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: Julia Gaeta of Dreamwheel

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

Playing music feels like an inevitable path, but one that didn’t become clear to me until around 21 years old. My parents are both professional classical musicians and I spent much of my early life in the musical world surrounded by virtuosos. I tried various instruments that never held my interest. But something hit me while I was in college with the guitar. I started skipping university classes to stay home and play. Since those early days of covering stuff on guitar in my bedroom, I’ve ventured into songwriting, playing live, etc.

Describe your first musical memory.

My mom had a big ’90s wooden entertainment console in our living room when I was growing up. There was a TV, stereo system with 2 giant black speakers on the sides, and drawers full of cassettes and CDs. I remember picking out Holst’s The Planets – specifically the version recorded by the Berliner Philharmonic and conducted by Herbert von Karajan.

I sat with my back against the speakers so I could feel the bass, and closed my eyes. I was totally transfixed by “Mars”. I would go back there and play it over and over again and just become enveloped in a feeling, like I was floating in the complete blackness of space. I think this shaped my love of 5/4 time signature specifically, as well as variation in textures and dynamics in music. “Jupiter” is another great one – it’s got an absolutely heart-wrenching melody towards the middle.

Describe your best musical memory to date.

Seeing my dad play clarinet with Metallica in-the-round for S&M2. I’m not sure anything I ever do with music will bring the same level of unbridled joy I felt from that one, since Metallica is the band that got me into heavy music. I laughed and cried and screamed and all that. After the gig, my dad and I were out at a random pizza joint and some Metallica fans came up to him and were freaking out. He ate it up – he’s totally not used to that. It was hilarious.

Wow, I’m talking about my parents a lot, aren’t I? I guess there’s a reason for that. They’re mostly responsible for this path I’m on, whether they like it or not!

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

Every time I’ve made it through a tidal wave of self-doubt or crippling anxiety. You are not your brain…

Where do you feel artistic progression leads?

I feel that the second I get caught up in outcomes or final destinations, things start to feel less authentic. So I don’t really think about this too often.

How do you define success?

As a musician? I don’t think I have a single definition – it depends on the day. It could be creating something that stands the test of time in my own head, or creating something that pushes me into more authentic expression – like when I started solo music. It could be having an awesome musical collaborator like I do in Dreamwheel or getting to know incredible people through the act of creating. It could be someone telling me they resonated strongly with a song, getting my music played to more ears or being invited to play somewhere new. It could be having access to a clean bathroom backstage.

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

I love big bustling metropolises, and over the years, I’ve been fortunate enough to call several of them my home. But recently, especially since the pandemic, big cities in both the US and Europe seem to be more and more challenging places to live for not just artists but people in general. Homelessness, drugs, rising prices, lack of affordable housing, etc. It’s a tough pill to swallow for those affected.

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

Plenty of stuff. Something gnarly and anonymous. A film score. More weird guitar-based stuff. My first full-length solo record.

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

If I knew, I probably wouldn’t feel compelled to create anything.

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

Snuggling my cat.

https://www.instagram.com/dreamwheel
https://dreamwheel.bandcamp.com

https://instagram.com/nefarious_industries
https://facebook.com/nefariousIndustries
https://nefariousindustries.bandcamp.com
https://nefariousindustries.com

Dreamwheel, Redeemer EP teaser

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: Evan Linger of Dreamwheel and Skeletonwitch

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

I never really liked anything the way I like and gravitate towards music. Growing up, everything felt like static. Not horribly terrible but also not stimulating or exciting to any degree. It was all going through the motions to fit in like everyone else; get up, go to school (later work), play sports or have a typical hobby, watch TV, spend time with people I called friends and repeat. Even at a young age this all felt like being in some kind of tedious purgatory, especially growing up in the homogenous American Midwest. I was, even at a young age, full of complex feeling and emotions that had no place in the static and dull world that surrounded me. Luckily for me, my mother is a music fan and has great taste. I began to realise that, although I could not physically escape my grey and monotone surroundings, there is a bigger and more vibrant world out there. A world that fit me or at least had room for complex emotions and thoughts. I think this is true for so many people. When we have or create music, as a fan or artist, the world doesn’t seem so dull and depressing and grey. One can give some meaning and color to an otherwise chaotic an tragic world with music. At the very least we can express or feel something deep and rich we would not normally get to feel with the power of music. I essentially came to do what I do out of necessity.

Describe your first musical memory.

It is all a mix of not physical memories but rather a switched being turned on at some point. If I had to take a guess it would be riding in the car with my mother and her knowing the words to 60s and 70s rock songs and telling me all about the song and the artists. Later thumbing through piles of LPs and listening to certain songs over and over just to catch a certain feeling again.

Describe your best musical memory to date.

I have been very lucky to not just be a listener, which would have been fine enough for me, but to have put music out in the world that may have also given a handful of people the same feelings I get when listening to music. This is the best for me. On a stage or on a record, it doesn’t matter.

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

I believe nothing is fixed or permanent. If you have firm beliefs eventually you are going to get very disappointed. Everyone is living their own reality and having their own experience and you have to be flexible or at least cognisant of that. You have to be open to everyone’s perspective even of its polarising to yours. It is a daily exercise for me to recognise this and I still struggle with it.

Where do you feel artistic progression leads?

The whole exercise itself of progressing as an artist isn’t a means to an end or leading to some final goal. The effort to progress is the end game. Art isn’t a science with defined parameters. If you pick up an instrument or put on a new record or go to a museum that effort itself is what’s important. Our willingness to create or absorb art leads us to want to create and absorb more. Art and creativity lead to more art and creativity.

How do you define success?

This is a very personal. There is commercial, monetary and personal success. Music can exist in one or all of these spaces. For me, it is being satisfied with the effort I put in to create the music. This always feels like a big success. If I can listen back to a record I played on and know, even with its flaws, I did the best I could in that time then I feel like it was a successful undertaking.

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

I have had some good and bad experiences in the music world. All of them helped me get where I am now and I try and find some gold even in the shit ones.

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

I am on a constant quest to make songs and music that pushes emotions deeper and farther. I think a good artist always thinks he/she still has to create no matter how far they have come. I cannot imagine one day saying ‘’I did it all and it was all great and I have nothing more to say’’.

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

To move people to a place they otherwise couldn’t be moved without art.

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

Just spending time with good people that I have in my life.

https://www.instagram.com/dreamwheel
https://dreamwheel.bandcamp.com

https://instagram.com/nefarious_industries
https://facebook.com/nefariousIndustries
https://nefariousindustries.bandcamp.com
https://nefariousindustries.com

Dreamwheel, Redeemer EP teaser