The Obelisk Questionnaire: Asko Nousiainen and Joonas Hämäläinen from Serotonin Syndrome
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: Asko Nousiainen and Joonas Hämäläinen from Serotonin Syndrome
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How do you define what you do and how did you come to do it?
Asko: Back in time I used to sing in different bands, but nowadays I find myself more and more in the background. I organize gigs and do lots of roadie stuff for other bands.
Joonas: I started playing guitar as a teen when heavy metal came into my life. Since then, it has been a part of my life – sometimes more, sometimes less. Now I’m very pleased to play in three bands with nice and talented people with different taste of music.
Describe your first musical memory.
Asko: I think it was an instrumental rock band called The Shadows that my parents used to listen at home when I was little kid.
Joonas: I remember being in my father’s car on the way home from the daycare when I heard a popular Finnish song “Mä oon rekkamies”(“I’m a trucker”) and tried to sing along.
Describe your best musical memory to date.
Asko: There are many good memories but not one rises above others. One of best feelings is when the sense of place and time disappears. It can happen during your own or other band’s gig.
Joonas: I won a chance to go on stage with Iron Maiden at the age of 18, through a fan club. It was at Helsinki Olympic Stadium in front of 42 000 people.
When was a time when a firmly held belief was tested?
Asko: I feel this every time the road ahead seems to be filled with blocks and there is not enough belief left in my pockets.
Joonas: The release of the latest album. It took a long time and covid messed things up even more.
Where do you feel artistic progression leads?
Asko: Salvation, or to the point where there is nothing more to do or say. When the glass is empty.
Joonas: It takes you to a happy place where nothing matters, and everything goes smoothly.
How do you define success?
Asko: When you are satisfied with your own achievements and feel successful.
Joonas: When someone finds the work you’ve made to be wonderful, beautiful, or touching in some way.
What is something you have seen that you wish you hadn’t?
Asko: Some relationships have ended over the years. Fortunately, new ones have arrived.
Joonas: Once a full case of beer fell to the floor and broke.
Describe something you haven’t created yet that you’d like to create.
Asko: I aspire to create one song/album that includes all the emotions the human mind can think of.
Joonas: It would be cool to write a song that would possibly help a person in a difficult life situation or otherwise become an important song in their life.
What do you believe is the most essential function of art?
Asko: The purpose of art is to make you feel something – and very strongly. The form doesn’t matter.
Joonas: Art must evoke either positive or negative emotions. Mere confusion hasn’t worked for me, like filming cat killing videos in the name of art.
Something non-musical that you’re looking forward to?
Asko: That the spoon doesn’t exist.
Joonas: I’m waiting for the aliens to come and tell us we’re all fucked up.
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