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: DJ Howard of Partholón, The Magnapinna & Paranoid Beast Promotions

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

I’m a musician and artist and it’s difficult to articulate what that even means.

Compulsion comes to mind. It’s the rattling of some sort of primordial instinct to create and share. For me, music and performing were never escapism. It feels far more like a visceral connection to reality. Art is the same, connecting to things and stepping back to experience it all through the eyes of another.

In terms of how I came to do it, I was probably led towards music by my father. He was a musician doing it the hard way in hard times before he had kids and things got harder. He was always banging out tunes at parties and I was hyper-aware of how people reacted. My oldest sister guided me a bit later on. I’d get home an hour before her after school and listen to Prince cassettes on her hifi. I was fascinated with her obsession with one musical act, I didn’t know you could “follow” an artist back then. She started dating an older guy when I was a teenager, and his musical taste really really influenced me towards the heavier side of music. I owe them both a lot of gratitude. She took me to my first proper arena show, Metallica in ’96. There was no going back.

Art came naturally, I just saw drawing as a thing you did and went from there.

Describe your first musical memory.

I got a small alarm clock radio as a young kid and I’d sit by it for hours turning the plastic dial looking for guitar music. We had no money for records at the time and a TV with two channels, so music through the media was very difficult to come by. Having that radio opened up a big world to me. I remember hearing “Jailbreak” by Thin Lizzy for the second time and just losing my mind in the excitement of recognizing a tune. I was probably 5 or 6 years of age.

Describe your best musical memory to date.

Memories are such a fluid thing, it’d be impossible to single out one moment in particular. The best of my memories are in the people I’ve met through playing shows. When I think of stand out shows or moments, it always centres around an individual or group of people. There’s a sadness in that at times, but I’m lucky to have amazing memories with some of the best people through music.

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

I don’t feel like I carry any firmly held beliefs with me in general. I grew up in a very religious setting, particularly with regards to education, so firmly held beliefs were achieved through intimidation, manipulation and fear. I try to keep an open mind through reason and logic as best I can and let any firmly held beliefs wear themselves out.

Where do you feel artistic progression leads?

I have no idea, but I’m all in to find out.

How do you define success?

Success is the death of endeavour and I’m very much in the endeavour phase of success. Long may it last.

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

Catholic education in the ’80s was a covertly brutal place for any child. There’s a residual ignorance and discomfort in Irish society even today when it comes to addressing it. I made it through by the skin of my teeth but I saw enough to give me sleepless nights into adulthood. I already know I’ll be pressed on this answer should anyone local encounter it. It usually comes with the prefix “be very careful” or “the dead can’t defend themselves.” The irony is fucking lost on them.

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

I’m currently working on a portrait for a friend. It’s very important and personal to her and her partner and I’m battling with myself to produce something worthy for them. I’m working on it right now while answering these questions and contemplating starting it over. I’d really like to create a way of just getting it done.

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

I went to Art college straight out of high school. I was young and out of my depth, but I had talent. This question was asked and answered a lot in my time there with increasingly hyperbolic sentiment. I’m not sure that you can boil Art down into any essential function. It’s everything and nothing and a little bit of what you’re having yourself.

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

I have a couple of art pieces on the horizon that are going to be challenging. It’s going to require some time away from my dayjob and a brief retreat from the world, but I’m looking forward to figuring it all out.

https://www.facebook.com/paranoidbeastpromotions/
https://theparanoidbeast.bandcamp.com/

http://www.facebook.com/themagnapinna
https://twitter.com/themagnapinna
https://themagnapinna.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/partholonian/
https://partholonian.bandcamp.com/

The Magnapinna, “Werewolves of London”

Partholón, Follow Me Through Body (2016)