Griffin

***“Veganism is a promise for the world: nature, humanity, and all sentient life. I really encourage people to stop and ask themselves questions about a greater picture.”***

Hi, I’m Griffin from Orlando, Florida. I play in withpaperwings, Memento. and Miracle. I’ve been vegan since 2019.

What was the moment or experience that first pushed you toward veganism?
When I was a kid I learned that cows can have “best friends” amongst each other and when separated they show signs of anxiety and depression. A few days later I watched a news story about a cow that had escaped a slaughterhouse. It was running wild in some downtown-looking area and when it was finally caught, you could see the pain and fear in its eyes. From that moment I swore to never inflict that form of senseless and avoidable pain on another innocent being.
Did your path into veganism come before or after getting into hardcore / straight edge?
Long before.
Was there a specific band, record, or scene influence that opened that door for you?
At that time, not specifically. My involvement in the scene came after the start of my cruelty-free commitments.
How did your friends, family, or local scene react when you made that shift?
Aside from the general teasing almost any vegan regularly faces (from idiots), there wasn’t much of a reaction. I’m very lucky in that both of my parents are progressive and openly talked about progressive ideas around me growing up. My mom was vegetarian off and on for my entire childhood (today she is vegan). So many of my punk friends in high school were vegan and/or vegetarian.
Was it an immediate commitment, or something you grew into over time?
I immediately stopped eating meat after seeing that cow in the news when I was 14. I always tried to lean vegan, but the commitment was daunting in those days. I’ve been vegan since I was 20.

Do you see veganism as an extension of straight edge ethics, or its own independent stance?
I wish people took their commitments to veganism as seriously as their commitments to straight edge.
How do you respond to people in the scene who embrace one but not the other?
I won’t pretend to be qualified to talk on straight edge, but from my own personal conversations with countless who have claimed, the overwhelming majority seem to make straight edge a promise for themselves. Veganism is a promise for the world: nature, humanity, and all sentient life. I really encourage people to stop and ask themselves questions about a greater picture.

What role did the hardcore/metal scene play in shaping your beliefs?
I’m very privileged in the fact that I came into a likeminded scene at a young age. Alternative culture and punk rock informed most of my views well before I understood hardcore or metal.
Do you feel like the scene today is more or less aligned with vegan values than when you started?
There are definitely less vegans today. A few years ago veganism became a trend; the barrier for entry was much less intimidating. The pendulum is now on the other end and the current trend is whatever dumb fucking thing includes beef tallow.

What kind of impact do you hope your band has on listeners?
Lyrically, Jordan touches on a lot of topics in addition to veganism: existentialism, grief, love, respect and admiration for the natural world, frustration with injustice… Jordan’s writing is an amalgamation that I view as passionately human, and I think every member of Miracle shares and lives by those same outlooks. I hope that passion is palpable and leads listeners to stop, think, and question the world we live in.
Have you ever heard from someone who changed because of your music?
Yes, actually. I’ve met a handful of people who have become vegan because of Miracle. I think it’s one of the highest compliments and I’m very thankful for those who have reached out to let us know.
Do you think music can genuinely shift people’s behavior, or just reinforce existing beliefs?
It can do either; it’s not black and white. I think hardcore is proof of both.
Do you see veganism as inherently political?
Ideally, yeah, and I’d like to, but I’ve met plenty of backwards idiots who happen to be vegan.
How do you balance music with direct action or activism, if at all?
Miracle is a political band and we have discussed a number of ways to engage others outside of our lyrics and benefit shows. That will be more apparent with this next release.
What issues within the broader movement do you think aren’t being talked about enough?
Legitimate class consciousness.

Looking back, would you approach your message differently?
No.
What keeps you committed when it gets difficult or isolating?
Compassion.
Where do you see the vegan / straight edge movement going in the next decade?
I’m not sure about straight edge. I do fear we’re entering a dark era for veganism.
What would you say to someone on the fence about embracing these ideas?
Question your entitlement and kill it.

Final Thoughts:

First band that made you think differently:
That’s a tough one. Maybe Bad Religion or Rise Against. I was a small child.
A lyric you’ve written (or heard) that still hits hardest:
My favorite lyric of Jordan’s is “And if there’s life after death, I hope you feel more alive than me.”
One misconception about veganism:
It’s funny. When I first became vegan there were stereotypes of all vegans being skin and bones. Now the stereotype is that all vegans are obese. Obviously both can’t be true.
One non-negotiable value:
Veganism is more than a diet.
One thing the scene needs to do better:
Understand nuance and acknowledge that so many variables go into the human experience.