Proust Questionnaire Daniel Figgis, composer
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Getting ‘it’ right. Followed by a spa break.
Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Frederick Delius. Or Erik Satie.
Which living person do you most admire?
Peter Gabriel.
Which is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Beyond the call of duty perfectionism. It is also the trait I most admire in myself.
What is your greatest extravagance?
The landscape interventionist strand in many of my live performances. They’re the ones you can see from outer space.
What is your favourite journey?
Home.
On what occasion do you lie?
Most of the time. That was a lie too.
Which living person do you most despise?
There are two of them. So why prioritise?
What or who is the greatest love of your life?
My wife Deirdre Behan and my son Charles Figgis. My parents are right up there too!
When and where were you happiest?
Throughout the 1970s. I dug all the brown.
Which talent would you most like to have?
Is abstinence a talent?
What is your current state of mind?
I’m in a good place.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
My marriage. Fatherhood. Certain musical moments.
If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what do you think it would be?
A pretty lady.
What is your most treasured possession?
My ability to ‘transport’ the audience with my ancient harmonium.
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
1. Oh, s**t, she’s left me!
2. Writer’s block.
What is your favourite occupation?
Photography/videography. And drumming.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Intelligence/wit/reliability.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Brown eyes, lovely breasts, and a Big Brain (Didn’t make it past the Bs).
Who are your favourite writers?
Beckett, Burroughs, Ballard, Lewis Carroll, Gore Vidal, Noam Chomsky (I made it past the Bs).
What is your motto?
Do I strike you as a ‘motto’ person?
Daniel Figgis is composer, producer, and curator whose latest composition dimmerswitch which will have its world premiere with The Crash Ensemble at St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church on Thursday July 19 at 8pm during the Galway Arts Festival. Kernan Andrews
