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The Obelisk Questionnaire: Violet Vasquez of Mount Saturn

Violet Vasquez of Mount Saturn

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: Violet Vasquez of Mount Saturn

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

I’m the lead singer of a band called Mount Saturn out of Bellingham, WA. We dabble in heavy psych, doom, and general witchy shit.

I started singing in public when I started a My Chemical Romance cover band for this old annual-cover-band-show in town. I was totally obsessed with that band growing up. I know a lot of people have this aversion to them but they’ve really stood the test of time and urged and inspired a lot of people to pursue creative outlets, something that really helped me a lot as a young person. Anyways, doing this cover show was a total blast! After my first performance, I was hooked on the high of it all. I seriously had my first out of body experience, it was a trip! The next year, we signed up to play the show again, but this time we needed a guitar player. Ray offered to step in. Not because he liked My Chemical Romance particularly, but because he kinda liked me. That got us playing music together.

Since then we’ve released an EP together and have an album on the way! It’s been a lot of fun writing together.

Describe your first musical memory.

My first musical memory was in a car somewhere with my mom, this KISS song was on and I started singing the first line right in time with the music. I must’ve been three years old, I just remember my mom’s reaction, she was so elated she nearly swerved out of her lane. She praised me up and down and I remember feeling so proud of myself. I also have early memories of watching live KISS shows. My mom says me and my little sister would ask for it by saying “blood, momma, blood!” She was always happy to oblige.

Describe your best musical memory to date.

So many come to mind. The most fun memories have been made at Psycho for sure, walking the hallways with a bunch of doomers, swimming while your favorite band plays, meeting you, JJ! That was cool. But the best? The best memory is a fresh one.

So, Ray and I have this thing for All Them Witches. We’ve seen them 26 times. Literally cannot get enough of them. And recently, they played their first live shows since COVID hit, and they started off in Winston-Salem. Their first show back was also their first show with returning member Allan Van Cleave on the keys. Ray and I had to go, we’re sentimental like that. The first night was incredible, it was everything I wanted and more, but the second night, in Charlotte, they played so long. Like the longest set I’ve sent them do, and their encore was something we’d never seen before, too, it was “Swallowed by the Sea” but with an alternate beginning, some other Appalachian folk song , then into “HJTC.” Allan played his violin, another thing we’d never seen them do before, and I just wept! I’m serious, I just cried and cried! To me, a good band is one that surprises you even after seeing them 25 times, one that can make you cry like no one is watching. And that’s them! It was incredible.

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

I used to firmly believe people were good or bad, one or the other, no in-between. I work in social work and my view of people has really shifted. People are so much more complex than I ever thought possible. Some of my own clients, who rely on public benefits to survive actively vote against their interests. It’s so perplexing. I guess really what I mean is that I used to firmly believe I understood people, but the more people I meet, the less I actually do.

Where do you feel artistic progression leads?

It leads to gettin’ good! It makes me think of this song we recorded off our EP, in the studio I had to do a few takes to hit this note, and now it’s not a problem for me at all, it’s nothing! That’s lead to my self confidence getting a boost, ya know? And when that happens, I try new things, I push myself more to improve and ultimately the idea is you is inspire someone else to do it, too.

Ray and I joke a lot that it was easier to write a song in the ’80s, you could write just the dumbest shit, but art has progressed! It’s more difficult to write a good song! So I think that’s also where it leads, is to better music. I think some of the best music I’ve ever heard is being made right now. We’re very lucky.

How do you define success?

My definition of success is shifting as I get older but I define success as the ability to make art as much as you’d like, having your needs met at the same time, and having enough to reach your hand out to help someone get to where you are.

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

I wish I hadn’t seen Ace Frehley at Psycho. Like I mentioned, I grew up on KISS, and Ace was always my favorite. My first KISS show was at 8, my mom painted my face as Ace and I was so stoked. But seeing him at Psycho was a bummer. He talked shit and politics the whole time. I left in the middle of the set.

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

I’d like to write a book! I’ve written a play that got published back when I was in high school. That was a great experience for me. But I’d like to write a book! I’ve started one actually, about tarot. I’m super into it, but I’m in no hurry.

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

Wow. What a question. The most essential function of art is to connect us to Source. I really believe that when we create, we’re channeling something divine. When we create, we’re in conversation with our ancestors, our spirit guides, all of that. And then when we experience “good” art, art that moves us, it has that same ability. And that connection fuels us, it keeps us going. I know that my most cathartic experiences have been either performing or seeing someone perform. There’s nothing like it.

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

In June of 2022, Ray and I are getting married! Right before our seventh anniversary of being together. We’re going to have a karaoke pizza party and sing a Dio duet in lieu of a first dance. I can’t wait!

https://www.facebook.com/mountsaturnband
https://www.instagram.com/mountsaturn/
https://mountsaturn.bandcamp.com/
https://linktr.ee/Mountsaturn

Mount Saturn, Kiss the Ring (2019)

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