The Obelisk Questionnaire: Dave Cotton of Sevens Nines & Tens
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: Dave Cotton of Sevens Nines & Tens
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How do you define what you do and how did you come to do it?
I’m an artist/musician/songwriter by definition. My parents forced me to take piano lessons at a really young age and I eventually learned other instruments is how I came to do it.
Describe your first musical memory.
My first memories of music were hearing soft rock songs on AM radio when I was four years old in my dad’s car. My dad didn’t listen to Rock Music or Heavy Metal so my idea of music at that age was that there was a ton of melody, especially with the vocals.
Describe your best musical memory to date.
My band played a show with Champagne, Illinois, band Hum. My band is named after a lyric of theirs so that was pretty trippy in terms of being a memorable gig.
When was a time when a firmly held belief was tested?
Before I became a support worker for adults addicted to drugs I was ignorant to the ideology that 99.9% of drug addicts have become that way, in part, because of substantial trauma in their lives.
Where do you feel artistic progression leads?
To better art.
How do you define success?
Doing something you personally love and having the self-confidence to know that you do it very well.
What is something you have seen that you wish you hadn’t?
I’m a support worker for adult addicts with mental health illnesses. I found a client of mine who died by suicide.
Describe something you haven’t created yet that you’d like to create.
An album that gets universal acclaim. Our third record has received some objective praise but also a fair amount of middling reviews. Anything less than eight out of 10 is middling to me. There are so many artists, your material better be good if you want to be remembered.
What do you believe is the most essential function of art?
To give purpose and inspire.
Something non-musical that you’re looking forward to?
Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3 reboot for ps4, the Dune film sequel, the next Blue Jays baseball season, the Cave In Relapse Records debut in 2022. Finishing the fourth Seven Nines & Tens record, it’s going to be so dope. Listen to my group and stay humble!
http://www.facebook.com/sevenninesandtens
https://sevenninesandtens.bandcamp.com/
http://www.sevenninesandtens.com/
http://www.facebook.com/willowtip
https://willowtip.bandcamp.com/
http://www.willowtip.com/
