Meet Josué Kinter of Sunnyslope

Today we’d like to introduce you to Josué Kinter.

Hi Josué, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Music has always been a core passion and a conduit for expressing thought and feeling. Growing up in a mixed household, I heard diverse musical styles. My father was Puerto Rican and introduced me to a bunch of Latin music, classic rock, and new wave. My mother turned me on to the Beatles and, eventually, punk music. My grandfather lived down the street and would tell me stories about growing up in Oklahoma on a farm and getting rides into town to see people like Bo Diddley and Howling Wolf. He also showed me country music and got me into Johnny Cash. These influences eventually led me to find other artists that deeply impacted me, such as The Velvet Underground, Swans, David Bowie, and Iggy Pop. I also became interested in world music (mainly Asian and European folk music), began collecting exotic instruments, and attempted to teach myself to play them. I started writing songs around 12 or 13 and soon formed little bands in high school. I explored and experimented with punk and noise groups in the Phoenix DIY scene in my teens and early twenties. I would occasionally go hitchhiking and greyhounding around the country in the summers to see the world on a bum’s budget. During those times, I would bring acoustic instruments and naturally start writing more folkier songs. I’d busk in parks and markets from San Francisco to NYC.

When I came home, I kept these songs to myself because I thought no one in the DIY punk community would be interested in slower, folky, sad songs. Eventually, after my old deathrock band Hex Wave broke up, a friend heard these old folk songs I had written and pushed me to release them. With his help and encouragement, I recorded and released my first solo album, “Dreamy Draw,” on my own. At first, I thought it might be a one-off side project for fun, but soon, I formed a full backing band. We began experimenting with darker and more abrasive elements, fusing that post-punk sound I loved from bands like Swans and Joy Division with the singer-songwriter approach of artists I admired, such as Scott Walker or Tom Waits. This culminated in my sophomore album, “NIGHTBLOOMING,” gaining minor acclaim from local and international publications. My band and I are focusing on writing and recording the next round of new material.

Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
Bad venues, bad bandmates, and bad luck have all presented as obstacles at one point or another, not to mention bad reputations. But the music is the prize, and I’ll be happy playing my songs in 30 years for a crowd of 10 people or 1,000. If you get into the craft for fame or popularity, you do it for the wrong reasons.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I would like to think my music offers a unique blend of elements not often seen here in Phoenix. I am easily bored and not easily impressed. I try to experiment with sounds and ideas outside the mold of the Guitar-Bass-Drums standard. I like to incorporate exotic instruments and textures that excite me. And I hope my lyrics resonate with some people as they come from the heart.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you, or support you?
One positive side of the internet and social media is how quickly we can make new connections. I am happy to say that I’ve met genuine friends and collaborators through these platforms, some of whom I’ve yet to meet in person! Please contact me on social media by searching “Josué Kinter” or emailing me at suchemptypleasures@gmail.com.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/josue_kinter
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/josue_kinter
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JosueKinterMusic
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCZlUqtyxUTYWdh4IDeKdmbQ?si=9_4bPRbQ0X8SIH7B

Image Credits
Lucinda Guarderas, Michael Buckias, Joseph Nieves, Alaynha Aiello, Valence Heartlock