The Obelisk Questionnaire: Matt Hollenberg of Sarattma, Titan to Tachyons and More
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: Matt Hollenberg of Sarattma, Titan to Tachyons, Cleric, John Frum, John Zorn and More
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How do you define what you do and how did you come to do it?
Generally I try to be spontaneous and interactive with music as an energy unto itself. I value sensory first, non-ideological, anti-marketable approach. Engaging with “the thing itself” through subconscious methods. Also interested in genre-busting approaches and building bridges between disparate elements.
Describe your first musical memory.
When I was six years old I went to a funeral and saw the piece Albeniz ‘Asturias’ played on piano. It was trance inducing and transcendent. I immediately went home and figured out the main themes on the house piano. From then on I was very hooked into music and understood a fundamental thing that it was about that was viscerally felt.
Describe your best musical memory to date.
Probably watching Secret Chiefs 3 on the floor of the stone in 2007 before I knew anyone in that scene and it was just purely mind blowing. Feeling that I was watching from the outside and wishing I could do something like that it. Was a viscerally magical experience.
When was a time when a firmly held belief was tested?
Definitely the last few years when my belief that human beings and the systems we’ve created generally would progress over time and get better. It’s easy to think that through your early life as it’s what feels most comfortable to believe. But then to see the world’s systems and institutions continually fail and get worse over time, not better; this changes one’s general outlook on human delusion and destiny for sure!
Where do you feel artistic progression leads?
Ideally to self actualization that reflects an energy beyond culture and beyond localized time and space.
How do you define success?
Doing what you want on your own terms the best you can do it with no interfering forces in the way.
What is something you have seen that you wish you hadn’t?
One time I saw a cat get run over and I watched it die and it’s always stuck with me as it was awful to watch. It had a seizure and shook all over the place and its head exploded it was terrible.
Describe something you haven’t created yet that you’d like to create.
My favorite thing is not knowing what I’d like to create and finding out as a progression. The more I do, the more I realize it’s best not to plan things too intricately as it ruins the mystery of art.
What do you believe is the most essential function of art?
To trigger experiences that are unique and singular onto the art object itself that triggers the experience.
Something non-musical that you’re looking forward to?
James Webb telescope and everything it uncovers.
Photo by Ray Marmolejo.
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