Slime Beach Enters the Electro-Metal Scene in SoCal
22-year-old upcoming artist Hunter Pique is a one man band of Slime Beach's amalgamation of experimental electronic metal music in Redondo Beach, CA.
"I want to create a weird little sonic landscape for people to temporary live in when they listen to my music." said Pique.
Pique plays the bass, guitar, drums, electronic and has recently been obsessed with playing the mandolin.
Hunter's Elektron + Novation pads.
Photo taken by Dawn Raven.
"What really got me into playing music was playing Guitar Hero as a kid."
Pique has played musical instruments since 2013.
"Early on in high school I started learning some songs on bass and someone asked me to play in a band," said Pique. "We played [his first] show, then I got kicked out [of the band]."
"It got me stoked about it even though they kicked me out." said Pique.
Pique's experience in a high school thrash metal band stimulated his drive to continue making his own music today.
The bands Deathgrips, Macedon and Primus is what inspires his music style.
"I've been to almost hundreds of shows." said Pique. "I'd have to imagine that being at a Macedon show felt like ecstasy."
Pique uses the program Reaper on his computer along with samplers and electronic mixers to help chop and intertwine his musical flow.
Hunter putting together some music.
Photo Taken by Dawn Perkins
Pique's creative process consists of using sounds, samples and eccentric noises that aren't necessarily musical to help him get started on creating new patterns of sounds.
"I like to add some kind of noise that I can work into a rhythm of some kind," said Pique. "Drum beats is what I think of first, then I add some kind of sound or weird melody to go over it and then build from there."
This year, Pique has created new jams and posted them to Instagram and Youtube as part of #Jamuary. #Jamuary is a trend amongst synth you-tubers that Pique follows.
"#Jamuary is just to create music and not worry about the music you're making, or if you're going to do anything with it," said Pique. "It's to just experiment with the flow and make music everyday."
Pique is working towards putting more music out, learning different sound designs and playing shows.
"I had a lot of fun doing it [#jamuary]," said Pique. "I'm trying to keep those habits going by constantly working on new music."
Hunter laying music with his cat.
Image from @hunterpique Instagram.
For performing, Pique advises performers to move around and be into the music their playing for the audience.
"When you're just standing there, and they're just playing the same thing they recorded." said Pique. "You should make it a fun experience. You should make it something different than the music on the record."
He is currently working toward exposing his music to new musical platforms to broaden his audience.
Pique releases his music on Distrokid. DistroKid is a service for musicians that puts your music into online stores & streaming services.
https://youtu.be/6qtc-uX4hK4
Pique hopes to collaborate with other musicians and perform at the Greek Theatre in the future. The Greek Theatre is a cozy outdoor venue located near Griffith Park, Los Angeles, Calif.
"It's (Greek Theatre) like a theatre that melts into the forest." said Pique.
"I have the opposite of stage-fright," said Pique. "I am super socially anxious and hate to talking to people... but as soon as I'm on a stage and performing I am happy as can be."
