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: Zac Crye

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

I just like to rock and roll. Most of the decisions I’ve made throughout my life have been weighed against how I can further this artistic endeavor that I’ve undertaken. I try to express myself in the world the way I express myself in my music – I’ve had to really design my life a certain way in order to do the things that I do.

Describe your first musical memory.

There are old photos of me at about age two, and my dad was holding me while he rehearsed with his band. I’m not sure if I can remember that or not, but I definitely have always had this seed in me to be a musician for as far as I can remember. The first thing that really caught my full attention was probably Prince or Michael Jackson, because of the visual aspects.

Describe your best musical memory to date.

I was a stagehand at Concrete Street Amphitheater in Corpus Christi, TX, probably around 2011. I was setting up the stage for Judas Priest and Black Label Society. It was right around my son’s second birthday and Zakk Wylde had just released a mini Les Paul Signature guitar. I bought the guitar a month in advance because I knew I would be working this show. I brought in with me to work and I caught Zakk Wylde on the side of the stage. Me and Zakk were standing there watching Judas Priest, and he was signing my son’s guitar. He kept pausing and pointing at the band going “fucking killer!!” and then finished signing the guitar. My son still has the guitar and is a huge fan of Zakk Wylde to this day!

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

I used to have this “If you build it, they will come,” mindset. So I would book tours without having the band in order which, on one hand can be very motivating, but on the other hand if you don’t do it correctly it can work against you. In this case, I had put a lot of work into booking the tour but we were traveling around half-assing our performances because we hadn’t had the proper time to prepare. On the flipside – we still had a great time and made a ton of new fans, so I’m not sure what to make of it…

Where do you feel artistic progression leads?

A fulfilling life.

How do you define success?

I think each individual has to set the parameters for the type of life they want and then do their best to execute that. That’s what I’m doing, and most of the time, I feel like I am succeeding in life. I don’t really have a firm vision for what success in the music industry would look like because it feels so farfetched to me. I think, if I’m executing the music the way I hear it in my head then that is a success, and the result of that is all secondary to me – my job is to write the next song.

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

I sat through a Papa Roach set once…

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

A homestead compound with a recording studio complex, and a succulent plant nursery.

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

It’s the soul’s expression. It’s what compels the painting on the cave walls, or the Mona Lisa, or the Eiffel Tower, and all the other cliché references you could think of.

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

My wife and I have just purchased our first home, and I’m already planning out my recording studio which is very exciting!

https://www.facebook.com/zac.crye
http://www.instagram.com/zaccrye
https://jamspacerecords.bandcamp.com/
https://www.jamspacepodcast.com/

Zac Crye, All the Same (2021)