The Obelisk Questionnaire: Jakob Skøtt of Causa Sui & El Paraiso Records
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: Jakob Skøtt of Causa Sui & El Paraiso Records
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How do you define what you do and how did you come to do it?
Ever since I was a child, I would always wonder how things worked. “Hmm, what makes the sound come out of the speaker?” That sort of juvenile wonder. And that’s still what drives me: “How do you play the drums to get that sound?,” “How do you design an OBI-strip for a record cover?” Whatever I’m doing, I’m driven by that sense of empirical wonderment — trying to get to the bottom of it, sort of emptying the pool one spoonful at a time, haha.
Describe your first musical memory.
The “Dueling Banjos” theme from the movie Deliverance. My brother and I used to dance around while that played, going faster and faster. When I saw the movie years later, I realized just how twisted it was. “Squeal like a pig.” But I remember the inbred banjo boy was on the cover as well, so that’s probably why it really stuck with me from an early age.
Describe your best musical memory to date.
Motorpsycho live in 1997 — I had bought their CD Trust Us on the recommendation of the guy in the record shop the same day. There were like eight or 10 people in the audience, and the friend from high school I came there with left when he met a girl at the bar before the show. But I stayed and they just slayed it. I love the way they used to mix the vibes of indie bands like Pavement with stoner rock and psychedelic stuff — something very few bands do today (not even Motorpsycho). So yeah, if you know a band that mixes Pavement and Sonic Youth with heavy riffs (may as well throw in some Popol Vuh?), send me a note!
When was a time when a firmly held belief was tested?
Many of my beliefs are constantly tested, so I try to spend more effort remodeling my beliefs, than hanging onto them. But I still feel like working with music and being able to make it and put it out is a gift, so my main assumption is that I’m not a musician and not gonna release any more music ever — since, you know, family, full-time job, bills, etc. I often go for months and months and not play a single note. So every time I’m able to work on music it’s in spite of that, so my own challenging my beliefs, come from hard work of actually making or putting out music.
Where do you feel artistic progression leads?
Hmm, I think that’s a dual-edged sword. On one hand, it’s great to have a driving force and sense of wonderment. But on the other hand, the quest for constant rejuvenation could keep you from refining a few good ideas to become even better. I think a lot of bands end up on this course: They start out really hungry and humble, and want to pour every ounce of their creative energy into making the best thing they can in the best way possible. Perfect. But then they’ve done a few albums, have a fan base, and they want to take it to the next level.
Well that’s another quest all together. Spending weeks in the studio, more layers, mixing with more expensive producers, pondering over artwork, shopping for labels — whatever way you can come up with to add unnecessary layers of complexities to your work – you’re pushing for something that isn’t happening organically. So it becomes an artistic struggle, rather than a natural progression. And I think this fixation on “progression” is what leads us there — most people are probably afraid to stagnate. But what I’ve found is that even trying to do what I did yesterday, I’ll do it differently today — it feels the same, but the results are different. And that’s when artistic progression feels meaningful — going along with the natural current in whatever stream you’re in. It’s not something you should have to actively pursue.
How do you define success?
I find that personal happiness has more and more to do with it, rather than any sort of commercial success. Some of the releases I’m most proud of hasn’t sold more than 300 or 500 copies. But it’s a success that it came into the world. So having that personal freedom to control what I do feels like success to me. Again, it’s a privilege to be able to make music. I’m grateful whenever it’s a part of my life.
What is something you have seen that you wish you hadn’t?
When you get kids and they get sick or hurt, that sucks. Also I wish I hadn’t seen the face of depression in people I know.
Describe something you haven’t created yet that you’d like to create.
I’d really like to be involved with making a book. Preferably writing it at some point, but if that doesn’t pan out, then just doing the typography and cover. Or maybe doing a graphic book — perhaps when we hit 100 releases on El Paraiso?! We had the 10 year anniversary in January, but we didn’t do anything. So yeah, in just 35 releases we’ll at epr100. Shit! I should start putting it together now! JJ, you can write the prologue [I’d be honored. — ed.]!
What do you believe is the most essential function of art?
I think art in the broadest sense – consuming, creating or curating – makes your mind more elastic! It makes your brain work in different ways.
Something non-musical that you’re looking forward to?
Looking forward to seeing Dune. Also finishing Liu Cixin’s Three-body Problem an epic sci-fi trilogy starting in the 1960s ending at the end of time (!!!) – sort of a Chinese modern day version of Asimov’s Foundation. I’m also looking forward to going skateboarding with my son again, since I fell and stubbed my toe and it’s all blue. And I have some Umberto Lenzi eurocrime Blu Rays in the mail that should arrive any day now – love those movies! Gonna watch them with a tasty hazy double IPA. Cheers everyone!
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