The Obelisk Questionnaire: Dave “Sula Bassana” Schmidt of Sula Bassana, Zone Six, Interkosmos, Krautzone, Liquid Visions, Sulatron Records 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: Dave “Sula Bassana” Schmidt
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How do you define what you do and how did you come to do it?
I’m Dave and I make music (play several instruments, do the recordings and mixing). And I run a record label and online shop. I started making cosmic sounds at age 10 with a trashy organ and started again when I was 15 or so when I got my first crappy Synthesizer. I played my first gig when I was 18, in 1986, with a electronic duo (Solaris). Played electronic music in several projects and played a dozen live concerts. Later I started playing bass in psychedelic rock bands (we founded my first real band Liquid Visions in 1994). I started my label in 2004 and I still run it. This and playing in bands is my life. Btw: I play in Zone Six, Interkosmos, Die Raumpatrouille, other jam projects, and my main project is Sula Bassana, which started as my solo-project in 2002 and I have a live band now for my songs and our first concert is in March. And many more to come. ;-)
Describe your first musical memory.
To be shocked as a child when my parents took me into a classic opera. Hahahhaa, not the best start. But luckily I discovered electronic music some years after this. But to be honest, I still like to listen to classical music as Bach, Händel, Grieg, Holst and more. But that’s NOT opera! :-D
Describe your best musical memory to date.
UH! There are so many, much too many to pick out just one. But playing live and creating a improvised track with a psychedelic feel and some wall of sound always makes me happy. Last weekend we played two shows with Zone Six and it was super-nice. Brings tons of positive vibes and feelings!
One of the highlights was for sure our week at a residency in Tunisia, where we went with Electric Moon. Met amazing people, made a lot of music, played on a two-day festival and became friends with so many wonderful people!
Or my first concert in a Planetary (at Insulaner, Berlin) in 1990, with my friend Peter Dembour, playing two sold out shows with our Berlin school like electronic music. Sadly Peter passed away some years ago. A big loss….
When was a time when a firmly held belief was tested?
Always, when I read the news about the unbelievable madness of war, corruption and destruction of nature. I was born in Berlin in the Cold War era. And now we are back in war… so sad.
Where do you feel artistic progression leads?
Freedom and happiness.
How do you define success?
I’m still happy to make a living as a label owner and musician. Dreamed of it my whole life, and you can imagine how poor the first years were (almost 20 years ago), from economical view. But I arranged myself with a simple but free life. :-)
What is something you have seen that you wish you hadn’t?
I leave the very sad moments untold here. Sorry!
Describe something you haven’t created yet that you’d like to create.
Cosmic music with a full orchestra and electronics and a full band. :-)
What do you believe is the most essential function of art?
Connecting people. And to open minds of people. And bringing peace. And letting the inner child live on!
Something non-musical that you’re looking forward to?
Peace on this planet. And in general more respect to nature and animals!
https://sulabassana.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/sulabassana
http://www.sulabassana.de/
https://www.facebook.com/zonesixz6
https://www.instagram.com/zone_six_official/
https://zonesix.bandcamp.com/
http://www.facebook.com/interkosmosofficial
https://www.instagram.com/interkosmos_official
https://interkosmos-official.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Sulatron.Records
https://www.instagram.com/sulatron_records
https://www.sulatron.com/xoshop/index.php
