Who: Ekhi Lopetegi of Delorean
What: PhD in Philosophy
Where: University of Barcelona
Years of study: eleven-plus
Do you have your PhD, or are you currently working on it? I started my PhD about three years ago. Right when I started, the record Subiza came out, so I decided to stop studying for a year in order to tour. In September of this year, when we finish touring the record, I’ll matriculate again at the University of Barcelona to continue my PhD studies. I’ve studied philosophy since I was 18 years old, and it’s what I want to continue [doing]. I’m now 27. I wanted to get my PhD because when I did my licenciatura, which I think is comparable to a masters in the US, I realized that I was truly interested in philosophy and that four years of study was completely inadequate in order to reach a decent level of philosophy. So I had it very clear that, after I’d finished graduating from my licenciatura, I would continue deepening my studies, because there hadn’t been sufficient time.
Is there a conversation between music and philosophy for you? Well, at first glance, the band and my studies have always been very separate, but that’s also because it’s not like my bandmates are really interested in philosophy. But lately, when the time comes to write lyrics, the point from which I arrive at writing them is philosophy. I’ve never been a good writer or poet or anything like that. The takeoff point from which I write is philosophy. There hasn’t been a great deal of contact between music and philosophy for me, but my lyrics have always had a conceptual relationship with philosophy.
How does studying philosophy and politics affect your experience of the politically charged climate in Barcelona today? We started our band as a way of separating ourselves from what was the cultural and social life of the Basque country. I believe that unconsciously the fact that our references in the band are Anglo-Saxon, that we sing in English, it was all an attempt to separate ourselves from a musical, cultural and social scene that was very, very rigid. In that sense, there’s certainly a relation.
In terms of Barcelona, what I can tell you is that, to me, the most interesting events have been those that have occurred in the past three weeks [the wave of protests in late May/early June, 2011]. While I study philosophy, what I think is truly crucial is what’s going on today in Spain. The other day, the people took over Plaça Catalunya to shouts of “no nos representan!” [“we’re not represented”]. The police broke it up. But right after—through Twitter, Facebook, etc.—people found out what was happening, and 4,000 marched to retake the Plaça Catalunya, forcing the police to flee. In those types of practices, I think that an entire course of political philosophy can be learned in one day. All Carl Schmitt can be found in those six hours in Plaça Catalunya. I’m not in philosophy to have a good book collection, nor am I interested in its aesthetics, I’m interested in the moment of truth, and that’s what’s occurring here. People are simply fighting for their existence and nothing else.
TRANSLATED FROM SPANISH BY KT
Recommended Reading:
The Theater and Its Double by Antonin Artaud
Discipline and Punishment: The Birth of Prison by Michel Foucault
Bartleby, the Scrivener by Herman Melville
Thanks for such an interesting article!
I’m currently at work finishing up m a PhD in Biochemistry. However, when I’m not working i probably spend an unhealthy amount of time listening to, writing about or sharing music.
The two activities almost have a Dr. Jekyll/ Mr. Hyde association with them (excuse the obvious comparison)
It’s been enlightening to glean some perspective on how some of these musicians have balanced or rationalized their academic careers along with their musical aspirations.
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Liked it a lot. Stays away from the typical interview to a musician, and brakes the musician=rockstar lifestyle stereotype.
After 4 years studying at the Conservatory of Music I decided to go to Med School, I love music, but I never regret becoming a pediatrician
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Right. It’s a nice change from the countless articles decrying the worthlessness of higher education that cite the number of successful dropouts as evidence. Still, it’s interesting to note that the only people chiming in on this have pursued some form of higher education themselves and–while I applaud their work–they still indulge in the kind of self-congratulatory attitude that compels most people to hate the fuck out of the educated class.
I guess what I was trying to say is: School is actually really cool but don’t be a dick about it.