Envy on the Coast Interview – August 23rd, 2007

I’d like to thank Gerardo from Photo Finish Records for setting up this interview and Ryan of Envy on the Coast for his time.

Please state your name and role in the band.
Ryan Hunter. I sing and play guitar.

First off, where did the name come from and what does it mean?
Envy on the Coast came from an old song title. There’s no deep underlying meaning behind the name, though the song title was about a jealousy I developed for a particular band and their status.

Being a band from New York was it hard to stand out and get noticed amongst the slew of other bands? We don’t really make a particularly huge effort to separate ourselves from anything. We’re from Long Island and we grew up watching a lot of bands from Long Island. The only thing that seems to confuse me sometimes is when we do something very outside of the realm of Long Island. We rattle off our influences in interviews and conversations
on a regular basis, yet when something isn’t derivative of Glassjaw or Brand new…people are confused.

What do you feel was the “big break” for Envy on the Coast?
I’d say the “big break” came when we met Bryan Russell, who ended up producing our EP and then later our first LP. He’s the man.

Could you describe your sound and any major influences the group has?
Describing your sound ends up incriminating you. In regard to influences…there are far too many to list, so I’ll just name what’s been playing on the bus on this tour. We’ve been listening to a lot of Jeff Buckley, Buena Vista Social Club, traditional Celtic music,Corrine Bailey Rae, Dillinger Escape Plan, and Blindside. That’s just what I can think of off the top of my head.

Let’s discuss Lucy Gray, with the record being released only a few weeks ago how has the reception been?
The reception from the fans has been unbelevable. I think we’re gaining a lot of new fans which is exactly what we wanted to do. On the other hand, critics aren’t really grasping this record. I don’t read reviews because they bum me out way too much, but I hear what the guys talk about. Basically, from what I can gather, critics don’t understand the varied moods of the record. They’ve been so quick to pin us as the next Glassjaw or Brand New, that when the record didn’t
follow the blue prints of a knock off of one of those bands.

Where does the title Lucy Gray come from and what does it mean?
Lucy Gray comes from a poem by William Wordsworth.

Is there one song on the album that you feel sums up the band?
If you have the patience, I guess we’d all prefer you listen to the whole record. It’s not terribly long. I’d say that would sum us up as a band.

When will the music video for Sugar Skulls be released?
We’re still working on the video so there’s no estimated date as of right now.

How did Will Noon of the group Straylight Run come to be your manager?
Will was introduced to us through our producer, Bryan Russell. Since day one, Will has just wanted to help us in any way he possibly can. That’s basically how he became our manager.

What advice do you have for young bands trying to start a career in music?
Play music that comes from the heart and always prioritize that. Never sacrifice that for anything.

Tell me about the series – Envy on the Coast presents “Love from the Road.”
The “Love from the Road” episodes are basically monthly accounts of what we’re up to. I take all the footage that I tape out here and compile it all on my laptop and basically create those episodes. Most of them contain a decent amount of footage of Brian because he’s the funniest person int he world.

Lastly, what are your thoughts on the current state of music and the music industry?
I have faith that things will get better, and that honest music will always prevail. That sums up my statements on music today and the industry as a whole.

Envy on the Coast‘s latest album Lucy Gray is in stores now. Click here to purchase it online.