The Obelisk Questionnaire: Chris Read of La Chinga
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: Chris Read of La Chinga
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How do you define what you do and how did you come to do it?
Rocker… born this way.
Describe your first musical memory.
Hearing my parents records as a kid. Mostly folk records, Country but then they put on CCR Travelin Band and the excitement of that song really hit me. Soon after that I heard Zeppelin and it forever changed me, ,then Sabbath, AC/DC, Van Halen, Still is!
Describe your best musical memory to date.
Our last trip in Spain, playing on a Sunday night, thinking no one will come out, it’s gonna be dead… and then Boom! The bar is packed with loud raucous people screaming, dancing, sweating, partying to our music! Singing along with our songs! Getting crazy! No offence to North America but we don’t play gigs on Sundays here like that.. Spain! That country knows how to do it.
When was a time when a firmly held belief was tested?
They are all pretty solid…my faith in humanity is a bit shaky of late, but I hope for the best…
Where do you feel artistic progression leads?
I think it’s important to push yourself. I am always trying to write a better song. I consider that I have made progress, in that way. Doing something a lot, generally you improve. Being able to change, shift, but remembering your roots can keep the music fresh and exciting still.
How do you define success?
If you enjoy what you do, you are successful.
What is something you have seen that you wish you hadn’t?
Suffering, terror, death… it always is painful to see it, inevitable you encounter it in this world.
Sometimes seeing someone die can be a beautiful thing, if they are done and ready to go. Seeing a violent death is a haunting experience.
Describe something you haven’t created yet that you’d like to create.
I can hear songs just out of my reach just yet… they are fantastic and I need to keep working at my craft so they will come to me. They float in the ether and when they are ready or I am ready, they arrive… I do think it’s about being open to them and the possibility of the greatness.
What do you believe is the most essential function of art?
When it makes you feel something you can connect to the universal, something beyond your world and takes you there. When it hits you and changes your chemistry instantly. Right away it takes you to somewhere. Music is the best at that. The connection, the link throughout time. Being apart of that is always a thrill.
Something non-musical that you’re looking forward to?
My next surf trip!
Photo by Sacha Mumosquish.
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