A comforting, classic pot roast with carrots and mashed potato pancakes is the perfect pairing for this feature on Pet Envy. Check out the recipe below!
Pet Envy began when Shelbi Albert and the other co-founder Jake moved to Nashville in 2015 to pursue careers as songwriters. Shortly after their move, they were encouraged to start a band. They soon met their drummer, Matthew as well. While brainstorming names, Shelbi mentioned her incredibly cool cat, which always made visitors envious. This inspired the name Pet Envy. They decided the name would represent something you envy but feel embarrassed to admit it out loud.
The band members grew up loving all sorts of music, with a particular passion for pop. This genre has heavily influenced their sound, especially as the band members bonded over their shared love for pop music. Bands like Talking Heads have been a major influence on them at various points in their lives, along with artists like Garbage and Elton John. Their lyrical inspiration is diverse, drawing from experiences of childhood trauma, relationships, and friendships. Initially, their songwriting focused on dissecting these personal experiences. As they have evolved and entered their 30s, their writing has broadened to encompass various life experiences and memories.
Shelbi, one of the co-founders, often talks about writing from a place of vulnerability, aiming to be honest and open in her music. This authenticity has resonated with fans, allowing them to connect deeply with the band’s experiences. The songwriting process is highly collaborative, with members building on each other’s ideas. Sometimes one member comes up with an amazing verse, and the group works together to develop it into a full song. They embrace the moments when inspiration strikes and create music that feels organic and exciting. Overall, Pet Envy is committed to writing good music, staying transparent in their process, and continually evolving their sound in the studio.
So what’s next for Pet Envy? According to Shelbi and Jake, long-term touring isn’t in their plans. They likely won’t tour, and if they do, it will be short, small runs. They have families, homes, and jobs to consider along with their music. Last summer they released an album, A Modern Way To Stand, that was two years in the making. Currently, they’re concentrating on releasing singles, with Shelbi, Jake, and their drummer Matthew staying engaged in Nashville’s vibrant music scene. Sometimes, artists get caught up in the rat race of beating the algorithm, feeling pressured to release EPs and albums, and constantly touring. This can be taxing on creativity, relationships, and family life. Pet Envy has decided to write and record music as they feel comfortable and inspired, continuing to release music without the pressure of producing major albums and touring.
Many other independent artists are also avoiding the constant pressure to tour and release albums because they have personal lives, and it’s challenging to be an artist. Touring extensively, releasing multiple major works, and spending countless hours in the studio is demanding on family time, mental health, and finances. It can also be quite costly for studio time, hiring musicians, and touring. Songwriting, a personal endeavor based on experiences, can become draining when it turns into a business leading us to celebrate the wrong things and ignoring our fulfillment from creativity. For Pet Envy, it’s about balance and avoiding tunnel vision. They focus on their craft rather than solely on monetization, followers, and social media metrics. Success with their music is defined on their terms, ensuring they don’t compromise their creativity. They aim to produce great music and stay creative, feeling successful in whatever capacity allows them to do so. Making a decent living while creating music they love without getting bogged down by algorithms and external pressures is the goal for Pet Envy.
Be sure to check out Pet Envy and follow them on IG at the link below! Stay tuned for more releases from this awesome Nashville local pop band.
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When it comes to food, Pet Envy keeps it pretty simple. They love trying different kinds of pizza, and Jake’s absolute favorite food is pancakes- any kind of pancakes. Whether they’re thick stacks, thin ones, huge or tiny, Jake just loves pancakes. They’re also big ice cream fans, particularly enjoying Valpo Velvet as their favorite ice cream. Jake prefers a classic vanilla flavor, while Shelbi loves peanut butter ice cream. For savory dishes, Shelbi loves short ribs and pot roast, especially homemade pot roast, which is her all-time favorite. The band enjoys classic Midwest dishes like Italian beef, and anything with savory braised beef and gravy.
Given their love for comfort food, I thought the perfect recipe for Pet Envy would be a classic pot roast served with a twist: mashed potato pancakes. This dish is comforting, delicious, and a nod to Jake’s favorite food as well. It’s the perfect blend of savory and satisfying, making it an ideal choice for Pet Envy. Check out the recipe below!
Pot Roast & Mashed Potato Pancakes
Ingredients for Pot Roast
- 3-pound boneless chuck roast
- 3 fresh sprigs rosemary
- 3 fresh sprigs thyme
- salt
- freshly ground black pepper
- 1 cup red wine
- 2 cups beef bone broth
- 1 large onion, peeled and cut into quarters
- 2 1/2 cups baby carrots or 3 whole large carrots, cut into quarters
- 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oli (EVOO)
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch & 2 tablespoons water, mixed together
Ingredients for Mashed Potato Pancakes
- 3 cups of mashed potatoes
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 6 tablespoons of flour, divided
- 1 tablespoon of fresh chopped parsley
- Avocado oil
Directions
- Pat the roast dry.
- Set the Instant Pot to “Saute” and allow it to warm up.
- Season the roast all over with the salt and black pepper.
- When the Instant Pot shows as “Hot,” add EVOO to Instant Pot.
- Sear roast until browned on all sides. Set it side.
- Deglaze with red wine, scraping the bottom of the pot.
- Add the beef broth, rosemary, thyme, carrots, onion, Worcestershire sauce and the beef to the Instant Pot.
- Cover and seal the Instant Pot. Place the vent to sealing, push “Manual/High” pressure and set the cooking time to 60 minutes.
- When the cook timer is done, allow the pressure to release naturally for 15 minutes. Then quickly release any remaining pressure using a wooden spoon by carefully pushing the valve open to release the rest of the pressure.
- Remove the lid and turn off the Instant Pot.
- With a slotted spoon, remove the meat and vegetables to a separate large bowl.
- In a small bowl, briskly whisk together the 2 tablespoons cornstarch and 2 tablespoons water until mixed well. Pour the cornstarch mixture into the Instant Pot and turn to SAUTE mode, then stir frequently until it has thickened into a gravy for about 5 minutes. Turn off the Instant Pot immediately and return all the meat and vegetables back to the pot for serving.
- For the mashed potato pancakes, in a mixing bowl combine potatoes, cheese, egg, 3 tablespoons of flour, and parsley.
- On a separate plate add 3 tablespoons of flour for dredging the pancakes before they are fried.
- Use an ice cream scoop to scoop the mixture, shape the pancakes, and dredge them in flour.
- Add about 3 tablespoons of avocado oil to a frying skillet over medium/high heat and fry the pancakes for 3 minutes on each side until browned.
- When finished frying, set the pancakes on a paper towel-lined dish to soak up the oil.
- Serve the pot roast alongside the mashed potato pancakes with some chopped fresh parsley for garnish. Enjoy!
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