Spanish drumming sensation El Estepario Siberiano is the latest musician to take on Drumeo’s challenge of creating a drum part for a song he’s never heard before. This time, the track was Nine Inch Nails‘ “The Hand That Feeds,” and the famously skilled drummer wasn’t quite as confident as his viral performances might suggest.
“I am terrified. I don’t like this at all,” he admitted before getting started. “Here, there is no good outcome for me.”
Born Jorge Garrido, El Estepario Siberiano has built a massive online following with videos showcasing his extraordinary drumming technique. He has also toured with Puerto Rican rapper Residente and performs with his own band, The Cost.
After listening to the drumless track, Garrido struggled to identify its structure, initially suggesting that it sounded like Chris Cornell or Soundgarden. He then worked through several attempts, adjusting his drum setup along the way, before completing a take that earned praise from the Drumeo team.
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“There are a lot of mistakes, but it could be acceptable, more or less,” Garrido said afterward, admitting that he had become so nervous about the ending that he’d lost track of his counting.
When the song’s identity was finally revealed, Garrido was taken aback. “Nine Inch Nails? Never heard Nine Inch Nails in my life. I got no idea,” he said.
He then listened to the original recording, which features drums programmed by Trent Reznor, and compared his performance with the industrial-rock track. Although he acknowledged that his interpretation was considerably different, he noticed similarities in some of the tom patterns and the song’s transitions.
Garrido ended the session with some advice for aspiring drummers: “No matter how much work you put, there’s always more to learn.”
Watch El Estepario Siberiano take on Nine Inch Nails’ “The Hand That Feeds” below.