The Obelisk Questionnaire: Joey Kaufman of The Holy Nothing
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: Joey Kaufman of The Holy Nothing
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How do you define what you do and how did you come to do it?
The Holy Nothing feels like our collective second chance at being in a band. We all spent our 20s playing in local bands and touring around by the skin of our teeth. THN feels like we all finally knew what we were doing and how to go about it in a way that was good for everyone. The whole point from jump was “if it isn’t fun, we’re not gonna do it.” So far, it’s been just fun.
Describe your first musical memory.
I lived in this old farmhouse when I was a kid. I remember my dad used to put music on in the house. The earliest memory I have is hearing The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia by Reba McEntire. I was super intrigued by the story telling aspect of it. That’s something I’ve chased as a songwriter and something I hope to explore way more of moving forward.
Describe your best musical memory to date.
Honestly, it was fairly recent. Again, I’m sure into story telling and thematically-driven music. So bands like My Chemical Romance were HUGE for me. So seeing them on their reunion run with my chick was insane. The most special moment though was them closing Riot Fest with the song Cancer. It wasn’t in the setlist or anything. They just did it. We just held each other and sand along all teary eyed and shit.
When was a time when a firmly held belief was tested?
In regards to music? The whole amp modeling, processor thing. It seems super convenient and would probably save my lower back from spasming all the time. It seems really sick. But I just can’t get over how sick amps and cabs look and sound. Rock and Roll don’t need computer amps.
Where do you feel artistic progression leads?
I feel like I’ve seen it go into so many different directions. Hopefully it leads to folks trying new things despite what they’ve created in the past. I hope it just makes our band want to outdo ourselves for ourselves. Nobody else.
How do you define success?
When my two friends and I can hear or see something we did together and go “yeah, this creates an emotional response”. I just want those two dudes to be hyped on what I’m doing the same way I get hyped on what they’re doing.
What is something you have seen that you wish you hadn’t?
My chick works in the medical field so she’s fascinated by like horrific medical related Instagram accounts and shit. So like seeing a dude get de-gloved or some shit. I’m not into that.
Describe something you haven’t created yet that you’d like to create.
I want our band to be viewed as an art project more than a typical rock band. There’s a ton of visual related stuff that I’m really excited for us to pursue that will be accompanied by our music. I feel like music videos are there to supplement the music. I’d like to do things the other way around where we create a visual and the write music to that.
What do you believe is the most essential function of art?
For me, it’s to just create emotional responses. Finding things that feel like they’re speaking directly at you.
Something non-musical that you’re looking forward to?
The final season of Letterkenny. Those guys feel like family to me and my favorite part of the holiday season is watching them.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093190566481
https://theholynothing.bandcamp.com/
