The Obelisk Questionnaire: Adam Wrench of HAAST
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: Adam Wrench of HAAST
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How do you define what you do and how did you come to do it?
I make records. Simple as. I guess the easiest way to explain how I came to do that was by falling in love with records and music as a youngster. I have my sister to thank mainly for that. She was 16 in 1993 so it was fertile ground for a 10 year old to fall down the rabbit hole of alternative music of the time.
Describe your first musical memory.
Another sister thanks. She had an old, hydraulically powered organ that I think was meant as a toy but its diminutive size belied the ominous tones within, especially when you fired the thing up. I remember being fascinated with that Wurlitzer-esque sound that wheezed out of the power fan as it gasped for air with each press of a key. I’ve searched for years for that instrument. I doubt I’ll ever see one again.
Describe your best musical memory to date.
Hearing our latest record in full for the first time. It was a moment I didn’t think would come so to hear it as intended really was a joy.
When was a time when a firmly held belief was tested?
I’m pretty headstrong so I don’t really let anything test my belief systems, no matter the peril. I think part of growing up is finding resilience in the face of adversity, staying true to your beliefs and ignoring or avoiding anything that maybe detrimental to you in that regard.
Where do you feel artistic progression leads?
To better things I would like to think. I’m think it’s important to push boundaries and knowledge, even if the results aren’t great at first. I have become more interested in tonalities and soundscapes recently and I’m really keen to explore thresholds with that approach and trying new things and then succeeding is a great thrill.
How do you define success?
Finding contentment in what I do. Being able to just finish a piece of music and ‘take it for a walk’ as they say. It’s taken me years to just be able to stand the sound of my own singing voice so getting to the end of a track without wanting to stab myself in the ears, that’s a great success to me.
What is something you have seen that you wish you hadn’t?
I wish I hadn’t seen how some people operate in the music industry. Best friends to the people that can help them and vile to people who they have no use for. I always try to think the best in people but in the creative industry especially, people are capable of turning into absolute dicks for no reason other than stroking their own ego and it’s sad. They probably don’t even know they do it. Gross.
Describe something you haven’t created yet that you’d like to create.
I’d love to soundtrack a film. I sometimes put on films on mute and play my guitar along with the scenes. Westerns are especially great for that. Getting the interplay of sound and picture, it’s a hard brief but so rewarding.
What do you believe is the most essential function of art?
It has to emote and encourage discourse of itself. I hear a lot of modern music being produced to form over and over again and that’s not artistic. I guess you can refine your techniques but that’s a limited exploration.
Something non-musical that you’re looking forward to?
Some time off! I feel like I’ve been working nonstop for three years. I’m looking forward to the Christmas holidays, having a lie in and spending time with families and friends with a reduced spectre of the pandemic over Christmas 2020. That was tough on everyone so this year will be celebrated in style.
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