What's On, Birmingham - Saturday the 3rd of December 2005

Doing it "our way"

Birmingham four-piece Envy & Other Sins like to make an impact. And it's not just with the music.
"We like to make a sartorial splash" says keyboard player Jarvey Moss of the band's dandified image. Donning extravagantly patterned coats and top hats, is it any wonder bouncers in Wolverhampton recently refused them entry to their own gig! "We feel we're different. A lot of people are too concerned about being cool. We dress like this all the time, we're celebrating English eccentricity, which you sometimes have to repress if you want to be 'cool' and wear the right T-shirt."

Formed 18 months ago in Moseley, Jarvey, Ali Forbes, James Macaulay and mark Lees (formerly of Brum nearly-men the New Electrics), were drawn to the vibrant scene centred around the Jug of Ale.
"When we all met we said that we didn't want to sound like any bands currently successful or any of the bands we've played with," Jarvey says. "There must be 200 bands sounding like Franz Ferdinand at the moment! We said we wanted to do our own thing."

So, suitably garbed and with a clutch of demos, the fops set up their own sell-out club nights at the Sunflower Lounge, inviting fellow Brummies such as I Am Zeitgeist and Distophia, secured support slots with Razorlight, Supper [sic] Furry Animals, Hard-Fi and Mew, and issued their limited edition debut single - Prodigal Son - via Loog, home to The Bravery and Duke Spirit.

Currently recording new tracks with a member of Madonna's production team, they celebrate Christmas with an Edwardian themed costume party for Lordswood Dixonians RFC featuring an assortment of local band members performing Yuletide ditties.

"Not very cool is it?" laughs Jarvey.