Relatively fresh to the Alternative Rock scene, Envy of None made a big splash in early 2025 with the release of their second album, Stygian Waves. A band that formed in 2021, they have turned many heads thanks to the bold names involved, including Rush Guitarist Alex Lifeson and Coney Hatch Vocalist/Bassist Andy Curran.
Indeed, this aspect of Envy None makes them very enticing. However, it is imperative to go into discovering their music, expecting the unexpected. Clearing your mind of any preconceptions, chances are the listening experience will be quite delightful. A mix of Electronic and Alternative Rock, the band might have star power on the marquee, but perhaps the most vital piece of their success has been their lesser-known lead vocalist, Maiah Wynne.
Wynne, a lifelong musician who has been performing at coffee shops since the age of 16, is a talented young woman (now 28) with a soft singing voice and songwriting skills far beyond her years. Capturing life experience and a yearning to become a more diverse musician, Wynne brings a maturity and authenticity to Envy of None that is impossible to ignore.
An individual with a bright future ahead, Maiah Wynne recently sat down for an in-depth conversation about her experiences in music, influences, teaming up with Rock legends in Envy of None, and more.
Cryptic Rock – You have been involved in music since you were quite young. Growing along the way, you became part of the exciting band Envy of None in recent years. How would you describe your musical journey to this point?
Maiah Wynne – Wow. It’s been harrowing. Actually, it’s been really good. I think every musician finds their own way in this industry. There’s not one clear-cut path. For me, it’s been quite an interesting one.
I started playing in bars and coffee shops when I was 16 and really developed my own craft as a songwriter and a performer. It’s been over a decade of discovering and rediscovering myself. I’m still figuring out who I am. So much of my music reflects that. I have so much love and passion for learning new things about music. A lot of my career has been exploring those avenues, whether it’s collaborating with new people, trying out new genres, or learning new instruments. There’s this constant thirst for exploration. My journey as an artist and my career so far have been reflections of continual growth, learning, and development as a person and as a musician.
Cryptic Rock – That is great to hear. As you said, they blend into each other, developing as a person and developing as a musician. They are both the same in a way because music is a big part of who you are. Plus, you learn as you go with things.
Maiah Wynne – Yeah. It’s really interesting. Even on the first Envy of None record, I listened to that, and I’m like, “Oh, my gosh. I sound so young. My voice is so little.” It’s interesting to create music and art through these developing years. I’m 28 now, but when I started working with those guys, when I first met Andy (Curran), I was 19.
This time that has passed has been so pivotal in my life. The music has reflected that in my own personal music as well. It’s like hearing myself grow up, hearing myself develop as a person, and through music. It’s such an interesting experience.
Cryptic Rock – It is fascinating. You mentioned that when you met Andy, you were 19, and now you’re 28. That’s interesting because over those 10 years, a lot has changed in a person’s life. In your early 20s, you’re still figuring it out. By the time you reach 30, maybe the lens comes in a little more around that time.
Maiah Wynne – I hope so.
Cryptic Rock – Evny of None launched about four or five years ago. A very electrifying musical project, obviously, you work with Andy and Rush’s Alex Lifeson. How did this all come about?
Maiah Wynne – It was really a lot of luck on my part. I entered a song contest, and I ended up winning. Andy was one of the judges on that contest. I won a Zoom call with him where I got to ask him questions about the music industry. At that point, I mostly knew he was working as an A&R guy for a record label. I was asking him a lot of business questions. I didn’t really have a chance to appreciate his musical career until we started working together and got to know him better, including his musical background.
He does it all. He is a business guy and a musician, and he’s great in both worlds. We really started working together after that Zoom call. We started collaborating. He encouraged me to do more collaborations. I offered to sing on anything if he needed a vocalist. He took me up on it. I felt really lucky on that part. We just had a really great time working together. He, I, and Alf (Alfio Annibalini).
Then Andy, being a long-time friend of Alex, showed him the music, and Alex liked it and wanted to play some guitar on it. It turned into the four of us. That was really exciting. It’s very serendipitous. Very lucky on my part.
If I hadn’t been bold enough to ask if you wanted to collaborate, it wouldn’t have turned into what it did. I was naive enough not to know that it was going to turn into something really big for me. It was just like, “Hey, why not?” It turned into this incredible thing. I sometimes look back on that and think, “Wow, I’m really glad I asked.”
Cryptic Rock – It’s exciting how that all came about. At this point, you have already released two full-length records and an EP, and you just released another three-track EP recently. It is an active project. It is not a one-and-done thing, which is really exciting. About the latest album, which came out earlier this year, it is a fantastic record. It really is diverse. The lyrics, your voice, and the production are great. What was it like making this record?
Maiah Wynne – We had a similar process to our first record, in that we all recorded our parts separately in our home studios. It’s a long-distance collaboration. They’re all in Toronto, and I’m on the West Coast. It’s a bit of a challenge because we’re not always in the same room together. We don’t even always have conversations about what we’re going to do. At the same time, that is what makes it the project it is and the band we are, because we give each other the space to do what we each do well.
There’s always crossover. Sometimes Andy gives me some lyric ideas because he has a chorus idea for this one. For the most part, I’m writing the lyrics, the vocal parts, and producing the vocals and melodies. Alf is doing a lot of these early instrumental parts and ideas. Same with Andy. They work on these ideas together and create the bed track. I’ll add some vocals. Then Alex will add all these ethereal, complex layers, weaving them around everything because he’s such an amazing instrumentalist. He’s able to do that and find what the song needs to really lift it to that next level.
We work really well together because we’ve come to respect each other and what each of us brings to the music. The more that we do it, the easier it becomes because I know Andy’s going to do a great job with this. Alfie’s going to do a great job with this. Alex is going to do a great job with this. They trust me to handle the vocals. It’s been really nice to find our groove in that. It’s all just in our own little home studios. Then we spend a week at the end in the studio just laughing and having fun, which is really nice.
Cryptic Rock – Everyone is coming from a different musical background and a different level of experience, obviously. It is inspiring to see that all come together. You have quite a bit of experience in the band with all those involved. You said that you get feedback from everyone when you are writing. What is that like, bouncing ideas off each other and picking each other’s brains?
Maiah Wynne – Yeah. Honestly, it’s really great. They respect me a lot. They don’t really give me a whole lot of feedback, which is great. (Laughs) They really give me the space to do my thing and trust me to do it, which is really nice. It’s very validating as a songwriter. Having somebody like Alex, Andy, and Alf and having these guys really support me and stand behind me and say, “She knows what she’s doing, and she’s doing a great job,” is the most confidence-boosting thing I’ve ever experienced.
It’s been really good for me as an artist because it’s a vulnerable thing putting yourself out there through music and art, standing in front of people and performing. Every musician I know is riddled with self-doubt, no matter where they are in their career. It’s been very validating and really good for me mentally to have these incredible, legendary musicians look at me and say, “You’re doing a great job.” It’s been really nice.
We do still work on the song together. If we don’t like something in the song, we will say it. We’ve gotten really good at communicating with each other about creative ideas, differences, and putting ideas out. Andy will throw out ideas. We have to put ego aside. If something isn’t working for the song, we’ll talk about it, work through it, and make changes.
There have been times when the vocal part, the guitar part, the bass, or the keys, or whatever it is, didn’t work. We will just have to throw out ideas and try again. We found a way to do that and support each other. It’s all in service of the song because we all just want to make a good song at the end of the day.
Cryptic Rock – It sounds very democratic. It sounds like everyone is treated equally. With Envy of None, people see the band and the names attached. With this, they form preconceived notions about what they will hear based on the names attached to them and their past. It’s human nature. This is not Rush or Coney Hatch. It is something completely different. What do you find in people’s reactions to Envy of None?
Maiah Wynne – When the first record came out, I was really nervous. I was really scared that people would expect Rush and be upset or not like it. I was preparing myself for negativity, backlash, internet hate, and just trying to harden myself to that possibility. There are still people out there who won’t like it, and that’s okay.
The strength in Envy of None is that this music is different than anything else any of us are doing. When we come together, we create something different and unique. There are people with eclectic music tastes who like Envy of None and Rush. They are different bands, and some people can find something that they love in both of them.
I really love people who are able to set aside any preconceived notions of what they think it should be and just let it be what it is, experience that, and experience something different. I really love that there are so many people out there who can do that.
We’ve really found our fans, people who enjoy this music for what it is and like that it’s different because we’re never going to do Rush better than Rush. Rush is still doing Rush, and they’re doing an amazing job. I would never want to do that. It’s great that it’s different. I am so grateful for the people who have embraced that and just met us there.
For the most part, we’ve had a really positive response, which has been amazing. The support from the people who really enjoy it has really lifted us up. At the end of the day, we just really enjoy it. That’s one of the most important parts is just having fun and enjoying what you’re doing as a band. Hopefully, the fans will listen to that, enjoy it, and feel that too. I think we’ve really found our stride in that.
Cryptic Rock – Absolutely. If people keep an open mind, they will be pleasantly surprised and happy with what they hear. You spoke a little bit earlier about growth as a person, growth as a musician. Again, that is reflected in the songs and the lyrics. These songs have a beautiful touch of humanity.
A song like “The Story” lets you really connect with the feelings you are going through. These songs seem like a mirror of what you are going through personally, as far as growth, self-doubt, wanting to be a better person, whatever that might be. Is that a good assessment?
Maiah Wynne – Yes, very much so. I put a lot of myself into these songs. I don’t know how not to do that as a songwriter. For me, songwriting started as a way to process things. It’s always been this very intimate part of myself. There are some songs, like “Thrill of the Chase,” where I can put myself into the perspective of somebody else or do something fun with it. I love doing that, but for the most part, I really reach into myself and say, “There’s a really dark, ugly thing. Let’s make that into a song.” I put it out there.
That’s the stuff that people connect with because we’ve all got these dark, difficult things that we’re dealing with under the surface. Being able to take that, put words to it, put it out there, and connect with people who are feeling the same way is one of the most cathartic and beautiful things about music to me. Getting to do that through Envy of None has been really amazing. There are a lot of very personal things in these songs.
Cryptic Rock – That definitely is evident, but that is what is beautiful about this. What is stunning about music is its universality. Even though it is your personal feelings, these are things that people can relate to in their own way. As you said, everyone has got something going on underneath. It is nice to know that someone else is there who feels the way you do, regardless of the situation. That is the power of music.
Maiah Wynne – Yeah. Beautifully said.
Cryptic Rock – That is one of the aspects of the most recent record. Simply put, everything you have done with Envy of None feels very human. So, beyond the song themes, let’s talk about the musicality of Envy of None. It’s very eclectic. There are elements of Alternative Rock and Progressive Rock; it’s all over the place. How would you describe the sound of the band?
Maiah Wynne – It is very eclectic. That’s something we really embrace in the recording process. Each song will be its own thing. At the end of the day, there’s a through line because it’s the four of us putting our own perspectives into this song. The meeting point of that always has a similar feeling, even if the influences that we pull from are different for each track. I love that. It makes a more dynamic record when you can go from something that’s very soft, dark, and moody, and then to something that’s upbeat, fun, and quirky, and then something that just feels raw and wild.
The dynamics in that are also very fulfilling as an artist to be able to not box ourselves into anything. Every time we record, anything’s a possibility if it feels right for the song. Alex will play anything from guitar to banjo to oud. I’m always surprised by what he does. This is super cool, and it works so well.
I’ve been trying a lot, with this more recent record, to let myself explore more vocal tones and styles. I embraced a lot of different influences vocally as well. The first record was figuring out what our sound is and what we can do with what we have. The second record was that we could do anything, and it’s going to sound like us. That’s one of the most exciting parts of this project musically: we really embrace the possibility of anything.
Cryptic Rock – It is working out well so far, based on everything that’s been released. It was recently announced that Rush will be going on a summer 2026 tour. Where does that leave the band in terms of potential live dates?
Maiah Wynne – I would love that. I’m still hoping for it. This tour is huge that Alex is doing with Rush. That’s going to take a lot of time and work. They have such high standards for their performances. They put so much time into rehearsals and getting it just exactly right. He’s going to be really focused on that.
We haven’t ruled out a live show for Envy of None, and we all really want to do it. It’s just a matter of timing and finding a time and space. We need a lot of rehearsals because we’ve never performed together before. To put together a live show, we would need to have the time as a band to really rehearse. We all want it to be a really good show. I think it’s really just a matter of when the timing makes sense. We’re going to put the work in, make it make sense for us as a band, and put together something really great. I definitely wouldn’t rule it out.
In the meantime, we’re still recording and working on some new tracks. We’re still very much in the creative space together. It’s been really nice to know that that’s still there, even as Alex is being a Rock star all around the country.
Cryptic Rock – Hopefully that comes to fruition at some point. It’s great to hear that you’re still recording and working on music. You released two records in three years, which is a good track record. No one wants to put a timetable on anything, but we could expect another Envy of None record in the next couple of years.
Maiah Wynne – Oh, for sure. We really love making music together. That train’s still going.
Cryptic Rock – Great. Just from speaking to you for a little while, you seem like a very passionate person about music. Obviously, this project is a blessing. This appears to have been an excellent way for you to get exposure as a singer and a songwriter. Do you have anything else going on outside Envy of None that you are doing musically right now?
Maiah Wynne – Yeah. My solo album, Out of the Dark, came out last year, in November 2024. I am also working on another album. I’ve written a lot of music. I’m very excited to continue to record. I’m getting better at producing. As I do that, the possibilities of recording and releasing music become so much easier. I just want to get all these songs out there. I have so many of them, and they need somewhere to go.
Also, a lot of collaborations. I’ve been working on a couple of other projects. I’ve been working on and helping to write music for a film. I’m juggling lots of different-sized projects in the background. There’s definitely going to be a lot more music. I’m constantly working, recording, and trying to get more things out there.
On Out of the Dark, Alex actually played some guitars on that, which was really incredible. Andy and Alf added some bits and pieces. I put a lot of myself into that album. Similarly, very vulnerable, but different genre-wise. It’s a lot more singer-songwriter, intimate songs. Also pretty eclectic.
Cryptic Rock – People need to check that out. Do you perform live at all? Do you have any shows you will be playing?
Maiah Wynne – I do play live. I’m working on putting together some proper shows. I took a break from performing for a little bit. I have a one-woman band thing where I play drums with my feet, guitar, and stuff. Sometimes I’ll have a band with me, too. If you find me on the internet, I usually post when I’m touring or doing any shows. I hope I get the chance to do some more soon.
Cryptic Rock – As mentioned earlier, this is a great vehicle for greater exposure as a singer-songwriter. People hear the records, they want to learn more about you. Quite honestly, having heard the records you have done with Envy of None, it makes you want to learn more about you as the individual behind the voice.
Maiah Wynne – Thank you. I really appreciate that. I’ve had a lot of people find me through Envy of None, and that means a lot, too. It’s an interesting through line from people who enjoy Rush, who are open-minded enough to enjoy Envy of None, and then they’re open-minded enough to also enjoy my solo music, which is even a step further away from that. It’s finding the people who just love all sorts of music and find me. It’s been really amazing. I really appreciate those people who follow that thread all the way to me.
Cryptic Rock – Absolutely. You seem very diverse. What are some of your musical influences?
Maiah Wynne – Honestly, a lot of different influences growing up. I got really into Rock for a while. Rush was one of the Rock bands I was trying to teach myself drums on. I’d go up into my attic and blast different genres of Rock and different types of Rock music. That was around the time I was 13. Before that, a lot of singer-songwriter stuff, I love Nora Jones. She was my first vocal influence.
I lived in Montana with my grandpa for a couple of years as a teenager, and he was a Bluegrass musician. That’s where the banjo and the mandolin influence come from. There’s some Folk influence as well. It’s all over the place. Florence and the Machine.
I love Indie singer-songwriters. I’m influenced by every small singer-songwriter that I find online. I’m like, “This person’s amazing, and I’m going to fall in love with them for the next week.” There’s so much talent out there. The Beatles, a lot of classics, Nina Simone, and MGMT. I love Soul. I love Blues. I love little sprinkles of everything, to be honest. There’s rarely a genre I can’t find something I like in. There’s good music everywhere if you’re really looking for it.
Cryptic Rock – A good song is a good song. It does not matter what genre it is in. If it is written well, it is written with soul and passion. You have a very soothing voice, which is very comforting. What are some of your vocal influences?
Maiah Wynne – Thom Yorke. I think Radiohead was a big vocal influence. Florence Welch, Nora Jones. Honestly, I think the only couple of singers that I really tried to emulate early on were Florence and Nora. I remember when I was first starting to sing, I wanted to sing like that. Nora Jones, her voice soothes me in a way that nothing else will.
Also, Feist and Yael Naim. She does that song, “(singing) I’m a new soul. I came to this strange world…” She has a lot of really great songs that many people haven’t listened to. There’s a song from her called “Far Far” that I used to listen to on repeat. It’s so beautiful and soothing. She just has that way of creeping into your brain.
Imogen Heap, also incredible. Fiona Apple’s amazing. There are just so many incredible female singers out there that I’m sure I’m blanking on at the moment. They’ve all found their way into my psyche.
Cryptic Rock – That is a vast range of influences. You mentioned how music has been a part of your life forever. Have you been writing songs for a long time now?
Maiah Wynne – Yeah. I first started writing piano music when I was like six. None of those were really good, though. I started writing songs with lyrics when I was around 12 or 13. Started teaching myself guitar and really started pursuing it when I was around 15 or 16. Started playing shows then, too. I was writing music like crazy. I would come home from school and just write and write. Pretty soon, I had hundreds and thousands of songs. I would go play in the coffee shop for hours each week, just for tips and to try out all my new songs. Some of those recordings, I’m like, “Wow, that was really good.” Then the other ones, I’m like, “That is horrendous. What am I doing?” That’s part of the growth process.
Cryptic Rock – Understood. Music is a form of therapy. It definitely helps us all. A lot of people could say, unequivocally, music saved their lives in one way or another. Whether you are listening to it or making it, it gives you a way to release negative feelings without being destructive.
Maiah Wynne – Yeah. Absolutely. Music definitely saved my life. I don’t know what my life would be without music, to be honest. It’s such an important part of my life, and I can’t imagine a world without it.
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