The Obelisk Questionnaire: Eskild Myrvoll of Kanaan
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: Eskild Myrvoll of Kanaan
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How do you define what you do and how did you come to do it?
I’m a bass player in a variety of bands with a loose connection to the term «rock», but first and foremost I identify as an avid listener and practitioner of all the music that I find exciting. It gives me immense joy to discover new things and explore the possibility of putting these concepts or ideas into my own practice. It wasn’t always this way, as an eleven year old just starting to play guitar I wanted to be a rock star like Angus Young, and on the road to where I am I swung by wanting to be both a pop musician and a noise artist. Now I’m just excited to be experiencing so much music and art together with my best friends and continuing to develop alongside with it.
Describe your first musical memory.
Me and my father dancing to «Sir Duke» by Stevie Wonder playing on the stereo at home, guess I was probably five or six.
Describe your best musical memory to date.
Lots that come up, but seeing Swedish mainstream pop artist Veronica Maggio at a small festival in Norway (Fjellparkfestivalen in 2019) is a truly wonderful memory of mine. My friends who were there can confirm they’ve never seen me as excited as that – pure pop ecstasy. Also, discovering «Deathrow» by Mob 47 in the car with my girlfriend last autumn and being totally blown away by the fastest d-beat track I’ve ever heard!
I think I’m always searching for that ecstatic feeling – being totally overwhelmed and immersed in the music gives me this deep inner happiness, and it can come from anywhere really. «Born to Go» by Hawkwind (the Space Ritual version), The Shaggs, early Napalm Death, the self-titled Ash Ra Tempel album, parts of the High School Musical 2 soundtrack.
When was a time when a firmly held belief was tested?
For a few years I was involved in way too many projects and always pushing myself to the limit – always going from one tour straight to the next, rehearsals and shows and 12-hour work days every day for weeks on end, long studio sessions booked back to back, etc. Had to make some changes last year after my body started saying stop, which involved quitting a band I started many years ago with some of my best friends. It was really hard for me to come to terms with not being able to do everything and pleasing everyone at once. It’s easy to feel like the stress and outside pressure becoming part of your identity as well: «Oh, you’re the guy who’s in fifteen different bands, right?», so I’m trying to get past that.
I’m working on having a more healthy balance in life now. Also, having more time for friends and family, being creative and enjoying things on my own schedule. I think a lot of people in music can recognize the feeling of always being in a rush, whether it’s finishing and album or preparing for a tour, the reality is that people don’t care as much as you fear, and them waiting some more months for an album isn’t the end of the world.
Where do you feel artistic progression leads?
Towards discovering new things about yourself. I really admire artists who seem to be able to do everything and releasing ever-evolving music under different monikers, but I have just as much respect for those who find one concept and stick to it for their entire career (the AC/DC method). I think that says a lot about you as a person as well.
How do you define success?
Being able to follow your own path and see your artistic vision come to life. Having a growing audience and feeling the effects of it is nice, but it shouldn’t be a goal in itself – the artistic fulfillment should be the most important thing. It does sometimes feel selfish focusing so much on my own musical goals, but I also truly believe that making something that is true to yourself is the best way for it to really resonate with other people and build the community.
What is something you have seen that you wish you hadn’t?
Musicians and artists getting lawyers involved and ending up in court cases over money, name rights and stuff like that. Breaks my heart and hope I never have to end up in a situation like that.
Describe something you haven’t created yet that you’d like to create.
A feedback-based installation piece working at 115 dB for an extended period of time. I’m really inspired by minimalist and drone music and extended duration pieces, but I haven’t taken those concepts to the full extent in my own practice yet. I’ve had some of my most defining listening experiences with composers and performers like Eliane Radigue, Tony Conrad and Charlemagne Palestine.
What do you believe is the most essential function of art?
Helping us communicate about the experience of being human and expressing things we have trouble putting into words.
Something non-musical that you’re looking forward to?
Will be moving in with my girlfriend in April after being in a long distance relationship for six months and I’m really looking forward to that:)
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