Melbourne-based musician Envy Marshall is an artist who doesn't care for trends or fashions or being the 'next big thing'. Her musical journey is more selfish, in a way, in that she creates music that means something to her first and foremost. But when that music is rooted in life experiences and self-worth, it suddenly becomes accessible to the masses. Or at least those who believe that you are the master of your own destiny and, as such, deserve to be happy. Deserve to be free. Deserve to be confident in yourself.
After announcing her intentions earlier this year with the explosive and confronting track Like A Man, Marshall returns via the path least expected with Hurt, a song dripping with emotional vulnerability amid haunting piano, laced with searing guitar riffs and a vocal delivery with the unmistakable swagger of an artist for whom boundaries are a source of inspiration rather than fear. Following the viral success of Like A Man, Envy Marshall is proving herself to be one of the most vital independent voices in today’s rock scene. With Hurt, she doesn’t just raise the bar - she rips it off the wall.
With her debut album in the can and nearing release date, Marshall joined HEAVY for an open and honest discussion about her life and music, starting with Hurt and how it has been received.
"I think people are sick of hearing positive music," she measured, "and I think this song has really touched a lot of people. We've had some great success with it in Australia, but it's been number one in a couple of countries over in Europe, which has been amazing. I was a bit worried about putting out a ballad because you never know how it's going to land, but it's landed really well. People are just sick of candy pop, and they want to actually listen to something that means something to them."
We ask if the song is more about hurting yourself or inflicting hurt on others.
"I think when we get hurt, we like to hurt. It's a reaction," she mused. "So I think this song is about taking power back after being really badly hurt. And I think we've all been really hurt. I think we live in a lot of hurt, especially these days. The world is crazy. I don't think we need lots of lipstick, positive songs. I think it's a real thing that a lot of us are in a lot of pain, so this song, for me, was about being hurt; being let down and finding a way to move that through my body - not through revenge - because that's where you start. When you get hurt, first you get angry, then you get sad, and you get angry again. Then you get jealous, then you get some envy, and you go through all those emotions, and then finally you get to revenge, which is a better feeling. And that sort of gets you out of that feeling of hurt. So it's really about moving through those emotions and coming out the other end of it, the hero of your own story."
In the full interview, Envy discussed her recent professional developments, emphasizing Hurt's exploration of complex emotions and the importance of processing pain rather than seeking revenge. She elaborated on her creative process, highlighting her collaboration with Mike Young at Armory Studios, where the haunting piano intro for Hurt was developed.
Envy cited musical influences such as Portishead and In This Moment, and emphasised her commitment to artistic freedom in her songwriting. She shared plans for her forthcoming album, which will showcase a gritty rock sound, and teased her new single Looking Good and Feeling Famous, set for release in September, plus more.
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