Artists tackle ten existential questions
Hütz is the lead singer of the Gypsy punk band Gogol Bordello. Their new album, “Super Taranta” is out in July. For more information and tour dates, see http://www.gogolbordello.com
Does art make a difference?
Absolutely. My life would not be the dream that it is without it; art uncorks the bottle. The only problem is when it gets separated from real life and right now this is a real testing time for it because of the power of PR and advertising.
Should politics and art mix?
They will regardless. I think that any area of human rights is inseparable from art, because art is a human right and you have to suffer for it and pay for it. It’s one of the reasons the Gypsy art scene rings such a bell for me, some of those guys have literally been to jail for what they do.
Is your work for the many or for the few?
In the 1990s, what I was doing was considered totally unmarketable because it was too trans-global. I was singing about my background, which is multilingual and multicultural. That was a cult thing back then, now that is the mood of the world.
If you were world leader, what would be your first law?
I would not ever want to get into that position. I’m hugely uninterested in that kind of power.
Who would be your top advisers?
All my bitches and hos.
What, if anything, would you censor?
The idea of hierarchy, I mean, what kind of hierarchy can there be? There’s only time and space and energy.
If you had to banish one public figure, who would it be?
Santa Claus. That satanic holiday always gets on my nerves. It’s impossible to get anybody to do anything.
What are the rules that you live by?
I respect the law of gravity. I almost lost it on a drug experience once and thought the law of gravity might not work. That was scary.
Do you love your country?
I have soft spots for many countries. I feel like my spiritual home would be the Karpaty mountains in Ukraine. I was always enchanted by the vibrations of that area. If it ever came to a scattering of ashes it would be done there. I was lucky enough to see quite a lot of the world and fell in love with lots of places and lots of people.
Are we all doomed?
Not at all. Existentialists speak for yourselves; I’m off to a neo-authentic party.
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