The Obelisk Questionnaire: Ivan Skvortsov of Sacred Buzz
Posted in Questionnaire on August 5th, 2026 by JJ Koczan
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: Ivan Skvortsov of Sacred Buzz
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How do you define what you do and how did you come to do it?
I’m the voice and guitar of Sacred Buzz. It’s a four-piece band based in Berlin and psychedelic rock would be the closest genre you could hang on it. We use drone, reverb, fuzz, surreal lyrics, kraut-rock beat, and many other colors in our sound palette.
How did I come to do it? It all started with realising how magical the music is and wanting to make some of it myself.
Describe your first musical memory.
My parents and I used to go to distant areas of Russia with kayaks and tents. My father had a battery-powered cassette player with cassettes of underground post-soviet folk and rock music. I still remember one of the nights vividly: the soft crackle of the fire among age-old pine trees, beautiful stars above, and the gentle humming of folky music with cello, guitar and flute from the cassette player.
Describe your best musical memory to date.
It might not have been the best but very magical and memorable.
2018, sunny day. Me and my good friends being late to King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard show in Moscow. Arriving when they started playing The Lord of Lightning. In the same moment huge clouds form and a thunderstorm starts. Thick riffs and the smell of ozone in the wet air.
When was a time when a firmly held belief was tested?
The first experience with mind-altering substances definitely shook my world.
Where do you feel artistic progression leads?
For me it leads to the most accurate realization of one’s ideas and more colors to imagine and draw them.
How do you define success?
Success can be bitter when reached. Those who have no definition of it cannot experience failure. The key is to enjoy the ride and not set goalposts – only direction.
What is something you have seen that you wish you hadn’t?
Life shows you what you need to see. It’s part of what makes us ourselves.
Describe something you haven’t created yet that you’d like to create.
There’s a lot more music waiting to be created.
What do you believe is the most essential function of art?
Art is the way of the Universe to learn itself. We are the tools.
Say something positive about yourself.
I’m very patient but also impulsive. I don’t really like to talk about myself. I’d leave it to others to say something about me.
Something non-musical that you’re looking forward to?
I’m longing for lasting world peace… On another scale, I’m looking forward to spending the winter somewhere with a warm climate.
https://sacredbuzz.bandcamp.com/
https://instagram.com/sacred.buzz
https://www.facebook.com/sacredbuzz.band
https://www.soundeffect-records.gr/
https://soundeffectrecords.bandcamp.com
http://www.facebook.com/SoundEffectRecords
