The Obelisk Questionnaire: Electric Monolith
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: Oscar Chamorro (vocals/guitar), Pepo Villena (drums), Ramón Viña (bass) from Electric Monolith
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How do you define what you do and how did you come to do it?
Oscar Chamorro: I like to think I create worlds. The hard way I guess. Lots of trial, and error.
Ramón Viña: I work as a musicologist, DJ, and I also have a role in this band. Simply because of my love/obsession with music since I was very young, and this is what led me to where I am.
Pepo Villena: A self taught drummer doing his best and I would say thanks to my mom’s patience during my young (and rebel) days I’ve been able to become who I’m right now.
Describe your first musical memory.
OC: Ta, Da, Da, Ta, Taaaaaa. The main motif of Steven Spielberg’s “Close encounters of the third kind”. I believe it was the first film I saw in the big screen, and I was pretty young, so I have a strong attachment to this movie.
RV: The Beatles. My parents used to listen to them all the time, so they are the O.S.T. of my life.
PV: Singing basque christmas carols dressed in typical basque clothes in my neighbourhood, going door to door to earn some money with my friends as a really young kid.
Describe your best musical memory to date.
OC: That’s a hard one, as there are so many… But I can mention a special one. The first time I heard “Come Together” by The Beatles under the influence of LSD. I’ve heard that band plenty of times since I was a kid, but I never listened to them like that once.
RV: Nirvana’s show in 1994 at Barcelona, and all that came during that era, music-wise.
PV: As a performer I would say any of the gigs we’ve played at the disappeared and missed Rocksound, the greatest venue Barcelona ever had. And as an audience there are lots of great memories to choose just one, maybe my first big festival as a kid. Warped Tour on 98 with Bad Religion and The Specials amongst other great bands from that time like C.I.V., Lagwagon or Ignite. Yes, I was a teenage punk rocker!
When was a time when a firmly held belief was tested?
OC: Last time I broke off with someone.
RV: When I grow up, I realize everything I’ve been told was a lie.
PV: I was member of the workers council of my company and I’m a member of an anarchist workers union and recently had to quit the job because of the pressures and false allegations from other union members playing in favor of the company and getting rid of all the uncomfortable people on the workers council to do whatever they want with the coworkers.
Where do you feel artistic progression leads?
OC: To me it leads to a never ending road where I find myself chasing unreachable carrots all over, and over…
RV: It leads to experimentation, and trying new things. Always.
PV: To always keep discovering new ways of expression and boundaries to reach.
How do you define success?
OC: Being able to achieve whatever you want to?
RV: When you do the things you really want to do.
PV: Doing what you love the most for the living and not having to work for anyone but yourself.
What is something you have seen that you wish you hadn’t?
OC: You don’t want to know. Trust me ;)
RV: So many things. I rather not talk about them. hahaha
PV: People with lots of ego turning into others for stupid things or being rude because of their supposed “social status” or whatever. Hateful.
Describe something you haven’t created yet that you’d like to create.
OC: A full OST.
RV: A business related to musicology or show promoter.
PV: A nice and profitable venue in Barcelona for gigs and rehearsal rooms for all musician friends in our scene.
What do you believe is the most essential function of art?
OC: To move people by touching their hearts, and minds. I think it is all about feelings at the end.
RV: Make you feel things, and inspire you.
PV: To transmit feelings, experiences or ideas to the audience/viewers/readers/etc. and connect in a way that anything else can.
Something non-musical that you’re looking forward to?
OC: A full feature film or a TV series. Cinema is another love of mine. I’ve been poking there for years, too many perhaps, but it all ended in disaster ;) I have nice memories though. Some part inside me stills looking forward to it. Who knows?
RV: I always loved cinema, although I doubt I end up doing any of that. Mi world. and my job, both are related to music.
PV: Have my own farm or at least a little piece of land to grow things there.
https://www.facebook.com/electricmonolithband
https://www.instagram.com/electricmonolith/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/5fHrOX1CLtvB8R4RUjgwMy
https://electric-monolith.bandcamp.com/
