Guitarist Jackson Caines and drummer Theo Vincent Wells, both from Selwyn, are two members of the five-strong indie-rock band.

Obviously the band name is a pun but what’s the story behind it?

Jackson: The band name came about because our first gig as a five-piece band was a student night inspired by riot grrrl, the feminist punk scene from the 1990s. We’re not a punk band per se, but we would all call ourselves feminists and as a band which includes two women we were asked to play. As a phrase, it’s not as original as we might have initially assumed. You’ll know we’ve hit the big time when we beat Venus Envy the transsexual comic strip to the top of the Google search results.

Theo: We didn’t intend for the name to be permanent. I also remember ‘Poon-Tang Clan’ being suggested but the event organiser was not happy with it. We’ve had a couple of name crises, but it has held strong thus far.

How would you describe your music?

Jackson: I’m reluctant to describe our sound because I think that’s best left to other people. A theme that seems to emerge in feedback is that we’re channelling ‘90s bands. I’m not sure exactly what that means, but I think most ‘alternative’ bands today are heavily indebted to that decade.

Let’s talk about the way you play as a band. Theo, how would you describe your style on the drums and what is your intention when you play?

Theo: When I play drums I am very happy, it is very important to me. When I play drums for a band I am playing for the song; the worst drummers play for themselves. I like to play interesting, intricate beats with flourishes and shuffles, but I have an inclination towards heavy, powerful hitting when a song is driving that I have to watch out for. Try not to be too loud, try not to be too showy. The best drummers are noticed by no-one in the crowd, only by all the other drummers watching.

Who writes the lyrics?

Jackson: We all get very nervous when we have to talk about lyrics. It’s a very personal thing, and when you submit them to band critique people can get hurt. I had a whole set of lyrics for one song replaced by better ones. I was upset at the time but now I can see it was for the best. Our song ‘Improvise’ is about someone losing confidence in their ability to make good romantic judgements. ‘You Don’t Know Me’ is about an obsessive relationship driven by competition.

What’s the band dynamic like, how do you come up with a finished song?

Jackson: There’s no ringleader; our creative process is very collaborative. Some songs will be more or less written entirely by one member and presented to the band to be arranged. But others will emerge from a collective jam, often starting with a bass line written by Ellie. Anything can happen.

How do your musical backgrounds and inspirations come into the mix?

Jackson: Theo played in a punk band as a teen and that shows in his muscular drumming style. Franklin is a big fan of shoegaze bands like My Bloody Valentine and that shows in his extensive use of pedal effects. I flirted with a few different guitar styles when I was learning in my teens, including jazz and classical, so I tend to play intricate, finger-picking lines rather than, say, power chords.

How has being at Cambridge affected your creativity?

Theo: I would have to first acknowledge that we have been using their facilities the whole time for practising and that has been key. Being able to play here for free with reasonably decent equipment is appreciated. That being said, the student music scene is dire, but who was ever under any illusions before coming here?

Now that three of you have graduated, what does the future look like for Venus Envy?

Jackson: It’s make or break time for us. It will take more effort and commitment to keep rehearsing, writing new songs and playing gigs but I think we all want to make it work. After we’ve recorded some more songs, we’ll have to be more strategic about getting our music out there.