they might be one of us...

...is a photo documentary I have been working on since mid-2003. It’s about a group of people that have at least one thing in common; music.

The musicians depicted in this book are from various countries, backgrounds and perspectives, including my home of Darwin, Australia. Whilst some are striving for music industry recognition, others don’t have that option, or care little for it. Some make music for the sake of it. They have no guarantees of job security or financial stability by following this passion.

The aim of this photo documentary is to discover what drives these people to pursue music and document how music influences their lives. It also aims to provide an insight into how their environment and their circumstances influence their music. This raises the question of whether their environment dictates lifestyle and if so, how does this influence their outlook on making music?

The project was conceived during my travels, which took me to various countries for various reasons; meeting family for the first time, catching up with people I’d met along the way (with whom I’d established some good friendships), or meeting up with friends from home. It was through their respective networks I came across these musicians. I was able to befriend and document them, in their home country, or the country they themselves were visiting. The relationships established invite the reader into the musicians’ homes to experience their way of life, their take on music and how it fits in with their daily routine.

Here's an introduction to some of those involved...