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: JP of Bog Body

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How do you define what you do and how did you come to do it?

I am one half of Bog Body. Split between SVR and myself, we share most duties, but the one that is mine alone is drumming. We have been friends for a while, sharing musical and non-musical interests and somewhere in 2016 he contacted me about playing music and we set off from there. Bog Body started with a very simple idea; create rhythmically captivating music tied to the low-end and as abrasive as possible.

Describe your first musical memory.

My first musical memory is Beethoven’s 5th. I was enthralled with its famous refrain, hearing it felt like a name was given to something I could never identify before. I must have been five years old or so.

Describe your best musical memory to date.

Bog Body’s performance at Brooklyn Bazaar in the Fall of 2019. We shared the stage with Antediluvian and Adversarial; two very powerful and meaningful acts. I feel that our set that night was one of our best.

When was a time when a firmly held belief was tested?

No. I subscribe to no dogma, no methods, or rules; so there exists little ability for anything to be tested in that regard. I believe in myself and those close to me — and they’ve never let me down.

Where do you feel artistic progression leads?

It’s self-fulfilling, self-devouring. I shudder to call myself an artist, but I can speak to progression leading only to further desires and goals. Along the way, a sense of fulfillment, a cathartic release might be found. Conversely, you might look back at your “progress” and only lament on its shortcomings… but in that way you’re still looking forward to righting the wrongs and improving.

How do you define success?

Setting goals, meeting those goals, and being relatively content with the result. Wading into the fog without an idea of what you want to accomplish seems to be the most likely scenario, but sometimes a guidepost found might be the most rewarding one. I’ll define success here as creating a recording and wanting to do more.

What is something you have seen that you wish you hadn’t?

I’d take back discovering a dead family member.

Describe something you haven’t created yet that you’d like to create.

I would like to collaborate with an artist of a kindred spirit, but different musical style. It would be a full immersion of methods and views; an ecstatic crash of ideas and violent emotion that could be captured to tape. I won’t say who, but maybe one day it will happen.

What do you believe is the most essential function of art?

To express. Whatever you may want to express, there will be at least one other human out there that it will resonate. A need to express will keep your art pure and without credence to clout, money, or attention. For me, I want to be lost in what I create. The moments you forget you’re playing and your eyes close instantly; that’s what art is for.

Something non-musical that you’re looking forward to?

Robert Eggers’ new film, The Northman. I enjoyed the VVITCH and The Lighthouse. Eggers does so much without dialogue — it’s easy to get lost in the visuals and sound design of his films.

https://infernomerchstore.com/collections/bog-body
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https://www.facebook.com/bogbodyofficial
https://bog-body.bandcamp.com

https://profoundlorerecords.com
https://www.profoundlorerecords.bandcamp.com
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https://twitter.com/profound_lore
https://www.facebook.com/profoundlorerecords

Bog Body, Cryonic Crevasse Cult (2022)