Interviews: Faith In Vain

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Metalcore band, Faith In Vain, from the USA. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name? Was it planned, or did it just happen organically?

The name for the band came from when we used to be a cover band with prior members called Fully Loaded. Ginger was brought in to write originals. We needed a name, and you know, live, laugh, Limp Bizkit. We used to cover their version of Faith, and the name just rolled off my tongue. Faith In Vain. From there, it was settled.

2. Why did you choose to play this genre?

Ginger: Metalcore was something I wanted to do originally. The sound was something wildly popular that we all thoroughly enjoyed. Bands like Parkway Drive, Killswitch Engage, and All That Remains all gave me art that lasted forever, and we wanted to find our own niche and make art of our own to hopefully someday leave our own mark in this vast sea of artists.

Tommy: Metalcore has basically been the kind of metal I've enjoyed since I was a teenager; it wasn't just a phase. I was always writing riffs like As I Lay Dying and As Blood Runs Black. I've matured into writing more technical riffs, but they always fall back into some kind of metalcore/nu-metal mesh. I don't really know anything else.

Ryan: Its honestly the genre that inspires me to pick up and play guitar.

Tater: Its diverse, I think, which gives it an interesting mix of sounds

3. Did you know each other before forming the band?

Ginger: We've all been pretty close throughout the years and have very, very much history with one another. Ryan and I formed our first band well over a decade ago. Tommy used to come to my other bands' shows and party with us, tater. I know his whole family and love them like my own.

Tommy: I'm originally from the Rockford, IL music scene. I used to play in bands in high school and somewhat disappeared for a number of years. I came back around and saw Faith In Vain in 2016 at a local festival called GAP stock. I met Ginger for the first time there. I started to become friends with most of the band members by chance, and filled in when they needed someone for a major show they had coming up. I've been with the band since. I knew Ryan from other bands and knew Tater from being family of friends and the music scene, IDK which came first.

Ryan: I've known Ginger for over a decade. We formed our first band a lifetime ago. I had met the others, but I didn't really get to know them until we started playing together.

Tater: I've known Ginger forever, it seems, always been around the family, Tommy, I met from the scene and from old faith practices and such, Ryan, I've known of from other bands but didn't really know him till we started jamming. 

4. What is each band member's favorite band?

Ginger: I'd have to go with A Day to Remember or Limp Bizkit, still rocking the nu metal.

Tommy: Loaded questions. Depends on the day. A solid go-to for me is going to be Ballyhoo. But lately I've really enjoyed As The Structures Fail. I always enjoy a pop punk bit, and my range can go all the way to deathcore.

Ryan: Sleep Token

Tater: My favorite bands, hard to really narrow it down, but I'd say Pantera, Slipknot, and Machine Headhave always been favorites of mine, and always inspired me musically. I'll listen to old school stuff from bands now like Spite, Lorna Shore, Slaughter to Prevail, the list goes on, to be honest.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Ginger: I'm just always writing. I get depressed, and I struggle very heavily with mental health, and I struggle with the idea of not existing. Diagnosed with CPTSD, and I'm a bit ADHD as well. It's a challenge to escape the pain of things in past relationships with friends, partners, family, etc. So I channel it as best as I can and write about as much as I can to get it out of me, and maybe someday the right person will hear it and change their life or save them in a position where music has truly saved me as an individual. Its a powerful tool and it reminds us all that we aren't really ever alone and we can share in those emotions.

Tommy: I don't know that I really get inspired to write songs. I fiddle on the guitar and come up with things that sound neat. A younger me would say As Blood Runs Black and As I Lay Dying. I would recreate riffs like theirs but make them my own. As I matured, I would have to say Winds of Plagues' technical riffs started to play a big role in my writing style, along with some nu-metal-like grooves.

Ryan: I can't quite pinpoint what "inspires" me to write. It's just always been something I've gravitated towards. Even when I was first learning to play guitar and had no idea what I was doing. Not that I have any idea what I'm doing now. T

Tater: I think just having a good group of people who have the same ambitions and drive that helps me write songs and keeps everything interesting

6. Where was your last gig?

Our last gig, which was also our return to District here in Rockford, IL. Our hometown. We had a great time. Video Here: https://youtu.be/Wyu1Q8r8g2Y?si=ylrCr0p0faaTZKUH

7. Where would you like to perform in the future?

Future gigs we would all ideally like to tour and play festivals, intimate crowd shows, and historic places like the Whisky in California.

8. Is there anyone you wouldn’t want to collaborate with?

To collaborate with another artist would be something awesome. Someone like Darius from Spite, Jeremy McKinnon from ADTR, or Adam D from Killswitch is just a short list of people I could put down. So many artists we respect and admire.

9. Is there anyone you wouldn’t want to collaborate with?

I think we would be open to collaborating with most, depending on the situation. 

10. Have any of you ever experienced stage fright? Do you have any tips for beginners on overcoming it?

Ginger: Stage fright existed when I was younger, and I didn't have a sense of identity other than I knew what I wanted to do. Make music with friends and make it something memorable. Eventually, you just get over it. The biggest piece of advice I could give is to just get up there and do it. Everyone fails, everyone makes mistakes, and everyone flops. The thing that's important is to do it and do it as best as you can and keep doing it to get better

Tommy: Gosh, I probably did feel stage fright when I was a teenager and my first show with FIV. There was a big crowd too, because we were opening for a national band. Maybe the anxiety I feel before a gig is a touch of stage fright, but for the most part, I just feel excited to go out there and put on a show. Any advice I'd give is just go out there and put on your best show, no one will even notice the mistake, so don't stress it and have fun.

Ryan: Yes, all the time. I'm not confident in front of large crowds. For me, the fear never really went away; I just got better at managing it. So all I can really say is, just keep doing it. keep performing.

Tatar: There have been a few times in the past where I've experienced a little stage fright, but I feel once you get up there and play the more times you do it , the more you get used to it, just gotta go up there and do it.

11. Which bands have influenced you the most?

Ginger: A Day To Remember, Killswitch Engage, Limp Bizkit

Tommy: As I Lay Dying, As Blood Runs Black, After The Burial, Born Of Osiris, Winds of Plague

Ryan: Killswitch Engage, All That Remains, Parkway Drive, Lamb of God, Periphery

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

As weird as it sounds, coming from a band that isn't very big, fans are asking if they could tattoo our logo on them. I believe currently there are 3 or 4 people who have done that because our music meant enough to them and the messages that it delivered. Thats something I feel I'm indebted to our fans for. That kind of support for bands like us is something that doesn't get shouted out enough. So thank you to our friends and fans. We love you. This also answers our next question.

13. What do you think of your fans?

We're incredibly thankful to all our fans, local and distant, and we're hoping to spend 2026 growing our family.

14. What do you think of our site?

I like the site. I like the write-up you give for the genres and how you have the genre's sub divided. I think we fit somewhere in Melodic Metalcore, probably.