ジェレミー・エルキン

Jeremy Elkin

This project was a two-week scout—my second visit to Jamaica within the past calendar year. I set out to capture unanticipated moments with local musicians, producers, record collectors, pioneers and hustlers. While the ring of characters was motivated by the initial scout, it expanded in relation and dialogue with everyone I met along the way. Most days were spent on back roads in the production vehicle, so that we could ignore structure and increase scenario.

Kingston, with its hallowed ground, feels like the Ancient Egypt of the music industry. But the homes, buildings and neighborhoods that supported the production of music remain largely undocumented in high resolution. The street, much like the studio, is where experimentation unfolds. The atmosphere is removed from the pressure of production and business, which supports the creative dialogue that is born between lifelong lovers of music. Here, technology does not outpace instruments or voices.

As a lifelong fan of music preservation and street-oriented culture, getting to know the individuals through first-hand experience was a privilege. While the work only represents a blip in time, I am hopeful that it is part of a much larger story that will unfold in the years to come.