El Estepario Siberiano Drummer Jorge Garrido: Out-Drumming the Machines

Is it possible for a human to beat a drum machine at its own game? Jorge Garrido, known online as El Estepario Siberiano, is proving that the answer is a resounding yes. His lightning-fast covers of electronic tracks aren't just viral hits—they're a masterclass in human perseverance.

The Blazing Technique of Jorge Garrido

The Spanish drummer has become a YouTube sensation by posting supercharged covers of popular tracks. Watching him play is a disorienting experience; his hands move with such jaw-dropping speed that dozens of professional musicians have posted reaction videos in pure disbelief. It’s not magic, though—it’s the result of sitting behind a kit for countless hours every single day for years.

In an era where AI and machines seem to automate excellence, Garrido’s effort feels like a form of defiance. When he covers tracks like Skrillex’s 'Ra Ta Ta', he doesn't just match the electronic beat; he overwhelms it with a raw, human energy that a program simply can't replicate.

Artistic Life in the Uncanny Valley

Garrido's physical reality stands in stark contrast to the rise of generative video. While OpenAI Sora creates surreal scenes of Sam Altman or Michael Jackson, artists like Ed Atkins have long used CGI to explore the 'uncanny valley.' Atkins' work intentionally breaks the illusion—a concept he calls 'corpsing'—to find signs of life within virtual representations. Similarly, Laura Jean McKay's novel 'The Animals in That Country' challenges our anthropomorphic assumptions by presenting non-human minds that are weird, nasty, and utterly confusing.