The Obelisk Questionnaire: M.A. Snyder of Hope Hole
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: M.A. Snyder of Hope Hole
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How do you define what you do and how did you come to do it?
I scratch the creative itch that bothers me. If I don’t, I start to go crazy, get depressed. I’ve been writing heavy music since I started playing guitar and bass in my early teens. Slugged it out in dive bars with original rock and metal bands throughout the 1990s, into the early 2000s. Took some time off in my 30s to go to college and start a family. But now I’m 45, and feel more inspired than ever. Especially grateful for the ease and accessibility of home recording equipment, which makes my musical pursuits a much more independent task.
Describe your first musical memory.
I think the first time music really struck me was when listening to the Beach Boys as a little kid. It was fun and catchy, had me jumping around. My parents had some Beach Boys and Jan & Dean records I really loved as a young kid.
Describe your best musical memory to date.
An old band of mine, Evolotto, way back in probably the late ’90s was opening for GWAR in our hometown of Toledo, Ohio. Dave Brockie, their singer, came up to little old me before the show to tell me he liked my shirt. It was a Hellacopters t-shirt I’d bought the night before at a show of theirs, that depicted a bunch a cartoon gore and violence. Sure wish I still had that shirt!
When was a time when a firmly held belief was tested?
Doesn’t necessarily relate to music, but I often feel, living in what’s become the red state of Ohio, that if you’re not some hyper-patriotic, pro-police, Trump supporting white nationalist, that you don’t really care about the state of our country. Especially throughout the Trump presidency, I’ve had what used to be very close and meaningful relations with my brothers ripped to shreds over political differences. But I can’t just stay silent when people I love get hoodwinked by slick Q-Anon conspiracies and FOX News lies.
Where do you feel artistic progression leads?
Artistic progression leads to a broader palette, a larger vocabulary with which to express oneself. If you only ever learn the pentatonic scale, you’ll won’t be able to competently speak in say, the harmonic minor scale. It’s like, what else are you going to do? Why not at least try to educate yourself in whatever art you’re using to express yourself?
How do you define success?
I would say happiness = success. Doing what makes you happy means you’re succeeding at life. I have to go to work Monday through Friday at a nursing home to deliver physical therapy to people who need it. This doesn’t make me a success, however. I’m succeeding at life when I come home, spend time with my family, playing guitar, writing and recording music. Bonus points when I get positive feedback from critics I admire in the doom/stoner/sludge/psych world!
What is something you have seen that you wish you hadn’t?
I’ve seen myself at some really low points in life, because of poor choices I made over the course of many years in the pursuit of oblivion. But I don’t wish that I hadn’t seen myself in these places. While I wouldn’t wish my life mistakes on others, I do understand the value of having lived through some really difficult times to shape the hard-fought, confident worldview that I have now.
Describe something you haven’t created yet that you’d like to create.
I want to create an album that lands a Top Ten spot on the Doom Charts. I want to leave some kind of inspiring impression on the landscape of doom/stoner/sludge/psych. I’ve got the next two Hope Hole albums written, and they definitely represent an evolution in my understanding of the genre. My musical partner in doom, my stepbrother Mike Mullholand, just has to finish his parts before we can release the next album…
What do you believe is the most essential function of art?
Art keeps the artist from succumbing to a life of meaninglessness and depression. Art is sanity for the artist. Art is inspiration for others.
Something non-musical that you’re looking forward to?
I’m looking forward to nursing school, to become an RN. After 15 years, the profession of physical therapy has become a drain on my soul. I’m looking ahead to being in a profession that I’ll confidently be able to endure well into retirement age, which will be nursing.
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