The Obelisk Questionnaire: Jakob Hemström of Oh Hiroshima
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 Hemström of Oh Hiroshima
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How do you define what you do and how did you come to do it?
I express myself by creating art in the form of music. I do it for myself because I need to, but other people seem to resonate with what I create as well. This makes it even more meaningful to me. The reason for my preferred form of art being music is simply that it was the way my closest friends and family expressed themselves when I was younger. So, it was natural for me to follow that path.
Describe your first musical memory.
I really can’t remember. Probably hearing my father fiddling with some instrument we had at home.
Describe your best musical memory to date.
I don’t have a memory I could single out like that. I have strong and meaningful memories of consuming music that other people have created, in different forms, but the strongest ones are probably from when creating music together with others.
When was a time when a firmly held belief was tested?
A lot of different beliefs of mine are tested frequently. This has always been the case for me somehow, but when I started to dive into academic writing in different forms this was magnified. I have many beliefs that I’ve learned to hold with an open hand instead of with a clutched fist. I’ve learned this through reading, experience, and constant self-reflection. Some people might say that you should hold all your beliefs with an open hand, but you can’t, and nobody does that.
Where do you feel artistic progression leads?
It must always lead into the unknown. Or else it won’t be progress.
How do you define success?
I try not to. I strongly dislike that word because it signifies so much of the hyper-individualism that brings the world so much harm. It can mean so many different things, yet in every community there seem to be such a strong specific fixation of the term.
What is something you have seen that you wish you hadn’t?
I don’t know. And if I did, I’m not sure I would like to tell.
Describe something you haven’t created yet that you’d like to create.
Maybe a great poem. I’ve written some, but all far from being great.
What do you believe is the most essential function of art?
Beauty and community – while at the same time questioning what these things can be.
Something non-musical that you’re looking forward to?
I always look forward to sharing new experiences of life with my two young sons.
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www.napalmrecords.com
