Living the dream (From Stourbridge News)

Living the dream

12:28pm Friday 15th February 2008 in Local Bands By Rachel Hickman

A PENSNETT musician is living the dream as part of the newest pop prodigies to hit the music scene.

Jim Macaulay is drummer in the highly acclaimed band Envy and Other Sins, catapulted into the limelight as winners of the Channel Four talent search programme Mobile Act Unsigned.

With a £1 million recording contract under their belts - their first single and album ready to hit the shelves and a nationwide tour to complete, Envy and Other Sins are on top of the world.

The quirky foursome, who all hail from around the country, comprise Ali Forbes on vocals, Jarvey Moss on keyboards, Mark Lees on bass and their drummer, former Kingswinford School pupil, 23-year-old Jim.

The band formed in 2004 after meeting at Birmingham University and entered the television competition, beating 1,600 other bands to scoop the top recording contract with A&M Records.

Listing The Kinks and Roxy Music as musical icons, the band are also inspired by Art Nouveau, decorating the stage with Victorian headwear, hat-stands and drinks globes.

The band's first single Highness' will be available on March 3, with their much anticipated debut album We Leave at Dawn' released on March 31.

Envy and Other Sins are also set to tour the country on their first national tour during the next few months, with stops at Birmingham Bar Academy on March 7 and Wolverhampton's Little Civic on April 10.

For more information about the gigs and where to buy tickets visit www.envyandothersins.co.uk