The Obelisk Questionnaire: Jeffrey Owens of Secret Iris
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: Jeffrey Owens of Secret Iris
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How do you define what you do and how did you come to do it?
I’m vacillating between wanting to define writing music as being a conduit for the voice of the universe, and wanting to define it as total masturbation. As far as how I ended up doing this, playing music and writing are the only two skills I’ve ever felt even passingly good at, although I guess I was okay at geometry for a while there. Oh, and people say I’m good at photography, so I guess that, too.
Describe your first musical memory.
All of my earliest memories of music are of my mother singing songs to me, mostly lullabies. The main one I recall is ‘I’ve Been Working on the Railroad’. She used to sit by my bed and sing that one to me. I feel like I even remember being cradled and rocked by her as a baby when she would sing it. I’ll have to ask her if that’s accurate, because if so, it’s not just my first musical memory, but my first memory.
Describe your best musical memory to date.
This is a really hard one. I have so many great memories relating to music! Ultimately, it has to go to March 2017, playing at Beauty Bar in Las Vegas with our friends in Aneurysm. There was this super tall stage outside, and none of us wanted to stand up there performing. Most of us were punk kids. Stages are weird. It’s always way more fun to be closer to the crowd. So, somehow, we managed to convince the sound person to let us set up and play on the ground, even though there was (perfectly reasonable) concern of the mic feeding back. The show was packed and everyone was having the time of their lives. It was one of those nights where the whole crowd was throbbing and pulsing. It didn’t feel like there were individuals there, it felt like everyone was part of the same entity. Pretty cool. If I had to repeat one show every night, it would easily be that one.
When was a time when a firmly held belief was tested?
Hmm, I guess a good example is the death of my father. I have always pretty firmly believed in some weird shit. I’ve used ouija boards successfully more times than anyone in their right mind should admit to. I had the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram memorized for quite some time (probably should re-up on that). I could go a million ways on what happens when we die. I really just don’t know. Purely agnostic, in that regard. That said, I have always believed in the reality of ghosts. I don’t know what they are or how they work, but I pretty firmly believe they exist. Because of this, I find it interesting and challenging that absolutely nothing strange or supernatural has occurred related to my dad in the years since he has been gone. I don’t know, it’s weird. Maybe I made some changes to myself, but some of the magick in me seems to have passed when he did, and I think about it a lot.
Where do you feel artistic progression leads?
To the best and worst places you’ll ever go.
How do you define success?
It’s an ever-changing thing. To me, success is defined by accomplishing a goal you set out to do. I don’t define success in terms of what other people think of me, or how much money I make off of something. In fact, in some ways, money can run contrary to success. If your goals are to make money, you really shouldn’t be any kind of artist. Hell, if your main goal is to make money, we probably won’t get along very well without a significant amount of dishonesty from both parties. Success isn’t gaining fans or earning money, it’s writing an album and recording it. It’s making something cool with friends or by yourself, and FINISHING it. I feel successful when I wrap anything up. I feel even more successful when I like it.
What is something you have seen that you wish you hadn’t?
I’d rather not answer this, but, hey, I’m supposed to be honest, right? The thing that I would most like to unsee in life was when the love that someone once had for me all but completely disappeared, and I couldn’t do anything about it. Maybe some people can get over that shit, but I haven’t, despite my best efforts.
Describe something you haven’t created yet that you’d like to create.
I feel like I’m too old to simply pivot into some kind of new career, but it would be great to be involved in a feature-length, independent (maybe guerilla) horror film in some way. I’d love to write, or be behind the camera. I’ve had an interest in both of those things my whole life, and have spent a lot of time experimenting with both. I wrote a lot more when I was younger, and I’m always kicking myself for not doing more of that. That or porn, but I don’t have the stamina for that. Seriously, how much cardio do those dudes do??
What do you believe is the most essential function of art?
To communicate and connect with other human beings. To help us feel, and to show us that there are others who understand how we feel. To prove that there is good in the world, and that, despite the fact that we are clearly the worst species on the planet, we can also make some absolutely beautiful things, especially from our pain. Also to get laid. That’s the main reason anyone does anything, right?
Something non-musical that you’re looking forward to?
Disappointment Blvd.
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