INTERVIEW – Scarlet Page: Resonators, a visually stylized compendium of guitar icons
Alejandro De Luna
Some rock ‘n’ roll portraits tell stories. Important stories. Some represent a memoir that otherwise we could not recall without the aid of the optical expression. Some photos are visual and timeless representations of a hero, a sonic deity, a six string prophet. Our guitar heroes build with their craft a sonic landscape of our dreams, but how to immortalize the myth alongside the sound if is not with a visual portrait? Think of an iconic Jimi Hendrix shoot while you listen to ‘Purple Haze’ – it works.
Scarlet Page is one of those visual storytellers – a photographer with the mission to immortalize dreams alongside intimate shoots of living legends. Initially influenced by the works of Corbijn or the early Leibovitz, Scarlet Page also looks for fresh inspiration elsewhere: “I often get blown away by young bloggers too. I love the way photography has opened up to everyone in the last 7 years.” She also understands like few photographers the importance of a guitar as a machinery that craft dreams among the masses. Scarlet Page knows this first hand since the early days while her father was creating essential pieces like ‘Fool In The Rain’ or ‘The Ocean.’
Instead of relying in the family name, she has been pursuing her own path since 20 years with countless iconic photo shoots and album covers. This year, she comes with the most ambitious project in her career via a DIY-like Kickstarter campaign: a visually exquisite journey that compiles photographs of some of the best guitarists on the planet. Without depending on “photoshop wizardry”, Scarlet Page calls this book Resonators, a direct and fierce name – just like how a guitar riff should be – for a unique and intimate collection of photos. “A resonator is a someone who resonates their talent through to all of us. A master of their craft, an inspiration, a hero”, recalls the photographer.
The black and white approach in Resonators gives a timeless and classic aspect to the artists portrayed here: “My friend and designer Warren has worked a lot with Anton Corbijn on his books and he came up with the design in B&W, we all loved it, it looks very smart.”
For Resonators, Scarlet Page did an extensive research of the 100 guitarists of all time and had the opportunity to immortalize a big bunch of those living legends: “Some people were really hard to reach and others were so giving of their time to the project.” From rock ‘n’ roll renegades like Slash being shot “at the famous Sunset Marquis Hotel in West Hollywood” to Manchester icons like Johnny Marr, one of Scarlet´s “personal favourites”, and John Squire. From funk wizards like Nile Rodgers to the more experimental textures of Robert Fripp. And from punk titans like Mick Jones and Wayne Kramer to the ‘new’ wave of six string icons like Jack White and Frusciante. It´s all in there. All, visual and timeless representations in B&W. But besides compiling those exquisite portraits, the project has an altruist goal behind, a matter of pride for the London photographer:
“The project started up with a link to Teenage Cancer Trust, we had every print signed by the guitarist and auctioned them to raise funds for the charity. We have exhibited a few times and this lead to us thinking about putting the book together. The money raised on Kickstarter is primarily for printing cost for the book, if we end up making a profit I would still like to donate a percentage to Teenage Cancer Trust because I really admire all the work they do, they are amazing.”
When asked about her favourite shoot, Scarlet Page relies on the man who played ‘Stop Messin’ Round’: “I love the Peter Green[Fleetwood Mac] one as I feel I captured exactly as I wanted to, as a strong interesting man. He was very hard to find, being almost reclusive these days, I felt honoured he gave me his time.”
The photo sessions involved intimate and unique access to the life of the guitarists – a privilege that is visible on the final output: “I think being invited into their homes or personal studios and photographing them holding their ‘prop’ with passion meant that I could gain a sense of intimacy after gaining their trust. I think they felt relaxed and that was my real aim.”
It´s the photography that helps to complement the story of popular music. It is the accompaniment that helps to immortalize the artist. A rock ‘n’ roll photograph is the ultimate counterpart of the sound. Images matter. Visual art matters in music. Cutting-edge rock ‘n’ roll photographers matter and Resonators is a proof of it.
List included in Resonators:
- Albert Lee (Hands, Heads and Feet)
- Billy Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins)
- Brian May (Queen)
- Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders)
- Dick Taylor (The Pretty Things)
- Graham Coxon (Blur)
- Hank Marvin (The Shadows)
- Jack White (The Raconteurs, The White Stripes)
- Jeff Beck (The Yardbirds)
- Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin, The Yardbirds)
- Joe Walsh (The Eagles)
- John Squire (The Stone Roses)
- John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
- Johnny Marr (The Smiths)
- Justin Hawkins (The Darkness)
- Kelly Jones (Stereophonics)
- Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits)
- Mick Jones (The Clash, Big Audio Dynamite)
- Nile Rodgers (Chic)
- Noel Gallagher (High Flying Birds, Oasis)
- Paul Stanley (Kiss)
- Paul McCartney (The Beatles, Wings)
- Paul Weller (The Jam, The Style Council)
- Peter Green (Fleetwood Mac)
- Phil Manzanera (Roxy Music)
- Phil Collen and Viv Campbell (Def Leppard)
- Robert Fripp (King Crimson, Fripp & Eno)
- Serge Pizzorno (Kasabian)
- Slash (Guns n Roses, Velvet Revolver)
- Steve Jones (Sex Pistols)
- Wayne Kramer (MC5)
- Wilko Johnson (Dr Feelgood)
Resonators will be published in November 2015. Support the campaign and Teenage Cancer Trust here.
Scarletpage.com
