The emerging West Michigan band whose debut EP was a Jammie Award finalist for best album by a new artist plays The Pyramid Scheme on Friday, eyes follow-up album. (Video, podcast)
A Production Process: hi-ker, from left, Chris Ryan, Marley Ferguson, Spencer Gordon and Kohl Sprader. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
For the indie-pop/electronic band hi-ker, music is all about creating the right textures and atmosphere – something that colors a song’s lyrics and melodies, as well as the samples, beats, guitars, keyboards and vocal harmonies that accompany them.
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On-Air: The band during Local Spins Live. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
“It’s really a production process when we’re doing it,” offers singer, guitarist and synthesizer player Kohl Sprader. “Lyrically, a lot of it comes down to what is sounding right. We sing the melodies with different consonants and different nuances to the tones of how we’re singing. … It really takes shape with the music.”
Inspired by the likes of such varied acts as Animal Collective, Talking Heads, Aphex Twin and David Bowie, the Grand Rapids band combines “elements of electronica, indie-pop, hip hop and more into a cohesive wall of sound” as band members put it.
That sound propelled the group’s self-titled, self-produced five-track debut EP, which made such an impression after being released in October that it was named a finalist for best album by a new artist at last week’s Jammie Awards show held at The Intersection in Grand Rapids.
Considering the quartet of 19- to 21-year-olds – Sprader, bassist-singer Marley Ferguson, guitarist-singer Chris Ryan and percussionist/sampler Spencer Gordon – has barely been together a year, it’s clear that the band has just started to make an impact on Grand Rapids’ music scene, with plans for releasing a full-length album later this year.
On Wednesday, the group delivered a stripped-down example of its envelope-pushing electro-pop by performing the song “Pulses” during Local Spins Live on News Talk 1340 AM (WJRW), complete with crumpling paper sound effects. Listen to the entire podcast – interview and performance – here, and check out a video of the in-studio version of the mesmerizing song below.
HITTING THE PYRAMID SCHEME STAGE ON FRIDAY NIGHT
The band will unleash its full instrumental assault on Friday night at The Pyramid Scheme as part of a show headlined by Flint Eastwood, with John Cyrus and Maraj also on the bill. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 day of show. Get details and tickets online at pyramidschemebar.com. Hi-ker is expected to take the stage about 10 p.m.
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The roots of the band extend back to Rockford High School where Sprader, Ryan and Gordon played in Mr. Mammoth, and Ferguson was part of the group Phantom Ivory.
“After freshman year in college, we had a little bit of history from that band and started to jam again,” Sprader says. “We kind of liked how the writing process was and how everything was going and we just went from there.”
Weird Collection of Influences: hi-ker. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
The chemistry of the band is enhanced by the varied musical influences of its members – from Ferguson’s love of ’80 music to Gordon’s interest in hip hop.
“That’s what I like about the music we make,” says Ryan. “It takes influences from all those different things. It’s a weird collection of influences.”
The band, Gordon says, also has made a lot of friends in the “underground scene in the Eastown area with a lot of house shows going on,” allowing them to carve out a niche among bands with a similar approach.
That approach – a mélange of samples, guitars, multiple keyboards, drums and vocal harmonies – thrives in a concert setting with the band mixing “a lot of different techniques all at once, a lot of energy, loud,” Sprader says.
It’s a vibe the band tries to replicate in its recordings.
“We try to incorporate more of a live feel into our songs,” says Sprader. “Even when we’re writing, we’re kind of writing for a live sound. We really try and make our live sound a good reflection of what our recorded stuff is like.”
Get information about the band on its Facebook page and listen to more samples of its music at bandcamp.com.
Local Spins Live: “Pulses,” hi-ker
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Loved the Hi-ker Band interview ~ They are so good ! I wish them continued success ! i am so glad you had them on ! 🙂