The Obelisk Questionnaire: Drew Patricks of Astral Construct
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: Drew Patricks of Astral Construct
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How do you define what you do and how did you come to do it?
I push myself to create what I hear in my mind and continually find ways to communicate that vision to as many people as possible. I have always had a special connection to music that I attribute to my parents. My mother was a music teacher and both she and my father played piano. There was always music in our house. For the longest time, I tried to be other musicians and never ventured beyond to find out who I was as a musician and that brought me only limited happiness. When I made the conscious effort to discover my own voice and creativity, I realized the value that brought to my experience.
Describe your first musical memory.
I remember two experiences that started it for me. First, was a “concert” for my parents that I played on a makeshift drum kit to Beatles songs. The second was air guitar to KISS records with friends. “The hottest band in the land!!!”
Describe your best musical memory to date.
Without question, the best memory is releasing my first album, Tales of Cosmic Journeys last year. The people that I have met and the opportunities to become both a better person and musician have been immeasurable. It is encouraging to see how music brings people together.
When was a time when a firmly held belief was tested?
Anytime you look at the world with a critical mind, you are tested. However, that habit helps us understand there are multiple ways to perceive the craziness around us and, hopefully, find a way through it to something better.
Where do you feel artistic progression leads?
Artistic progression leads to higher understanding of ourselves and, ultimately, to a feeling of satisfaction. That seems to be a goal that is always so far down the road, though. I think that drives most musicians, the pursuit of that constant progression and the feeling of satisfaction when we share our creativity.
How do you define success?
Success is never straying from the process and continually reaching for better ways to communicate inspiration. It is being able say you have never accepted less than your best.
What is something you have seen that you wish you hadn’t?
So far, my music expresses a need to escape. That says a lot about the amount of horrible things we wish we had not seen and it seems we need moments to get away so we can come back and deal with the things we can’t forever avoid.
Describe something you haven’t created yet that you’d like to create.
I would like to create a live experience that transports people the way all good concerts do. We all have missed that over the time of the pandemic and it is an incredible feeling to go to a show again. My first one back was King Buffalo and it was amazing!! I am looking forward to many more shows in the coming months. Seeing these amazing bands put on their shows makes me want to put on my own someday.
What do you believe is the most essential function of art?
The most essential function is to manifest feelings. For each individual, those feeling will be different and unique. As artists, we all have an idea of what emotions we are trying to communicate but once it is in the listener’s head, we cannot really control how they view it. We get to initiate that, though, and that is special.
Something non-musical that you’re looking forward to?
Travel! To finally go places and experience new things.
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Thank you, JJ!!