The sound of rain on the metal roof of his Kapaau home provides the perfect backdrop for Chris Suard’s latest creative sessions. While most Big Island residents see the wet season as a break from outdoor activities, Suard has found it’s the ideal time to dive deep into electronic music production, turning those grey afternoon hours into opportunities for sonic exploration.
When the Surf Goes Flat
“Every surfer knows those flat spell blues,” Suard explains, adjusting the levels on his home studio setup. “But I’ve learned that when the ocean takes a rest, it’s the perfect time to create waves of a different kind.” His modest production space overlooks the rolling hills of North Kohala, a view that’s become integral to his creative process.
The Big Island’s weather patterns have inadvertently shaped Suard’s musical development. During the summer months when south swells are pumping and spots like Kahalu’u Bay and Banyan’s are firing, his mornings belong entirely to the ocean. But when winter storms make even reliable spots like Pine Trees too gnarly, or when the trade winds create unfavorable conditions at Honoli’i, Suard retreats to his bedroom studio.
“There’s something about the isolation during rough weather that pushes creativity,” he reflects. “You’re stuck inside, but your mind can wander anywhere. That’s when I stumbled into the deeper end of electronic music production.”
Finding His Sound in the Island Community
The transition from casual mixing to serious production happened gradually, sparked by North Kohala’s surprisingly vibrant creative community. Regular stops at Bamboo Restaurant and Gallery in Hawi exposed Suard to local artists and musicians, many of whom were experimenting with incorporating traditional Hawaiian sounds into contemporary genres.
“I’d be sitting there after surfing, eating their fresh catch, and overhearing conversations about music production, art installations, you name it,” Suard recalls. “Hawi might be small, but it’s packed with creative energy.”
The breakthrough came during a house party at a friend’s place near Pololu Valley. Suard had volunteered to provide the soundtrack for the evening, initially planning to play safe crowd-pleasers. Instead, he found himself experimenting with live mixing, layering ambient ocean recordings he’d captured during dawn patrol sessions with electronic beats.
“The response was incredible,” he says. “People were dancing, but they were also really listening. You could feel this connection happening between the natural sounds of our environment and these electronic rhythms.”
North Kohala’s Hidden Creative Scene
Suard’s musical evolution has opened his eyes to a side of North Kohala that many visitors never experience. Beyond the tourist-friendly spots like Kohala Coffee Mill and King’s View Café lies a network of artists, musicians, and creative professionals who’ve chosen this remote corner of the Big Island as their base.
“There are producers working out of converted plantation buildings, visual artists collaborating with musicians, people running small labels from their homes,” Suard explains. “The cost of living is more manageable than Honolulu or even Kona, but you’re still connected to Hawaii’s broader creative community.”
This hidden scene has influenced his approach to electronic music. Rather than chasing mainland trends or trying to recreate the sounds of major EDM festivals, Suard has developed what he calls “island ambient” – a style that incorporates the natural rhythms and textures of Big Island life.
His tracks often feature field recordings from surf sessions: the crack of waves on lava rock at Richardson Ocean Park, the distant sound of the Honoli’i river meeting the sea, even the ambient noise from Hawi’s farmers market on Saturday mornings. These organic elements provide the foundation for layered electronic compositions that feel distinctly rooted in place.
Fuel for Creativity: The Local Food Connection
The relationship between Suard’s creative process and North Kohala’s food scene runs deeper than simple sustenance. Different local spots have become associated with different aspects of his musical work. Morning coffee at Pomaikai Café in Kapaau often coincides with reviewing tracks from the previous night’s session. The café’s relaxed atmosphere and strong local coffee provide the perfect environment for critical listening.
Chaba’s Thai Cuisine has become his go-to spot when he needs to break through creative blocks. “There’s something about good Thai food that opens up your palate and your mind,” he jokes. “I’ll order their pad thai, sit outside, and suddenly I’m hearing combinations I hadn’t considered before.”
For more substantial meals after long production sessions, Suard often heads to Gill’s Lanai for their Asian fusion dishes or stops by Mi Ranchito for Mexican food. “Each place has its own energy,” he notes. “The food, the people, the conversations you overhear – it all feeds back into the music somehow.”
Sweet Potato Kitchen’s vegan offerings have become particularly important to his routine. “When you’re spending hours in front of screens and mixing boards, you need food that actually nourishes you,” Suard explains. “Their organic, gluten-free approach aligns with trying to keep the music organic too, if that makes sense.”
The House Party Laboratory
While Suard has played at larger venues across the Big Island, he continues to see house parties as the ideal testing ground for new material. The intimate settings allow for experimentation that wouldn’t work in a club environment, while the diverse crowd – locals, transplants, visitors – provides honest feedback.
“At a house party, you can’t hide behind massive sound systems or flashy visuals,” he explains. “The music has to work on its own terms. People will tell you immediately if something’s not connecting.”
These gatherings have evolved into semi-regular events, with Suard’s friends anticipating new tracks and compositions. The parties often extend from sunset well into the early morning hours, creating space for extended musical journeys that build and evolve over time.
“We’ll start with something mellow as people arrive, maybe build energy as the night goes on, then bring it back down as the sun comes up,” Suard describes. “It’s like surfing a really long wave – you have to read the energy and adjust accordingly.”
Looking Ahead: Balancing Ocean and Studio
As Suard’s electronic music skills have developed, he’s found that the discipline required for production has actually improved his surfing. “Both require patience, attention to detail, and the ability to recognize patterns,” he observes. “When you’re working on a track, you’re constantly adjusting tiny elements to make the whole thing flow better. Surfing is similar – you’re making micro-adjustments to work with the wave’s energy.”
The cyclical nature of his pursuits has created a sustainable rhythm. Surf seasons dictate studio time, while studio breakthroughs inspire new approaches to reading waves and ocean conditions. Living in Kapaau provides the perfect base for both – close enough to quality surf spots, isolated enough for serious creative work, and connected to a community that values both traditional island culture and contemporary artistic expression.
“I’m not trying to become the next big EDM star or anything like that,” Suard clarifies. “This is about finding a way to live authentically on the Big Island, contributing to the community, and creating something that reflects this unique place we get to call home.”
Chris Suard continues to develop his distinctive “island ambient” sound while maintaining his commitment to Big Island surf culture, representing a new generation of Hawaiian artists who honor tradition while embracing innovation.