Band Interview: Hike the Peak
Games, Brrraaains & A Head-Banging Life bring you an interview with skatepunk-infused, melodic hardcore band, Hike the Peak.
1. How did you get started as a band?
I’ve been playing in melodic punk bands for over 20 years I’ve toured mainland Europe a lot of times and when the covid lockdowns kind put a stop to my full-time band NO CONTEST I realised how much I missed music so instead of wasting my time I started focus a lot on songwriting and recording in my home studio…..Being locked at home sent my mental health a bit haywire so I needed something to focus on….so slowly but surely I began hiding away in my spare room playing my guitar and learning a whole clutch of music programs……My vocal talents are back up vocals at best so I thought id contact a few of my friends that I’ve toured/played shows with in the UK and the euro mainland to see if anyone was interested in adding their vocal talents to the project…..the response back was massively positive.
That’s how it started….and so far we’ve featured members of ONE HIDDEN FRAME (Finland), THOUSAND OAKS (Italy), FOR I AM, (Belgium), HOOF (England), ABSOLUTE (Italy), FROM THE TRACKS, (Sweden), LAUGHING IN THE FACE OF (England), CORAL SPRINGS (Netherlands), NO CONTEST (England), THE AFFECT HEURISTIC (Scotland), REBUKE (Sweden).
2. How would you describe your sound?
A mash up of skatepunk, melodic hardcore with a penchant for mosh inducing middle 8’s.
3. What bands/artists would you say have influenced your style of music?
Well I take a lot of influences from a lot of places. I should’ve practiced guitar more younger if I really wanted to sit alongside my friends and peers such as FAIR DO’S, THE HUMAN PROJECT and DARKO. I can’t match those guys technically so ive tried to carve a niche for melody as that’s the key when im listening for stuff……you don’t listen to songs fundamentally to think ‘wow that sweep was fast’.
So I’m always on the hunt for fantastically catchy hooks. So if you put FACE TO FACE, COMEBACK KID, NEW FOUND GLORY with a smidge of A DAY TO REMEMBER and GOOD RIDDANCE in a blender then I think you might be in the right ballpark.
4. Has the rise of YouTube & music streaming helped or hindered you as a band?
It’s massively helped as to how we are as a project as its fundamentally the only avenues that are available to us. I get a bit focussed on the data and the algorithms a little too much sometimes for my own good.
5. What do you enjoy doing when you’re not making music?
Well my job is a TV cameraman for a news channel so I’m travelling for work a lot. Im a keen snowboarder and have been for a long time…I took that up when my knees could no longer handle skateboarding! I’m always listening to music in one capacity or another…..or binging whatever tv is on whatever service at the time!
6. What are your future plans musically? Tours?
Because of the ethos of the band with being playing all the instruments with guest vocalists playing a live show will be very tricky! However if there was a festival where a few of the bands were playing which meant that a few of the people would all be in the same place then obviously it is something that could hopefully make happen one day. Never say never. My mum used to say.
Thanks for the chat and thanks for reading. Please give us a listen… we may be your new favourite band!
