INTERVIEW – Ryan Baustert (Throw the Fight)

Published on July 6, 2010 by Christian Sellers · 1 Comment

Minneapolis-based Throw the Fight had already toured around America and recorded the independent EP The Fire Within before the release of their debut album, In Pursuit of Tomorrow, in 2008.

The group are currently working on their second album, whilst their latest single Bloodshot Eyes will be available to download from iTunes from July 20th.

Guitarist Ryan Baustert looks back on the last seven years of Throw the Fight and what the future has in store.

How did Throw the Fight first come together and how did you originally envision the overall style of the band?

“We originally met in college and started playing the bar/club circuit then. We first started out as sort of a pop punk cover band with a couple originals thrown in. We’d do stuff like Finch, New Found Glory, Pennywise, etc. But the goal was always to be an original band. Playing covers was just a way to get our foot in the door with some local venues and start playing live.”

Did you build your reputation through gigs or through the internet and how did you develop your sound? Did you always have a clear image of what kind of group you wanted to be?

“We work both angles very hard. We’ve been around for over 7 years and have done our fair share of touring. But I feel it’s one of the things you can never do enough of. Playing live and traveling are one of the best parts about being in a band in the first place. So we will always be trying to tour as much as we possibly can. We developed our sound simply by rehearsing nonstop and hitting the road. Playing night after night is the best way to tighten up the live show. On the flip side, we are very aggressive when it comes to promoting the band online. I am online promoting the group through a dozen different sites at least 10 hours a day. The great part about the net is that there are endless ways to promote your music and get new fans. We don’t wait for people to discover us first. We go out there and find them for ourselves. Regarding having a clear image of what we wanted to be: musically, it’s always stayed the same. Professionally, we just want to be one of those bands where people say “those guys are cool dudes and they work their asses off.”

Was Minneapolis a good location for a metal band and how would you describe the music scene there?

“The music scene here is great. No matter what type of music you are into, you can find a good number of bands here that are doing it. There are also a good number of live venues. Minneapolis is definitely a great location as far as being able to build a strong fanbase in the Midwest goes. You can drive less than 6 hours in any direction and be able to cover Iowa, the Dakotas, Wisconsin, Chicago, etc. It’s close to a lot of different markets.”

How would you describe your music and what separates Throw the Fight from all the other metal groups that are around today?

“We’ll always be the first ones to say that we are not trying to reinvent the wheel here. It’s always been about writing strong hard rock songs with solid melodies and catchy choruses. We love super gnarly stuff like Parkway Drive or As I Lay Dying, but we also dig country music. So it’s always about trying to maintain some sort of balance. As far as what separates us from other groups, I think it’s our interaction and involvement with our fans. I’m not saying we are the only ones that operate that way. There are certainly a good number of bands that are accessible. But there are also a ton that aren’t. We get emails almost on a daily basis from kids who say “I think it’s so cool that you guys actually talk to your fans. I wrote to so and so and never got a response.” We make a conscious effort to not make it hard for people to get ahold of us. So hit us up when we are in your town and let’s go grab a beer or catch a movie. Want us to play your grad party? No problem! We’re all about it!”

What would you say is your most significant achievement as a band and what are you most proud of?

“I’m really proud of the fact that we’ve been able to keep it together and push forward for as long as we have. We haven’t lost sight of the end goal and what we are trying to achieve.”

What are the most common themes that you explore within your music and would you say that the lyrics are deeply personal?

“Our songs are just about life in general. They are definitely personal and a reflection of where we are at that point in time.”

How concerned are you about landing a hit single or regular airplay on radio stations and MTV? Are you conscious that the pressure you are under to break into the mainstream can sometimes compromise your music and how do you ensure that you remain true to yourself?

“It’s something that we always keep in the back of our minds during the songwriting process. Radio is still a driving force. But at the end of the day, We play and write this type of music because it’s what we like to play, not because we are trying to shoot for a specific sound. We don’t go into the process saying “we need to write a radio song.” We just do what we do and if it sounds like there is some radio potential when it’s finished, that’s great. If not, that’s fine too.”

Having released your debut album In Pursuit of Tomorrow in 2008 you are currently working on a follow up. How will this record differ from your first album and do you feel that you have all matured as both songwriters and musicians since its release?

“James came into the group after we had already written and recorded the music to our last album. He ended up having to take some time to rework the old melodies and write new lyrics. This time will be different since James will be able to contribute to the process from the beginning. We’ve gone through a lot of personal changes since the last record, so lyrically, I’m sure the new songs will be a reflection of that. I feel that at this point, we know what works for us and what doesn’t. The sound will definitely be more mature but still stick to our roots.”