Interview with In Your Grave

What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?

I got into music by managing a concert venue when I got out of high school. After that it just kind of brought a passion for it. I would probably be streaming pokemon games online or playing more yugioh.

What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

I hang out at home a lot with my 2 kids. I also do a lot of hiking and things like that. I think that it allows a healthy balance between my life. So I'm not just focused on one thing. Being able to experience life is a big part of music.

How long has your band been around?

We have been a band for roughly 3 years now. We have had a few member changes but I think we're finally at a good lineup for the band.

Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?

We are based out of Salt Lake City, Utah. We have a great hardcore scene out here and I think it helped develop a lot of some of our hardcore elements that we incorporate

How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?

The band name reflects how Collin felt about some close relationships. His friends and loved ones were using drugs and making decisions for their lives that weren’t great. Basically, he felt like he was just watching them waste away in their own graves.

Tell me about your most memorable shows.

 I would say playing with bodysnatcher, Angelmaker, Paleface, and Distant was probably one of my favorite shows. We played at the complex in Salt Lake City, Utah. Which was always a huge goal of mine. The show ended up selling out which was super cool. The energy in the room was unfathomable.

What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

Shoot there are so many good venues out there it's hard to pick. We love playing at The Knitting Factory in Boise, Idaho though. Super cool venue and the staff were just simply the best. Super respectful and on there A game all night.

If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?

We would love to play with Kublai Khan, Alpha Wolf, Knocked Loose, Suicide Boys, and so many more. We could go on forever haha.

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band and some advice that you would give to your younger self?

To just keep making content and don’t give up. Times get hard but no one will get you there but yourself.

If you could go back in time and give yourselves advice, what would it be?

To just have fun and not to worry about the future as much. You gotta enjoy the journey, not just focus on the destination.

Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?

I think that Cruel Hand is probably the most personal song we have. It's about my dad dying when I was a teenager. I had a very hard time in my life. Ended up going into foster care and just became really angry for a while. This song was a good way to express those emotions and I hope someone else who’s going through loss can connect with the song.

Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?

I think Establishment is my favorite to play. It's super slow and the lyrics just hit you straight in the face.

What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?

Our guitarist Jake Collier will write a song out and take it to the studio. Then I will begin working on the vocals and lyrics. Then together as a group we go over the song and what could be better lyrically, musically, or just in the mix or master in general.

What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?

 I like to portray a lot of angry and darker tones in our music. Like being sick, going through the loss of a loved one, or distrusting the government.

Do you ever have disagreements in your band, and how do you get past them?

We have had a lot of member changes between the band, usually it's not so much fights or anything but just personal lives. We're all in our late 20s so there’s kids, work, bills, and other things that can get in the way sometimes. However we all try to push each other as much as we can morally. We’re all on the same team so we’re there for each other if they need it.

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?

 We are going to go track our first full length album. We hope to make this our biggest and most professional release yet.