photography + words: Robin Laananen

On any given day, I could be snorkeling in Croatia, escorting a band on stage, road-tripping in Iceland (New Zealand, Australia, anywhere), orchestrating a day of press for the band, climbing the Italian Dolomites, or putting out logistical fires to assure a concert will go on as planned. I don’t know many jobs that allow you to travel the world with people who’ve quickly become close friends, with your "road family”. Being a tour manager is one of the best but one of the hardest jobs in the music industry; being available 24/7, rarely alone, always questions, shouldering heavy responsibilities, and a certain level of sacrifice of a “regular home life” with the steady absence as a result of the extensive travel. And photography is what got me into this life.

I’ve been shooting all things music for over 25 years, starting before I was 20, shooting in basement punk shows. I felt most at home pressed against the stage, directly in front, with eyes on the back of my head for flying fists and the tide of the pit. I’ve had to stage dive with my camera to avoid pyro stage antics, I’ve taken portraits of some of my musical heroes, traveled the world documenting life behind the scenes while on tour, and I’ve spent years shooting for record labels, magazines, and directly with artists documenting studio work or album art. While on the road, I witness the profound evidence that music is truly a universal language, bringing people together as artists perform songs that can reveal life experiences, their interpretations of the world around them. Music is how they navigate their lives. While capturing the live energy of shows, I also enjoy documenting the quiet moments, away from the stage— those details noticed during extensive travel and even the seemingly mundane times. There is beauty in the rare stillness. Music serves as my primary inspiration, fostering a connection to musicians that is evident in my photography. I am captivated by the rhythm of travel—the flights, the hotels, and the constant movement that characterizes the transient lifestyle of a musician.

It wasn’t until 2020, when the constant movement came to a dramatic halt, when there was no choice to go up (fly), so I had to go out (drive). I unexpectedly fell in love with landscape photography during solo road trips; the stillness, the fresh air, being within the trees, the “reveal” at sunrise, literally chasing light while behind the wheel of a 12 passenger converted camper van. I would spend weeks on the road, exploring the States, the many vast National Parks. I was hooked. With missing my musician friends, I began to reach out to ones I knew and even ones I hadn’t met yet, I was curious what they were doing with their forced time off the road. I missed taking photographs of people, of the ones who inspire. The response was beautiful because everyone had a desire to create, to reconnect with another person, and they were intrigued by the project. I would meet with them, take portraits while incorporating my love of landscape with photographs of how they’ve been spending their time. One was building a motorcycle, one was learning to surf, another was learning how to throw axes. These were all women. Once tour began opening up, I reached out to all musicians and would take portraits on my days off as the bus moved through the States. The project went global, most recently meeting with local musicians during a pre-tour road trip in New Zealand.

The experience of those solo road-trips has reshaped how I spend time while on tour. On days off, I will often rent a car, heading straight to the mountains, and I will extend my stay where the tour begins or ends to take solace only found when you take pause to explore.

This book of photography embarks on a personal journey featuring the world as a central character. The photographs invite viewers along for the ride as they transition from touring with musicians to seeking refuge in nature, illustrating the flow between chaos and times of solitude. They explore our curiosity about nature, humanity, the creation of art, and the beauty of travel, as we learn more about others, and if we pay attention, what we learn about ourselves.