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The Obelisk Questionnaire: Kris Clayton of Self Hypnosis

Posted in Questionnaire on September 10th, 2021 by JJ Koczan

self hypnosis

The Obelisk Questionnaire is a series of open questions intended to give the answerer an opportunity to explore these ideas and stories from their life as deeply as they choose. Answers can be short or long, and that reveals something in itself, but the most important factor is honesty.

Based on the Proust Questionnaire, the goal over time is to show a diverse range of perspectives as those who take part bring their own points of view to answering the same questions. To see all The Obelisk Questionnaire posts, click here.

Thank you for reading and thanks to all who participate.

The Obelisk Questionnaire: Kris Clayton of Self Hypnosis, Camel of Doom, etc.

How do you define what you do and how did you come to do it?

We self-describe as Progressive Industrial Metal, as those are our biggest influences, but we also incorporate elements of Black, Death, Doom, Sludge, Psychedelic and even more unusual genres (for a metal band) such as Big Beat, Trip Hop. I’ve been playing in Doom bands for 20 years, Greg for 30 (in Esoteric), and Tom is a full-time drummer, teaching and doing session work and so playing in all genres under the sun. We all have diverse tastes and want to create music that is free to take influence from any of them at any time – as long as the final result is something powerful.

Describe your first musical memory.

My first musical memories all revolve around my dad who played prog rock, metal and grunge (I was born in ’88 so that was the style at the time) constantly at home and in the car my whole life, as well as playing the guitar which is what led me to take it up myself due to serious hero worship for my old man. This has led to certain records being so deep down in my psyche that they are almost like a second language. Metallica’s Ride the Lightning probably being the most prominent example – even before I can remember, and before I could walk, I used to crawl over to the speakers, pull myself up and shake my butt any time this record got put on. The earliest concrete memory I can think of is listening to Nirvana in the car on the way to some childhood holiday, probably about 1991/2. When I was 11 some kid at school was playing a tape of Nevermind to other kids and saying it was his band. This got shot down quickly about two seconds into him playing it to me.

Describe your best musical memory to date.

Probably the first time I saw Hawkwind when I was 14. I ate a load of cheap hash in a jam sandwich before I went – the first time I ever tried that too – and I was absolutely baked by the time they hit the stage and it completely blew my mind. I started my first serious band, Camel of Doom, around the same time, and I consider this to be the key moment in my life that led me down the path I am still on to this day. There have been a couple of other similar moments, but that was the first lifechanging one and I can’t help but smile thinking back on it. A Hawkwind fan group I was a part of presented Dave Brock with a book of Hawkwind memories for his birthday a few years back, and I included my story there. Felt great to let such a hero of mine know what a massive effect he had on my life.

When was a time when a firmly held belief was tested?

It was only really when I got into my thirties that I managed to shake the belief that I was completely correct if I had worked through something completely logically. I am a computer programmer in my day job, and it is a completely natural profession for me – I fell into it out of university despite studying something completely different. But the real world doesn’t work like mathematics or computer science (things I find much easier than human interaction), and often a completely rational and logical solution doesn’t work. There might be missing data or incomplete assumptions; both sides of an argument can be completely correct; a problem might not have a solution that works for everybody. It has been very beneficial for me to try and be more empathic and express my emotions, whilst encouraging others to do the same, rather than trying to treat everything as though it were a computer program.

Where do you feel artistic progression leads?

Unfortunately, it seems that for the majority of bands it inevitably leads to stagnation as they veer off the path of artistic progression into a cul-de-sac of repetition and painting-by-numbers imitations of their earlier work. And that is if there was ever artistic progression in the first place – playing derivative music that imitates another’s musical style is no progression at all, even if it sells easier.

People do appreciate true artistic progression though, and bands that don’t stand still and continue to redefine themselves tend to have a longer lasting legacy. For example, a band like Neurosis are looked upon with a lot more respect than any of the countless bands that have taken a snapshot of how Neurosis sounded at one point in their career and then repeated that for the rest of their lives. So, I would say it leads to becoming legends rather than being merely a great band.

For me personally, I need to be challenged to be interested, so if I am not progressing and trying to make every thing I do better and more interesting than what came before, then I will just stop. But there is no end goal really, other than continuing to give my life meaning, and keeping me sane(-ish).

How do you define success?

That’s easy, if you are happy and at peace with yourself and what you have done, then you are successful. This definition also has the benefit that I can be successful at least some of the time.

What is something you have seen that you wish you hadn’t?

I thought long and hard about this one, looking for some deeply traumatic vision, but it seems either I am hardened to such things, or else I’ve blanked out those memories. So, I would have to give a slightly less serious answer to this one and say Peter Jackson’s Hobbit Trilogy. One of the greatest books ever written, totally trashed. Tolkien didn’t write that book in the same style as Lord of the Rings, and so the movie shouldn’t have been in the same style. Obviously, this probably comes down to the creative bankruptcy of the movie industry who won’t ever change a formula as long as it can keep making money, but it is a shame when they get their hands on something I love so much. My answer about artistic progression (or lack of) is also relevant here.

Describe something you haven’t created yet that you’d like to create.

I’m always pushing to create the perfect album, something like a Dark Side of the Moon, The Downward Spiral, Music for the Jilted Generation, Lateralus, Through Silver In Blood, Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennae To Heaven (to name a few I judge to be perfect) – something where the atmosphere, production, songs, lyrics, flow, and everything else just adds up to create something that can stand alone, where even the wrong notes enhance it, and it is impossible to imagine any change that could make it better. It’s ambitious, and likely unachievable, but as long as that carrot is dangling in front of me, I have a reason to keep on going and making new music. Of course, even if I made something that other people thought was this, I am sure that I would find fault in it myself and keep on chasing the unobtainable goal.

What do you believe is the most essential function of art?

To provide escapism, or distraction from reality. This works both for the artist and the consumer. Speaking personally, I have an extremely overactive brain that is difficult to switch off. The only things that really works to settle it down are drugs and art. Drugs tend to become a crutch and don’t achieve anything positive, but working on music genuinely works even better and gives me something tangible as a result at the end. Admittedly for me, the consumption of art is kind of like an aspirin or plaster rather than a shot of oblivion, but I am told by people whose brain chemistry doesn’t hate them quite so much that it can be very effective.

Something non-musical that you’re looking forward to?

A few months ago, I would have said being able to go to a football match again, but fortunately I was able to go to one last weekend, for the first time in two years. Right now, I am so desperate to play a live show again it is difficult to look past that… but I would have to say it would be really nice when my wife and I can take a vacation to Italy again – we’ve not been for seven years since our honeymoon, but the pandemic has really caused me to rethink my priorities, and that is something right at the top of the to-do list right now.

https://www.facebook.com/selfhypnosisband/
https://www.selfhypnosisband.com/
https://www.contagionofdespair.com/
www.svartrecords.com
www.facebook.com/svartrecords

Self Hypnosis, Contagion of Despair (2020)

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Self Hypnosis Announce Contagion of Despair out Aug. 21

Posted in Whathaveyou on May 11th, 2020 by JJ Koczan

self hypnosis

If you heard anything Kris Clayton did with Camel of Doom you probably have a sense already that the term “progressive” as it applies to his new collaboration with former-and-once-again Esoteric bandmate Greg Chandler, the infuriatingly-unhyphenated Self Hypnosis, means that genre limits will be stretched. It’s gonna get weird. And sure enough, the info off the PR wire for the debut album from Self Hypnosis (god! damn! I just want to put that hyphen in there so bad!), titled, Contagion of Despair, sets up a range of comparison points from Yes to Akercocke. So yeah. Open your mind just in time to have it melted.

The first streaming track from Contagion of Despair is the 14-minute “Contagion.” The press release was long enough, certainly, but I’ve included below as well a quote from the band talking about the track, which though it might seem timely, what with the ongoing pandemic and all, is actually not about that at all. Seemed worth the clarification.

Lot to dig into here, so brace yourself:

self hypnosis contagion of despair

Self Hypnosis release new single “Contagion”

Extreme UK Progressive Doom Metal band Self Hypnosis, featuring members of Esoteric, set to to release their new album Contagion Of Despair on the 21st of August 2020 via Svart Records!

Svart Records are proud to release the new single from extreme progressive Doom metal band Self Hypnosis. Check out the new video track “Contagion” from the forthcoming album, Contagion of Despair, now.

Though Self Hypnosis are a new band, aficionados of the British Extreme Doom scene should need little introduction to the band members themselves. The project has its roots in Kris Clayton’s long-standing, often-solo, Camel Of Doom outfit, which itself evolved from basic Stoner beginnings towards a much more avant-garde proposal, culminating with the release of fourth full-length album Terrestrial through renowned Russian label Solitude Productions in 2016. Following that, Kris began work on composing the next Camel Of Doom album, but quickly realised that the material was becoming even more experimental and eclectic than previous outings: so much so that it would be more appropriate to record it under a different name, making it clear that there should be no preconception, or historical expectation, attached to it.

Needing a partner to bring the concept to fruition, Kris approached Greg Chandler, whose long-established reputation for recording and production engineering – and, of course, musicianship, co-founder of legendary UK extreme Doom pioneers Esoteric, as well – really does need no elaboration. Greg’s name has appeared as a guest vocalist, guitarist and sometime keyboard player on many a release over the years, but this was intended to be a fully collaborative association from the outset, as well as a reuniting of old accomplices – Kris was one of the guitarists in Esoteric’s line-up from 2007-2009, rejoining in August 2019.

Completing the line-up for the recording sessions was drummer Tom Vallely, though as a guest/session performer rather than as a full band member. As a professional musician, veteran performer with bands such as Sanctus Nex and Lychgate, and having handled the drums on Terrestrial, Tom was already known to both Kris and Greg and the obvious choice to engage for this project as ‘lead drummer’.

The result of their combined endeavours is the full-length album Contagion Of Despair, which was recorded at Greg’s Priory Studios using a variety of innovative techniques, including wiring up the whole building to create spacious, expansive recording spaces, or digitising live drums to drag an ’80s Hip-Hop sub-bass groove into the mix. Self Hypnosis set out to use all of these techniques, and more, to create a completely unique mix of Doom and non-Doom influences that would nonetheless converge towards a genuinely Prog-Doom result, and with Contagion Of Despair, they’ve managed that to perfection. Including everything from Kris and Greg’s anti-system and alternative roots through to more contemporary experimental/noise influences, the album touches base with a myriad different musical themes.

From the most Prog-oriented tracks, like ‘Divided’ (“if The Prodigy made a mash-up of Yes and Meshuggah”) to those more continuous with previous Camel Of Doom works, such as ‘Contagion’ (“a rebellious, angry, multi-tempo and bellowing noise-fest”), the whole album is “just a scream at this decade, and everything we’ve degenerated into”, given the focus, clarity and brutal passion you’d expect from veteran Doomsters. When coupled with the engineering and production quality gained from years of professional experience, the results are an unalloyed exemplar of the absolute dark heart of the underground.

For those curious about the etymology: ‘Self Hypnosis’ itself is defined as a state of constant mindfulness – of being continually aware of the present moment, and to be directly knowledgeable of your internal and external place within it. The album title was inspired by a radio discussion about so-called ‘Contagion Of Hope’ phenomena and their roles in reducing harm to society: ‘Contagion Of Despair’ simply encapsulates the sober antithesis, which is that just means a slightly slower slide into Hell.

Influences that affected this recording range from Death to The Prodigy to Yes and Genesis, Godspeed You! Black Emperor to Godflesh and Ministry, Melvins and Akercocke, Laibach and YOB. But if you want to find out how those disparate elements fit together, then you’ll probably need to listen to the end result.

Self Hypnosis on “Contagion”:

Surprisingly, ‘Contagion’ is not a response to the current COVID-19 crisis, having been written in mid 2018, but rather a case of observation that has become accidental prescience. The song serves as an introduction to the themes found throughout ‘Contagion of Despair’, a hate letter to the ever increasing tendency for the media to no longer be a source of information, choosing profiteering over accuracy with ever more sensationalist stories coming from all angles at all times. Ironically, as a real contagion spreads throughout the world, once again the press ensure at all times that they create an atmosphere of fear and misery. The album as a whole examines various aspects of the constant war on happiness, divisive tactics and general narrative of despair that is now endemic in our society. Who benefits from this situation? Who thrives on human misery?

Self Hypnosis are:
Kris Clayton (Camel of Doom/Esoteric)
Greg Chandler (Esoteric/Lychgate)
Tom Vallely (Lychgate/Macabre Omen/Omega Centuri)

https://www.facebook.com/selfhypnosisband/
https://www.selfhypnosisband.com/
www.svartrecords.com
www.facebook.com/svartrecords

Self Hypnosis, “Contagion” official lyric video

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