Today we’d like to introduce you to Spike Arreaga.
Hi Spike, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I moved to Baltimore for art school in 2009 and focused on illustration and sound art.
I developed a love/hate relationship with art (still sordid to this day) but always found solace in music/sound work since I was 11-12ish. I had a two-piece band back in San Antonio (my hometown) called Torture Chicken I sort of recorded with them for a year or two after I moved and transitioned into sound art and design before starting my current band Natural Velvet in 2013.
Our running story is that my basement had AC during a particularly blistering summer and some friends took refuge in it the rotating door of artists I worked with eventually settled as an outfit once that summer was over and I didn’t let them leave the proverbial basement ever since.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
if it’s hard it’s worth doing. Finding “success” as an artist is fleeting and an especially elusive chanteuse as a musician. I eventually learned I had to define that term for myself and not compare myself to everyone on the internet. My art is more of an exorcism of fixations more than anything so it always changes, which used to make me question competence and give me imposter syndrome.
Being Mexican but not following a direct cultural hype train thus far also gets me nervous at times (like I owe someone something) and now I’m learning to just kind of be that example of a Latino in some under-represented fields for people like me. Having the band made up of large people I shared school and big life experiences with helped me keep going and know I’m never alone.
Touring as a band has been the best and hardest decision in my life. It’s expensive and sacrificial, and breaking even is a lofty goal for most. It’s only gotten more expensive and arduous post-2020. Going broke in the middle of the country has been narrowly escaped a couple of times. That being said, it’s been my gateway to scraping more continental shores than anyone in my family has, which has been a huge bonus vibe.
Juggling artists and musicians along with day jobs (bartending, screen printing, other completely unrelated skill sets, etc.) has been mind-numbing at times, but once again community has helped me persevere since most millennials are in the same big boat. Finding identity has always been the real white whale for me as a creative, but I’m starting to think it’s a “the friends we made along the way” type beat.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
For my visual art persona, I’ve been heavily focused on character design, poster design, graphic design, and comics. I do most of the merch for Natural Velvet as well as some prints and personal merch once in a while.
I’ve kind of boiled down my style and content to a gothic gay 13-year-old with a penchant for sexy clothes, wavy lines, and dog-headed people with magic cell phones. I think my art sounds kind of niche on paper but I’m pulling from things everybody kind of knows and celebrates (or is afraid of). I’ve been learning Adobe Illustrator again and enjoying the breath of fresh graphic design air in typography, as well.
For my music hat Natural Velvet has always been the focus for the past decade and some odd months. We’ve recorded and released 3 full-length albums and secretly have another thing in the pocket, along with a few EPs (Cruel Optimism name drop, currently). We’ve changed a ton over the decade, going from gothy noise rock/post-punk to shoegaze grunge to psychedelic depressed emo(?) and then whatever is happening to us now.
I love our body of work thus far and we still get pumped to write new stuff and it feels like we always have another great idea we’re clamoring to nail down.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I’ve never really had a full mentor in anything but I’ve learned most of what I know from friends that I’ve worked with or next to. Watching everyone you’ve known and hung around grow and continue their work has taught me the most about what to do and where to go. Going to shows, music, art, and bars has always been great for me.
There’s also a big growth in non-alcoholic treats at bars and venues which I think is healthy for younger people and anyone else wanting more options. Don’t get it twisted though I still drink vodka Red Bulls.
If you find a good producer/music engineer definitely stick with them a bit and talk to them about everything, especially the little details, and of life, too. Also, she ain’t nothin’ but a number. I’ve learned a lot of music tricks from people younger than me. If you click with someone see it to the end.
Pricing:
- Freelance illustration/design: $50/hr or min $500 a project, all sliding scale
- Music production: ask me!
- Private Event Bartender: also ask me
Contact Info:
- Website: www.spikearreaga.club
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/sylent_hill
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/xnaturalvelvetx
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@NATURALVELVET
- Other: Linktr. ee/naturalvelvet
Image Credits
Micah Wood
