Interview with Greymarch

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

• I would say, early on, it was my family that got me into music. I come from a line of very talented individuals, including my Uncle Joe, who passed away when I was young, and my Dad, who kind of took up Joe’s musical mantle and also hand-built me my first guitar!

  If I never ended up doing music, I’m certain I would be a full-time woodworker - a skill that I can also credit my Dad for inspiring in me. He got me my first job at a cabinet shop at 16, and I still do some woodworking to this day.

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

•  I’m a huge fan of the Elder Scrolls series of games, so much so that I named the band Greymarch after one of my favorite storylines in the fourth installment. I wouldn’t call myself a gamer, per se, but it definitely influences my creativity and helps me think outside the box.

How long has your band been around?

•  Greymarch has only been around a few months, having just started releasing music in October 2022. Much of the formative stages of the project and the music have been in the works for several months, but it only became more than an idea very recently.

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

•  Although I grew up in Utah, Greymarch is based out of Ft. Worth, Texas. I moved here to be with my fiance (now wife) after years doing the “touring musician living on the road” thing. I’ve reached out into the local music scene, and even put together a Spotify playlist featuring some of the local heavy-hitters in the area. DFW has a rich metal scene that I’m very fortunate to be part of.

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

•  The name Greymarch, as I mentioned, comes from a storyline in the Elder Scrolls game series in which a rich, vibrant realm is besieged by forces that siphon all the color and wonder out of the landscape. What I find interesting is that the land belongs to the “god of Madness”, and it is “Order” that is trying to take over. This concept inspired me to never take myself too seriously, because it is the unusual and unique things that give color to the world.

Tell me about your most memorable shows.

•  Well, there are so many to count. I’ve played in front of 5,000 people, and I’ve also played in front of no one but the members of the other bands (as most musicians encounter in the beginning). I’ll say, my favorite of all them was opening up a club show for Trivium. It wasn’t more than 300 people, but it was packed to the rafters, everyone was having an excellent time, we were moving merch and interacting with fans, and we even got the chance to hang with the members of Trivium for a bit. Having been a huge fan of theirs, it was a really sublime moment - especially seeing how kind and down-to-earth they were. It was really inspiring

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

•  I can say that any House of Blues show has been excellent - they know how to treat their people. Plus, each location having its own unique identity that still shares the overall vibe is really cool (Like HOB Anaheim having a huge open layout, while HOB Chicago has several floors and balconies). I will say, though, I don’t miss climbing the seemingly endless flights of stairs at Chicago - definitely don’t skip leg day!

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

•  Well, the Trinity of Terror Tour at the end of last year had 4 out of 5 of my wife’s favorite bands : Motionless in White, Ice Nine Kills, Black Veil Brides, and Atreyu. That would be a cool tour to jump on. I toured with INK in the past and they are just amazing. However, if it was up to me, I would put Trivium, Fit For A King, and Wage War in the lineup and be completely stoked to share the stage.

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?

•  No one is just going to “discover” you. Even the overnight viral successes you hear about have years of work behind them that you don’t  hear about. So, work hard, promote yourself, and just keep grinding as hard as you can.

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

•  I’d say, a rising tide raises all ships. It’s important to work hard for your own success, but it really goes far to help others in your community achieve success as well. Build yourself, and build your scene. Because a thriving music scene garners more attention than a single band.

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

•  That’s a tough question. I always try to put as much thought as possible into the meaning and impact into the songs as I can. However, I think I could say that “The Prison We Make It” hits me a bit differently than the others. The song is about the realization that sometimes the things holding us back are the limitations we place on ourselves, and it goes through a bit of a journey about how it starts to happen over time. The bridge section gives me goosebumps every time I listen, because it addresses a very personal loss of mine to suicide.  

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

•  “Bite the Bullet” is probably the song that has gotten the best response yet. It’s fun to play and it has a nice tempo and flow to it. It’s scheduled to come out March 10th!

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

•  So much of the music and lyrics come when I’m building something. Like I mentioned, I do a bit of woodworking, and whenever I’m in the shop working on a piece, much of the time some riff or melody or vocal line will just kind of pop into my head.

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

•  I tend to thematically follow the different things I see in the world that I believe need to change. Much of it stems from personal experiences where I’ve seen prejudice, ignorance, selfishness, hatred… things that the world could benefit from less.

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

•  Historically, I’ve always sought out compromise in past projects. With Greymarch, since it is essentially my solo project, there really isn’t anyone to disagree with. However, I do always try to see things from all sides, think of how a lyric or riff or transition could be better, and I workshop material with the opinions of people I trust. So, you could say I still continue along the path of compromise.

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

•  Greymarch’s single “Bite the Bullet” is coming out March 10th! I’m very stoked to release it and push the project into new territory with it. In addition, I’m working to continue the strategy of consistently releasing new music every month or so. Always writing!