Wicked Envy
Interview conduct May 26, 2021
By Dan Locke
Sydney-based alternative/rock band Wicked Envy, is emerging from the ashes and ready to take the earth by storm. Bringing to you all forces of hard, grunge rock, infused with heavy, powered riffs and bewitching, melodic marvels, that will keep you wanting more. Wicked Envy’s songwriting touches on the feelings of life experiences both enjoyments and hardships i.e., joy and fulfillment, depression, stages of grief and how to overcome them to have some kind of absolution. The band consists of Desiree Hancock (Vocals/Keys) Tim Boyd (Guitar) Jakub Kyra (Bass) and Paul Davakis (Drums). They draw influence from The Pretty Reckless, Halestorm, The Smashing Pumpkins and many more.
What is your upbringing?
In a Snapshot! When I was 3 Years Old, I started Jazz and Tap Dancing, I wanted to be a professional dancer. I Participated in many Dance Schools and won trophies for my Performances & efforts. I always loved music, I just felt the rhythm with in dancing more than Singing and Performing at first.
I studied Music for My HSC and was part of the Choir in School.
Through My Teens I continued Dancing and started acting classes. I joined an agency called Bright Stars where I perfected my skills in Dancing Hip Hop, Jazz, Tap and Contemporary. I undertook singing classes and Acting classes and was learning lots about the Performing Arts.
I continued for about 2 years and ended up studying Musical Theatre, Music Performance, Business and Production Tec at Collage, Where I fell in love with Music and Performance. This is when I wanted to start my own band and write my own songs and music.
How did you discover music?
My Parents were a big influence on me when it comes to discovering different Musical Styles. I have a very versatile flavor of music I love, but first and for most it’s gonna be Rock N Roll!
How did you start to write music?
I started writing silly little Pop Songs at the end of High School and then developed my songwriting skills at Collage. I started writing lyrics first and then took to the piano for the melody.
How did your band form?
I formed The Band in Late 2013, with a mate from high school as the guitarist, my step-dad on drums and a bassist i met through a friend of mine. We have had many lineup changes since then and nearly threw in the towel many times.
I couldn’t give up as I love Music and being a part of a band is My Life! I don’t wanna do anything else. With The New Line-up, I connected with them online.
How did you get your bands name?
I came up with the band name Wicked Envy. I’m very into all things Magical and Supernatural. At First i was gonna name the band Wicca Envy, then decided Wicked Envy had a better ring to it. I chose the name because it fits well with our style of music Alt/ Hard Rock and There’s so much jealousy in the Music Industry, Bands are jealous of other bands success and artists. And it can be very Evil, which is where the Wicked Aspect comes into play.
Describe your music.
Hard Rock/ Alternative We are very versatile with our influences; Our Music will constantly change and grow.
What was your first performance as a band like?
Haha Arkward, But Very Exciting!
Do you belong to any to songwriters’ organizations like the International singer-songwriter association, SESAC, BMI or ASCAP?
We are members of APRA/AMCOS For Australian Songwriters and Artists. It helps music creators get paid for their work and gives people easy ways to legally play and copy music.
What makes a good songwriter?
Someone that pours emotion into their lyrics and makes you feel! A Great Story Teller.
Clever Lyrics, Not Generic.
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
“Caged Bird” & Yes, we recorded It.
What is the process of writing your music?
It changes all the time. Sometimes I’ll get a catchy melody/ hook in my head and will play it on the Keyboard, other times song lyrics start flowing.
Tell me about “It’s Been a Long Time”?
I wrote the song “It’s Been a Longtime” as we needed a fun, upbeat, catchy tune that fans can relate to and just be themselves. Nothing too serious. Everyone has had moments where they have drunk too much or smoked a bit too heavily.
We decided to release “It’s Been a Longtime “as our first single, as we thought it would be the perfect mood lifter and a great escape from reality. Considering the state of the world and music Industry due to Covid. It’s Been a Longtime is an upfront, Ballsy, fast paced, Rock N Roll track to get shit faced too. The song is about having a massive night out drinking and partying, enjoy life’s experiences and releasing all inhibitions.
How was it to record at the Brain Recording Studios?
Recording at The Brain Studios was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. Clay and Angie are both Amazing to work with and amazing people in general. They challenged us and pushed us to our full potential.
Was such a Great experience and would work with them again in a heartbeat.
Desiree- You did the artwork for the single. What is your art background?
Yes, I did the graphic effects and font for the single, The Lovely Amy McIntosh took the photo. I haven’t had much training in Art, I studied Visual Arts in High School and since then, I have been getting more into it. I designed both our band logos (sent my ideas to a graphic designer to put together) and have come up with most of the concepts with our latest single and previous music.
I do love Graphic Design, it’s fun to create Visual concepts that link to the music and lyrics. captures how I’m feeling.
Why did you push back the release date of the album?
I think you mean the release date of the single. It was pushed back cause of Distribution complications.
What is the favorite song on the album?
Haha! well I can’t tell you that it hasn’t been released yet. There all very close to me.
What are you’re feeling about streaming music?
I starting to warm up to it, well kinda have too, this is the world we live in.
Tell me about Triple J Unearthed?
I dig it, I like that there’s a music platform where you can play the track, download it and rate or review it. They seem to play all kinds of genres of music too, gives more artists a chance to be heard.
Digital vs. vinyl?
CDS haha.
What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?
Oh Wow! several songs just popped into mind. “Automatic Overdrive” By Slash & Myles Kennedy. It’s such a Full Energy, Upbeat, Mixing pot of Fun, Similar vibe to our new single and definitely one of our influences.
The Song means a lot, every time I hear it, I have to get up and rock out, it Automatically lifts my mood.
Your last show was Nov. 22, 2020. Right before the 3rd lockdown started. What was that day like?
Yes, it was great as we SOLD OUT The Show! but tough cause the crowd had to remain seated at all times was very strict.
If “Video Killed the Radio Star” do you think that the Covid-19 virus has killed live music? Do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
Yes, I believe that unfortunately, But I hope we can all change that!
Yes, it definitely will affect the music business in the future.
Do you think that Covid-19 has been a plus to an artist career?
Not really, the only thing that works is the Online Live Streaming services and more people are buying music online or more so streaming it.
For Live Music it is horrible and challenging.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
My Workplace only closed for 3 weeks so i was back to work in no time. In those 3 weeks I was writing new music and learning cover songs for fun.
Des- During the lockdown you were doing covers from your home which included Eddie from Rocky Horror. Are you a big Rocky Horror fan? And how many times have you seen it?
Yes, that’s right! Haha I am a massive Rocky Horror Fan!!!! Love Tim Curry & Richard O’Brien is a Bloody Genius. Well, it’s gonna be over a thousand for sure.
How do you stay healthy during the lockdown?
I was actually quite sick during lockdown, my health was very bad i had to be on a strict diet for months, also discovered I am Lactose Intolerant Gah Bugger.
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
Um, not really i mostly just played music, watched Movies, cleaned a lot, I cooked more and called my friends on the phone haha yeah one of those.
How do you think this will change the landscape of Facebook?
A lot more people are communicating over Facebook so yes, the usage will be higher. Facebook might start charging a fee.
How can bands keep their fans if they cannot play live in front of the fans and sell merchandise to them at the show?
Bands should always answer messages from their fans and comment if they are tagged in posts etc. This helps to connect with the fans and as you mentioned if we can’t play live to see and sell to them, online is the only way.
Make sure bands thank their fans and put up fun little videos to keep them engaged.
Is pay to play still a thing? Now pay to play also means thinks like playlist on the internet and opening slots for a major band on tour.
It is still a thing, which is ridiculous. I don’t believe artists and bands should pay to play a show.
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
Yes, please sign me up! I have watched a Holographic Concert through Jadu. One of my favourite bands “Palaye Royale” participated in this. Was Amazing and the thing of the future for sure. Just need better Internet to run the program.
In the past if a musician stop doing music, they find a new career. For example, David Lee Roth from Van Halen became a licensed EMT in NY for 6 years, San Spitz (guitarist for Anthrax) became a master watchmaker, Dee Snider (Twister Sister) voice over work for SpongeBob SquarePants. If you can’t do music, what would you like to be doing?
Wow! well my back up is Acting haha
Besides that, I would have studied to become a Graphic Designer or a Teacher.
What is your happy place?
The Beach or Park, listening to music!
Red Hot Chili Peppers are about to sell their entire song catalog for $140 Million. In the past year a lot of musicians such as Stevie Nicks ($100 Million), Bob Dylan (over $400 Million), Taylor Swift, Journey, Def Leppard, K.T. Tunstall, and Shakira have sold their catalog rights within the last year. Bob Dylan sold his entire catalog for a reported $300 million. Neil Young song 50 percent of his worldwide copyright and income interest in his 1,180-song catalogue to Hipnosis Songs Fund limited. Once you get to the age of about 70. Publishing is far more lucrative than the mechanical royalties paid to artist based on sales, airplay and streams. A good example of this is Michael Jackson brought the rights to the Beatles catalog in 1985. And in the late 80’s the Beatles Revolution appeared in a Nike commercial. The lump sums being offered by publishing firms are more tax friendly concerning estate planning. Do you think you would be willing to sale your back catalog if someone like Universal is will to buy everything, such as all the rights to all your songs?
Whoa! Full on Question. I would have to say No, I rather keep the rights to my music.
Spotify’s ‘Stream On’ event on (February 22), the company confirmed that more than 60,000 new tracks are now being ingested by its platform every single day. This means people are added new tracks uploaded to its platform every 1.4 seconds. The figure, announced by Spotify’s Co-Head of Music, Jeremy Erlich, means that across the course of this year, approximately 22 million tracks will be added to Spotify’s catalog. Spotify confirmed in November last year that its platform now played host to around 70 million tracks. Therefore, it’s reasonable to assume that, by the end of 2021, SPOT will be home to over 90 million tracks. And that in the early part of next year, it will surpass a catalog of 100 million for the first time. But still back at the beginning of the year Spotify deleted 750,00 songs, mostly from independent artists. What do you think what that could mean to independent artist?
Spotify is one of the most popular streaming platforms today and I feel most artists will benefit from it. It does depend on the Music Demographic too. Spotify is for the younger generation.
Sony Music in November and Warner Music Group in December, The ByteDance-owned video app revealed on (February 8) that it has struck an “expanded” global licensing agreement with Universal Music Group. Now that TikTok is now fully licensed by all three major record companies, will you start using TikTok more?
I’m Not sure about that, not a fan of Tik Tok.
Danny Wimmer Presents just announced their 2021 Festival Calendar: Which includes the following live shows: DWP Partners With Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival In Mansfield, OH Louder Than Life Set For September 23-26 With Newly Added Thursday Night Celebration In Louisville, KY Welcome To Rockville Expands To 4 Days And Shifts From Spring To November 11-14 In Daytona Beach, FL Aftershock Set For October 7-10 In Sacramento, CA, Almost Sold Out Would you be willing to play these shows and what precautions would you like to have in place?
I would be willing to play some of these shows, always wanted to be a part of a festival, however the precautions would be tough with social distancing & Sanitizing. There would be no crowds, no mosh pits, no fun just Restrictions. Not sure to be honest.
Anything you would like to say in closing.
Thanks for having me and we are launching our New Single “It’s Been a Longtime” on Friday 4th June at The Chippo Hotel
