About EON
Though they’d never describe themselves as such, Envy Of None are the living, breathing definition of a supergroup. No other band on earth could rightly claim to have Alex Lifeson – one of rock’s most influential visionaries – heading up guitar duties, with Andy Curran of Coney Hatch and Soho 69 overseeing bass/programming as well as producer extraordinaire Alfio Annibalini on keyboards. However, the star in this band could very well be its youngest member – American singer-songwriter Maiah Wynne – whose wonderfully emotive vocals are able to spin the music in new exciting directions that thrill to the core. On their self-titled debut of 2022, the group were able to prove that they were a lot more than the sum of their parts, with an abundance of panache and finesse poured into a contemporary alt rock sound that was hard to predict and even harder to categorise. This year’s sophomore release, titled Stygian Waves, is the sound of a band 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.”
“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.”
The 11 tracks that make up Stygian Waves 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. Opening track Not Dead Yet is a moody masterpiece that transcends its way through darker melodies, heavenly hooks, funk strumming and – as Alex himself notes – even some James Bond-sounding parts to help it evolve in mysterious ways. Andy had some lyrics in mind and Maiah then developed these concepts in her own inimitable way.
“There were little seeds of lyrical ideas but the real magic was in how Maiah would have a completely different interpretation,” says Andy, praising the singer’s ability to inject her own personality on anything thrown in front of her. Even though the song was written from the perspective of a seasoned professional with decades of experience, Maiah was able to relate the message to her own experiences working in the music industry as a young woman…
“Even though I’m 28, I still feel that same sense of time moving quickly,” she explains. “I think women in the music industry are under greater pressure to be young forever and never get old. I resent that part of this industry. We all find our own answers in this music.”
Another favourite among the creators is third track Under The Stars, which could very be the strongest ballad any of these musicians have put their name to – a statement which, given their cumulative pedigree, simply cannot be made lightly. It was one of the more challenging tracks to put together, admits Alfie, but only because the members felt a weight of responsibility in doing the melodies justice and allowing the song to dictate where the energies should flow. “We chose to do live drums for this record, most of which were done last, but this was one of the few where the drums came early on,” he continues. “There was something about this song I couldn’t get enough of. Even the rough tracks told us we couldn’t mess this one up. It had to be special.”
But, of course, the word ‘special’ could easily be applied to the album as a whole. There’s an in-your-face funkiness that catapults Thrill Of The Chase into an ethereal symphony, while songs like Raindrop and Clouds share an 80s influence that wasn’t as obvious on the debut. Another track that chronicles their progression is New Trip and even Alex, a household name who has explored nearly every sound under the sun in Rush, struggles to place his finger on what happens in his heart every time the music enters his consciousness…
“I don’t know if I’ve ever heard anything like it,” admits Alex. “There’s a quality that’s very soft and glowing. When I listen to it, I close my eyes and see this warm afternoon sunshine that makes me feel calm and peaceful. It just goes right through your soul.”
The closing title track will undoubtedly be of the most creatively ambitious pieces of music you’ll hear in 2025 – and could easily have sat on the soundtrack to epic sci-fi blockbusters like Dune and Interstellar. It’s the kind of song that demanded its place as the grand finale.
“I was really inspired after travelling in India and I’ve always wanted to be the blue alien from The Fifth Element,” smiles Maiah. “This is basically a combination of those two things. We couldn’t have done this on the debut, maybe because we weren’t so bold at that stage.”
It’s a fitting end to one hell of a journey. So what’s next for Envy Of None? As of yet, the four member have not been seen on stage together, but calls for a world tour have been growing and growing to the point where they can’t be ignored. 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. Doing the two records would be a beautiful evening of music, something super special. So who knows?”