Why does Hussalonia call itself a cult?
It is a matter of semantics. People often use the term “band,” or simply “group” to refer to a conglomerate of musicians who write music together. But in the traditional sense, Hussalonia is neither a band nor a group; Hussalonia is mostly the work of one person – the founder.
In the early 2000s as the music industry struggled to compete with illegal downloading, the founder became somewhat disillusioned with the increasingly crass commercialism of music. Bands, desperate to market themselves without the aid of record labels, began using social-networking websites to promote themselves. This created a culture of desperation as thousands of bands struggled to get noticed in an increasingly vast sea of unknown musicians. The founder’s decision to begin using the word “cult” was made in an effort to distance himself from this somewhat sad and pathetic culture of music marketing. This coincided with the founder’s decision to cease active promotion of his music and to begin releasing all of his music for free.
Hussalonia’s music struggles to be defined by one genre. The founder has released acoustic-based albums, electronic-influenced albums, power-pop-influenced albums, a metal album, albums with robot singers, and an album of experimental sound collage. Using the word “cult” is an act of liberation from the confining restrictions that the word “band” can be burdened with. Though the word “cult” is a somewhat exotic (if not humorous) way to describe a musical project, it is really no different than the modern day concept of a “band” or “group.” Think of your favorite band and reconsider them a cult. Like a cult, every band has a “founder” as well as loyal followers. One can argue that the idol worship of pop stars and/or bands sometimes exceeds the fanaticism one might expect from a cult. The only difference between the two words in relation to their meanings is the negative connotation “cult” has when compared to the rather benign word, “band.” It is the founder’s love for words and their complex relationship to our lives that finally confirmed his status as a cult founder.
Finally, phrases like “cult following,” “cult status,” or “cult success” are often used to describe artists who enjoy levels of success below the radar of mainstream culture. The founder has historically been most fond of artists who enjoy this type of underground success. And so it is with a certain sense of self-deprecation that the term “cult” was embraced. Hussalonia, with its esoteric projects and unpredictable trajectory, has been preordained for a type of cult-status success ordinarily relegated to the world’s most misunderstood artists.
What does the name Hussalonia mean?
The name was taken from a series of stories written in Polish by the founder's grandfather. It is a country, a family and a cult. The name significantly implies the word "alone" in the center, yet the "onia" suffix suggests a republic of people. The stories were intentionally burned by his grandfather just before his passing.
Why does Hussalonia give away so much music for free?
Because Hussalonia is not really a band, but a pop-music cult. The Hussalonia founder likes to considers himself a civil servant of sorts: toiling away for hours upon hours to make music not for fame and fortune, but for the people - people like himself who are obsessed with pop music and rock lore. By not releasing compact discs, Hussalonia is reducing the consumption of fossil fuels (plastic and transportation), non-renewable minerals (aluminum), and the emission of greenhouse gases (CO2 produced in transporting compact discs all over the world when they are ordered). Also, because the success of a nation is based solely on its economy, giving away music for free undermines this system which encourages rampant spending at the cost of the environment and human health. Additionally, the Hussalonia founder is an extremely prolific writer and would rather spend his time recording during his brief time on earth, rather than promoting and selling compact discs.
Why are Hussalonia's songs so short?
We'll let the Hussalonia founder respond to this one. He recently listed his top five reasons for writing short songs in an email exchange with a colleague. The founder wrote:
- As a listener, I love what a too-short song does to me. There's this feeling of, "What just happened?" It's exciting and also a little confusing, like an amusement park ride. And isn't that entertainment? People will stand in line for hours just to experience 45 seconds of pleasure. The engineers who design these thrilling devices know this: it is better to be unsatisfied than it is to be dissatisfied.
- To me, there is no greater experience than wanting more of something. It is what propels us forward in our lives. And in the larger picture, there are so few moments that we wish we could prolong. So in these treasured moments, there is also a note of sadness. Desire and sadness. I want to capture that in my music.
- The shorter the song, the more mysterious it can be. It's gone before you can truly get a chance to know it. And no matter how many times you play a short song, it seems (at least to me) to retain its mystery.
- Short songs add a sense of urgency. I want the listener to get the feeling that my songs have some important business to attend to and there just isn't time to dilly dally around with choruses repeating.
- Finally, there is the old showbiz adage, leave 'em wanting more. Of course this doesn't account for the sheer volume of my short songs. Whatever.
Can I use a Hussalonia song in my movie/tv show/art project/website?
Probably. Just contact us and ask. Remember, not all Hussalonia releases are public domain and most are published under a non-commercial Creative Commons license. Please note that remixes will not be possible as the Hussalonia founder erases all his masters once they are mixed.
Where is the Hussalonia Founder from?
Buffalo, NY, United States
Does Hussalonia tour? Will they play a show in my town?
Probably not. The Hussalonia founder rarely plays shows in his own hometown of Buffalo, NY. So the likelihood of him traveling a long distance to play in your town seems improbable. However, serious offers will be considered.
How can I help Hussalonia?
Good, old-fashioned encouragement always helps. You can send us your encouraging words and Hussalonia-related stories by filling out the form in the Contact page.
You may also donate money by clicking the button below. You can fill in any amount you like. Alternately, you can send funds via PayPal to hussalonia (at) gmail.com. The Hussalonia founder is happy to volunteer his time and talents to provide you with free music, but keeping this website running isn't free, or cheap.