and a loudmouth frontman, but can't really deliver in the end (um, Foals?). I could very well be wrong, but who is going to care about the Pigeon Detectives third record? Will Klaxons continue to be harbingers of the scene in 2 years time? Career bands aren't made anymore so it seems, there aren't Wilcos and Verves and Radioheads and Smashing Pumpkins that I can see. We don't want to be a flash in the pan, with fans coming to our gigs because the media has told them to, not because they actually love our record. We're trying to emulate those 90's era bands that are still going and still making interesting records.
n: So legend has it, ‘Story Problem’ was actually written during a night you spent in prison. Could you maybe divulge a little more on how that happened or, at least, what it was about spending the night in prison that inspired the writing of the song?
LP: I was put in jail for two days a couple years ago for a "beverage-related incident". They nicked most of my belongings, but i had a tiny inkpen, like the astronauts use, and i wrote the lyrics out on my arm. Not sure if I was inspired by the time there...it was in a tiny jail so it was quite boring. For some reason God decided to bless my disobedience with a song...or who knows, maybe the real punishment is still coming?
n: So what made you decide to base the video fro ‘Story Problem’ Takeshi’s Castle and How fun was it starring in your own Japanese game show?
LP: There is a Japanese element to our band, Scott, our drummer is half Japanese and half Irish. We'd had this idea for quite awhile, because we are big fans of the pure ludicrousness of Japanese television, and also because we thought that lately bands were taking themselves too seriously. Hopefully it will stand out on MTV from the darkly lit wristcutting videos out there at the moment.
n: Your lyrics are very poetic, full of strong imagery and themes. Where does inspiration tend to come from when it comes to lyrics? How much importance do you place on them in terms of the overall effect of a song?
LP: Lyrics are as important as any other element. I don't fancy myself a poet by any means, but mindless lyrics annoy me to no end. I think lyrics can go under the radar...a song can be a hit with the most inane of words, but for those who will take the time to listen there can be some real rewards to be had. In general I think bands have become lazy because the public will accept just about anything. Maybe for me it's a personal challenge to sneak good lyrics inside of a pop song's shell.
n: Apparently when you and David first formed the band, it was largely due to a mutual love of British music? Are there particular artists then that you both, and maybe the rest of the band, are big fans of? Is there something you can put your finger on about British music compared to American that grabs you and inspires you more?
LP: Not just UK music, but the European output in the 90's and early 00's was what we really bonded over. Radiohead, Sigur Ros, Bjork, Slowdive, the Verve. There was an epic feel to the music that wasn't pompous, like how Muse can pull it off these days and I don't feel like their faking it unlike Coldplay. Lately, I think American bands like Arcade Fire or Animal Collective or The Silent Years are capturing it a bit more honestly.
n: You’re right in the middle of the UK tour at the moment, how has the response been here so far this time, are you loving every minute of touring the UK or are you missing home yet?
LP: Well, we're on our third show, which is yet unplayed, so response is too early to say, really...we played Astoria with Courteeners for 2500 and the next day played a tiny club in Birmingham for 50. Every place we go in England I do meet true fans, if only two or three...people who know every song and love the music for what it is, not because we wear the tight trousers and oversized scarves. Meeting those people and having those conversations are what we are really about.
n: Is it a very different experience being on the road here or do you find touring everywhere is much the same? Do you get any time to get out and sightsee a bit?
LP: England and America are dramatically different, if just practically. If you need something in America, you go to Wal-Mart, here, you weave through block after block until you find the right shop tucked away off the High Street. Playing a show is the same, really. People here tend to go for new music more, probably because the country is so small, word can travel about new bands so much quicker. No sightseeing yet, generally our cultural exposure is limited to the inside of a different chippie every night. A shame.
n: So will you be heading back this side of the pond for any festival appearances this summer?
LP: It depends. Because of the delays we've been sitting on lots of new material, and ideally we'd have a new record out by this time next year. There is nothing quite like UK festival season, though...it would definitely be a hard choice.
Interview by Martin Kendrick
www.myspace.com/theenvycorps
Click here to read more Envy Corps related news, reviews & interviews!
Buy Envy Corps CDs & Vinyl
Buy Envy Corps MP3s
Buy Envy Corps Tickets
Bookmark and share this page with:With all this behind them and so much in front of them, we had to grab some words with front man Luke Petipoole about how they got through that time, their impressions of British music, Japanese game shows and writing songs in prison!
noize: Hey Luke, how’s things with you today? What’s happening?
Luke Petipoole: I'm alright. We just finished soundcheck at the Barfly in Liverpool and I think the others are scouting out some curry. It's the one food Britain does better than anyone.
n: Well the UK release of your debut album ‘Dwell’ is imminent. How pleased and excited are you that it’s finally going to be out given the set-backs the release has had?
LP: We aren't excited as much as relieved. We have friends in other bands who had similar complications and their records still lay unheard on a hard drive in some label's storage facility. To think that this body of work that we toiled away at for months would be passed over was a bit stressful. It is out today, and just to be sure, when I woke up this afternoon the first thing I did was walk to HMV just to make sure it was on the shelf. And there it was.
n: It’s an inspiring story that you’re back in such a strong position given what happened. How did you all pull together when Brandon had the stoke and what was it that really drove you all to pick yourselves up and carry on from what, I would imagine, was quite a bleak moment?
LP: Well we always had the music, which we always firmly believed was something special. We've had setbacks before, people leaving the band, having labels pass on us, etc., and despite all that we all knew we were making music that we loved, and if that was all the better we could do, so be it. Brandon is a strong guy, his stroke was a result of a childhood heart defect, so he's dealt with this kind of thing all of his life. Within a couple months he was back to full form...by then it was Christmas so we decided to stay on a break, but we could have just as easily gotten right back into it then.
n: One of the great things about ‘Dwell’, and about you as a band, is that you don’t really seem to conform to any ‘scene’ you’re just your own band and make your own music how you want to and in a very honest way. Is it a definitive stance you took that you don’t want to part of any scene, is it important for you guys to make sure you keep your feet on the ground and focus on the music you’re making and not get dragged into the ‘rock star’ side of it?
LP: As an American peering into the British culture, what we do see is a lot of fickleness. Bands get hyped by the NME based on one decent track, an interesting haircut and a loudmouth frontman, but can't really deliver in the end (um, Foals?). I could very well be wrong, but who is going to care about the Pigeon Detectives third record? Will Klaxons continue to be harbingers of the scene in 2 years time? Career bands aren't made anymore so it seems, there aren't Wilcos and Verves and Radioheads and Smashing Pumpkins that I can see. We don't want to be a flash in the pan, with fans coming to our gigs because the media has told them to, not because they actually love our record. We're trying to emulate those 90's era bands that are still going and still making interesting records.
n: So legend has it, ‘Story Problem’ was actually written during a night you spent in prison. Could you maybe divulge a little more on how that happened or, at least, what it was about spending the night in prison that inspired the writing of the song?
LP: I was put in jail for two days a couple years ago for a "beverage-related incident". They nicked most of my belongings, but i had a tiny inkpen, like the astronauts use, and i wrote the lyrics out on my arm. Not sure if I was inspired by the time there...it was in a tiny jail so it was quite boring. For some reason God decided to bless my disobedience with a song...or who knows, maybe the real punishment is still coming?
n: So what made you decide to base the video fro ‘Story Problem’ Takeshi’s Castle and How fun was it starring in your own Japanese game show?
LP: There is a Japanese element to our band, Scott, our drummer is half Japanese and half Irish. We'd had this idea for quite awhile, because we are big fans of the pure ludicrousness of Japanese television, and also because we thought that lately bands were taking themselves too seriously. Hopefully it will stand out on MTV from the darkly lit wristcutting videos out there at the moment.
n: Your lyrics are very poetic, full of strong imagery and themes. Where does inspiration tend to come from when it comes to lyrics? How much importance do you place on them in terms of the overall effect of a song?
LP: Lyrics are as important as any other element. I don't fancy myself a poet by any means, but mindless lyrics annoy me to no end. I think lyrics can go under the radar...a song can be a hit with the most inane of words, but for those who will take the time to listen there can be some real rewards to be had. In general I think bands have become lazy because the public will accept just about anything. Maybe for me it's a personal challenge to sneak good lyrics inside of a pop song's shell.
n: Apparently when you and David first formed the band, it was largely due to a mutual love of British music? Are there particular artists then that you both, and maybe the rest of the band, are big fans of? Is there something you can put your finger on about British music compared to American that grabs you and inspires you more?
LP: Not just UK music, but the European output in the 90's and early 00's was what we really bonded over. Radiohead, Sigur Ros, Bjork, Slowdive, the Verve. There was an epic feel to the music that wasn't pompous, like how Muse can pull it off these days and I don't feel like their faking it unlike Coldplay. Lately, I think American bands like Arcade Fire or Animal Collective or The Silent Years are capturing it a bit more honestly.
n: You’re right in the middle of the UK tour at the moment, how has the response been here so far this time, are you loving every minute of touring the UK or are you missing home yet?
LP: Well, we're on our third show, which is yet unplayed, so response is too early to say, really...we played Astoria with Courteeners for 2500 and the next day played a tiny club in Birmingham for 50. Every place we go in England I do meet true fans, if only two or three...people who know every song and love the music for what it is, not because we wear the tight trousers and oversized scarves. Meeting those people and having those conversations are what we are really about.
n: Is it a very different experience being on the road here or do you find touring everywhere is much the same? Do you get any time to get out and sightsee a bit?
LP: England and America are dramatically different, if just practically. If you need something in America, you go to Wal-Mart, here, you weave through block after block until you find the right shop tucked away off the High Street. Playing a show is the same, really. People here tend to go for new music more, probably because the country is so small, word can travel about new bands so much quicker. No sightseeing yet, generally our cultural exposure is limited to the inside of a different chippie every night. A shame.
n: So will you be heading back this side of the pond for any festival appearances this summer?
LP: It depends. Because of the delays we've been sitting on lots of new material, and ideally we'd have a new record out by this time next year. There is nothing quite like UK festival season, though...it would definitely be a hard choice.
Interview by Martin Kendrick
www.myspace.com/theenvycorps
Click here to read more Envy Corps related news, reviews & interviews!
Buy Envy Corps CDs & Vinyl
Buy Envy Corps MP3s
Buy Envy Corps Tickets
