The Obelisk Questionnaire: Cornelius Althammer of Ahab
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: Cornelius Althammer of Ahab
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How do you define what you do and how did you come to do it?
Well, I am a rocker and I was born that way. There is even a picture if me as an embryo raising my fist, haha! I impossibly could think of anything else because I have no other interests than music. If I am not playing drums or thinking about riffs, breaks, grooves or similar it’s very likely I order microphone stands, cables or cymbals. I am a nerd within my very own world and it feels totally natural.
As a band we play nautik doom. Daniel’s and Christian’s shared vision led us where we are now. I was just lucky being asked, if I’d like to join.
Describe your first musical memory.
That was probably my mother singing. But I am not sure about that.
Describe your best musical memory to date.
All the times I did something for the first time. First time of listening to Iron Maiden. Finally managing how to play blastbeats.
First time playing abroad. All the times writing an album with the boys or being in the studio and having this magic going on. …first time listening to the finished mix of an album.
But there is nothing as “that one experience”.
When was a time when a firmly held belief was tested?
Oh, my beliefs are being tested every single day. It may be the conflict between what I’d love to do with all my bands and everyday life that constantly shrinks these dreams to tiny versions of themselves. Or the belief in myself and my competence versus very slow progress when practising.
The key is to cling to these beliefs, because in the end they’re the only things that keep me going.
Where do you feel artistic progression leads?
This is not easy to answer. In the first place it should lead to fulfillment of ones artistical dreams. Like “I always dreamt of making an album like this and finally I can play and compose the way I need to do so”. So if everything works out artistic progression leads to better music and therefore is the best thing in the world. So the worst thing that could happen may be people are not ready for your music, yet.
If things go wrong you just fuck it up and compose rubbish that results from being burnt out by a merciless album-tour-album-tour-album-tour schedule and a desperate need for a break. Lucky you, if you realize that you should in fact take a break and leave the demos for that “emancipative” album what they are…
How do you define success?
Being able to to what I want, getting better at it and not starving while doing so.
What is something you have seen that you wish you hadn’t?
The news, every fucking time I incidentally switch on the TV.
Describe something you haven’t created yet that you’d like to create.
My next song, haha!
Or, to become very unrealistic here, a space where artists can do their stuff without being in constant fear of getting kicked out of their place due to gentrification. But for this I would need to become a billionaire and learn how to manage things. Or probably first learn management and then become rich…
What do you believe is the most essential function of art?
Enhancing consciousness. Art doesn’t have borders. Being the counterpart of the rational, scientific side of life, it adds the soul to the mind. It is the fantastic, creative part that makes us human.
Thinking about this, the artwork of Black Sabbath’s “Dehumanizer” comes to my mind. This is the very scenery that happens, if you take art away from mankind.
Something non-musical that you’re looking forward to?
Summer.
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