GRETA VAN FLEET Bassist: 'Being A Musician Is The Highest Extremes Of Great And Horrible'

Australia's Australia's Heavy magazine recently conducted an interview with bassist Sam Kiszka of Michigan rockers GRETA VAN FLEET. You can listen to the entire chat below. A few excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

On whether he has to pinch himself when he thinks of GRETA VAN FLEET's quick rise:

Sam: "Every turn in life, I think of musicians and artists, those things are like little pats on the back. I think the most rewarding thing, let's say a live show and seeing the fans react to the music, and creating an environment, that's kind of when we're in our own, when we really have to pinch ourselves, when we're doing a live show and the fans are responding to what we're doing, and we're responding to the energy they're creating. That, and I think being in the studio, too is one of those things, where it's a bit surreal where you get such a magical kind of environment in the recording. There's something that transfers from the tape to the speakers and the ideas. I think it's some of the most rewarding things of this life."

On attending the Grammy Awards:

Sam: "Maybe we're just desensitized, but it's another day at the office, I think. It's definitely an honor to be there because I think a Grammy Award, in particular, is one that perhaps kind of lets you know that you have done something perhaps substantial in the music world. I think that's really what the Grammy is kind of for."

On the importance of winning a Grammy and whether it was "life changing":

Sam: "Maybe not. I think that I would rather have a fellow musician appreciate a song, or someone who needs a little bit of hope to get by. I would rather have somebody like that appreciate the song and get through it. I think that's the most important thing at the end of the day. I guess what I'm saying is awards aren't as prestigious as a lot of people think they are. But I think that music really is about making a difference in someone's life, to empower people and to bring big matters to the center stage and shine a big light on it."

On whether GRETA VAN FLEET is working on new material:

Sam: "Yeah, actually. We're kind of in and out of the studio right now. But, of course, we've been doing so much touring ever since we've been kind of back out. It's always difficult to kind of find time to get in the studio and record and get in the mindset of that. But I definitely think that 2019 will include a lot of studio time, getting in and working on the concept for the next album, and recording the music and maybe writing some new stuff."

On how the members of GRETA VAN FLEET juggle their personal lives with the band:

Sam: "It's all very important. You're right, it's very difficult to kind of juggle those things. I suppose being a musician is kind of the highest extremes of great and horrible. Because sometimes you're exhausted. The last thing you want to do is get on another airplane. You just want to sleep, but being a musician means that you can go all over the world and bring your music all over the world with you. You can go to all the continents and all the different seas and deserts; you can see everything. I suppose it's the biggest blessing that we could really have to get the opportunity to travel. Every single human that has ever lived in every single culture and religion and everything that has taken place on this earth, and to be able to go around and see it and live nowhere is amazing."

In December, GRETA VAN FLEET scored four Grammy Award nominations, one for each major rock category — "Best Rock Album", "Best Rock Song", "Best Rock Performance" — and a "Best New Artist" nod. They went on to win for "Best Rock Album" for their sophomore EP, "From The Fires".

GRETA VAN FLEET was founded in 2012 by brothers Josh Kiszka, Sam Kiszka and Jake Kiszka, plus the sole non-brother member Kyle Hauck, who has since left and been replaced on the drums by Danny Wagner.