Enemy

Album: Envy Of None (2022)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Put down the weapon, I'm not your enemy," Maiah Wynne sings on this track from the debut album of Envy Of None, the band Alex Lifeson formed after Rush called it quits. Lifeson stretched out his musical muscles on the album, exploring many different sounds. "Enemy" has a menacing, almost industrial vibe.

    "It's a very dynamic song," Lifeson said in a Songfacts track by track. "A lot of cool dynamics down low and menacing and dangerous and in-your-face and powerful."

    "There's something about 'Enemy' that just really reaches in and grabs your heart and rips it out," he added. "There's a lot of heaviness in the music, but it's the vocal that scares the crap out of you."
  • This was one of the first songs Maiah Wynne recorded with Envy Of None, which in addition to Lifeson, consists of Alfio Annibalini (production and engineering) and Andy Curran (bass). She wasn't part of the band when they started, but the guys knew she was a great fit as soon as they heard her sing. She also brought a lot to the table creatively, especially with lyrics.

    "There's a lot of back and forth between Andy and I on lyrics for that," she told Songfacts. "The way it turned out, I was able to channel a little bit more vocally and be a little bit more aggressive. It was a great experience working on that song with these guys."
  • A 7-inch single of "Enemy" was released in support of Ukraine, which had been attacked by Russia. The single is pressed on vinyl with the top half blue and the bottom half yellow to symbolize the flag of Ukraine. Proceeds go to the UN Refugee Agency for humanitarian aid to the country.

    The band released a statement explaining that the song took on a new meaning in light of the war:

    I'm not your enemy...

    Friends and enemies—life and death—good and bad. The eternal contrast and conflict that tears us apart so easily yet mends us so arduously. It's not a fair fight.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

John Kay of Steppenwolf

John Kay of SteppenwolfSongwriter Interviews

Steppenwolf frontman John Kay talks about "Magic Carpet Ride," "Born To Be Wild," and what he values more than awards and accolades.

Album Cover Inspirations

Album Cover InspirationsSong Writing

Some album art was at least "inspired" by others. A look at some very similar covers.

Lou Gramm - "Waiting For A Girl Like You"

Lou Gramm - "Waiting For A Girl Like You"They're Playing My Song

Gramm co-wrote this gorgeous ballad and delivered an inspired vocal, but the song was the beginning of the end of his time with Foreigner.

Rosanne Cash

Rosanne CashSongwriter Interviews

Rosanne talks about the journey that inspired her songs on her album The River & the Thread, including a stop at the Tallahatchie Bridge.

Gene Simmons of Kiss

Gene Simmons of KissSongwriter Interviews

The Kiss rocker covers a lot of ground in this interview, including why there are no Kiss collaborations, and why the Rock Hall has "become a sham."

Janet Jackson

Janet JacksonFact or Fiction

Was Janet secretly married at 18? Did she gain 60 pounds for a movie role that went to Mariah Carey? See what you know about Ms. Jackson.