Exclusive Interview With Matt Greiner from August Burns Red

            We recently had a chance to talk with Matt Greiner from Pennsylvania based Metalcore-band  August Burns Red through an on-line interview. YES YOU READ IT RIGHT, IT'S AUGUST BURNS RED!! In the interview Matt, drummer of the band talks about his contentment on having fans from India and conveys his thanks to all the fans living here in India. He later answered some questions on their tours, lyrics, song-writing processes, and gave some  tips on forming a band. On the interview he also talks about his spiritual relationship with God and his early drumming days as a kid. When asked about incorporating 'India' in their world tour, their answers were "Yes, that is a possibility.  Keep your eyes peeled!". Read the full interview below...and yes You better believe it, It's August Burns Fucking Red!!!

Hello Matt Greiner Greetings from Rawrrmag.in and on behalf of all the fans from India!  August Burns Red has always been a significant band in the music Scene so you definitely don’t need any introduction for our readers, so I’ll start off with my straightforward questions.

Rawrr Magazine- I don’t know if you would be surprised to hear this but I’m pretty sure you have more than a couple of thousand fans from India. Did you ever know that you have fans and listeners to your band from India? If yes, what does it mean to you that your band is an example and an influence to so many people?

Matt Greiner- Thanks for having me Rawrr Mag!  I’m honoured to do an interview with a magazine from India!  There are so many places to perform in the world and it’s exciting to think about having fans and listeners in India.  It’s flattering that people are inspired and energized by our music.

"I’m honoured to do an interview with a magazine from India!  There are so many places to perform in the world and it’s exciting to think about having fans and listeners in India."~Matt Greiner

Rawrr Mag -I saw on the internet somewhere that there are fans with your lyrics tattooed on their body. How does it make you feel when you see a fan with your lyrics tattooed?

August burns Red

Matt- Summarizing in just one word the many emotions it invokes, I would have to go with ‘shocked.’  I was on the Vans Warped Tour 2013 and a gentleman asked me to sign his arm in Sharpie.  After scribbling my name on his forearm he exclaimed, “I am getting this tattooed tomorrow!”  I yelled and quickly tried to scrub it off his arm!  No, it’s flattering but it’s also quite strange to know that lyrics I wrote or a autograph would be something someone would want on their arm, forever!

Rawrr Mag - As far as your live performance goes, what songs do you enjoy playing, what songs do you think fans enjoy the most, and how do you try to balance the two?
Matt- I love playing the first song on our new record called, “Provision.”  I wrote the lyrics to the song about an experience I had last year that set me back not only financially but also emotionally and spiritually.   When we book a tour we have an established amount of time on stage.  Once we determine how much time we have to perform, we then go to the ‘drawing board’ and establish the most popular and most fitting songs to fit within the time parameters.  If we are headlining a tour we have more time on stage and thus can play songs that might not be as popular.  We are flying to Soundwave Festival in Australia today and only have a 30-minute set time.  We are forced to pick our biggest songs and eliminate the ones that maybe we like playing as a result. 

Rawrr Mag - I personally enjoy all your song but so far Composure really stood out for me, Could you share a little bit on your spiritual lyrics and how that’s tied in with your music? Where do your musical ideas come from?

Matt- I am a Christian and believe that the purpose of my life is to ultimately bring glory to God.  Every minute of every day, from the moment I open my eyes to the very last second I’m awake I hope to learn and nurture and pursue in my relationship with Jesus.  Music and drumming is a very big part of who I am, it always has been.  My mom tells me that when I was 6-months old I would ‘tap’ drum on the highchair in the kitchen.  Drumming is something that is natural to me and if it’s not a gift from God then I am clueless as to why I have an affinity for it, I don’t deserve the notoriety I've received in my life.  I am so grateful to be in the position I am in, writing songs for a band that gets to subsequently play those songs all around the world.  When I write lyrics for ABR I write from personal experience.  Whether I’m writing about where I came from and what I learned or where I'm going and who I am to be, I write from my the very deepest level of who I am.  I care very much about lyrical content in songs; I have limited patience for shallow lyrics.  Words are powerful; words put to music can have an even more profound influence on the listener. I never want to take that for granted.

"Words are powerful; words put to music can have an even more profound influence on the listener. I never want to take that for granted." -Matt Greiner

Rawrr Mag - Today August burns Red already has 7 albums released, so what’s your favourite song off the record personally, and what was the hardest song to write lyrically?
Matt- “Provision” is my favourite song we've ever written.  It is also the hardest lyrical song I’ve ever written.  I wrote the song about a financial scandal I was victimized by and it means a lot to me as a result of it.  The song itself is very interesting musically speaking and is very dynamic.

Rawrr Mag - How do you go about writing songs? Give us a glimpse of your song-writing process..
Matt- JB sits in his bedroom and writes the guitar melodies before tabbing them out on his guitar. After the song is tabbed out he then sends it to the rest of the band.  I go to work writing drum parts to the melodies that he wrote into the song and structure. Once I have all of the drum parts written, the band and I get together and play through the song a few times to see how it flows.  We work out any kinks and then practice it for the subsequent weeks until we record the CD in the studio.

Rawrr Mag - Any tips for starting a band? What advice would you give aspiring singers, songwriters and those who want to make it in the music industry?

Album Cover Of Rescue and Restore

Matt- My advice is simple; practice your instrument, write 10 songs with dependable and trustworthy band members, save up money, and finally record 2 of the best songs.  When those 2 songs are mixed and mastered pass those songs out to everyone you can!

Rawrr Mag - Speaking of which; what influences your lyrics and what is the best state of mind to write lyrics in?
Matt- I answered this question earlier in the interview.  My faith and personal experience play the biggest role in writing lyrics.  I couldn’t go to sleep at night knowing that the lyrics I write don’t positively and realistically contribute to other’s lives.

Rawrr Mag - What is something that most fans  don't know about the band?

Matt Greiner

Matt- We live in a small town called Manheim where there are as many Amish buggies as there are automobiles.  I was home-schooled and met JB and Brent through the local high school. I was born and raised on a farm and never anticipated myself being on tour and playing music all around the world.

Rawrr Mag - What have you guys been listening to lately? What's on your playlist today?
Matt- I am listening to the band Parachute right now.  Recently I have been listening to podcasts by teachers and preachers like Tim Keller and William Lane Craig.  I enjoy learning about theology and philosophy and love learning via podcast.  I also do like the new Bring Me The Horizon CD!

Rawrr Mag -What’s a favourite band you enjoy touring with and funniest story you have with them?
Matt- I like touring with defeater a lot!  Their drummer, Joe Longobardi, is a great drummer and all of the guys in the band are great to hang out with.

I’m sorry, I am not a funny guy and don’t have any especially funny stories.  Oh, there’s that one time I threw a water bottle at Jake in a gas station parking lot and we got in a fistfight.  It was the last time he’s ever been mad at me; I broke his temper hah!

Rawrr Mag - Can I have a word from all the members to what they have to say for the fans In India?
Matt- Everyone is excited about the possibility of coming to India and playing a show there.  We all hope the day will come sooner than later!

Rawrr Mag - Any chance you’re going to incorporate India into your world tour?
Matt- Yes, that is a possibility.  Keep your eyes peeled!

Rawrr Mag – Any Last few words?
Matt- Thank you for asking me to do the interview.  Also, thank you to the fans we have in India and to the supporters who live there.  We will do our best to come and play a show for you in the future.  Thanks!

Rawrr Mag – Thank you so much for the time and the timely responses.

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