Alexander Singh is today's featured photographer. A native of Sydney, Australia living in New York, somewhere along the line Alex became the go-to shooter for Tokyo’s whacked-out synth pop performance art quintet, Trippple Nippples. He's toured China and Europe with them, sometimes acting as their manager and other times running from rogue bicycle gangs in Amsterdam with them. Apparently it’s a pretty good gig.VICE: Hi Alex, what can you tell us about these pictures?
Alex: Well these were taken when the band played in Paris, a few smaller towns in France, Amsterdam, London, and Madrid.Did you just happen to be there by coincidence or were you traveling with them?
I was traveling with them. We first toured together in China in 2010. I'm going with them to Europe again this August.What’s touring with Trippple Nippples like?
At this point we're like a middle American family with a motor home; every time we meet up it’s like a mini reunion. A lot of in-jokes and little sleep.That's a great image.
Yeah, but you're probably imagining a top of the line RV. I'm talking about a couple of push bikes held together by Duct tape with a microwave in the flower basket. There's probably tassels somewhere.
Who’s who in this family scenario?
When we were in Grenoble, the manager of the venue asked who their tour manager was and they spontaneously nominated me. From that point on I took the role of the irate grandfather with a wooden walking cane, modest gray beard, Birkenstock sandals, and bladder problems.And the others?
It's like a lost tribe of kids… a sort of Neverland rip off. Except with us, disputes are resolved with a thumb war.Generally smooth sailing, then?
Well, there was the time we got ambushed and beaten up by the Dolphins. They're a bunch of vigilantes who roam Amsterdam on bikes, dolling out punishment to stoned tourists and troublemakers. We had a run in with one of them the first day we were there but didn't think anything of it.What kind of a run in?
We literally ran into him with our bikes. He had some friends nearby who perked up and tried to instigate something. There was a momentary stand off, but the situation was diffused and we cycled off. Then, after the show, we headed out to explore the city. Next thing we knew two dozen of the guys converged on us. We had to scatter.You got away?
Well Elliot (drums) took a pretty good beating, but he's used to it. He forces us to hit him with his sticks before each gig. It’s his normal preparation ritual.Did they do much damage?
Nothing that a lot of tape, a chiropractor, and some weed couldn't fix.Sheesh. How did you come to be their resident photographer anyway?
I met them when they played at an event in Sydney.And you just hit it off?
Well I only met them that night, and only the girls, but we kept in touch and I said "Let me be a part of your insanity," and they agreed. I knew I wanted to work with them as a long-term project.
It seems like the documentation of this band might be as important as the performance. Would you agree?
I am egotistical enough to concur with your statement.I just mean it’d be a shame if the visual aspects of their shows—the outfits, makeup, etc.—weren't captured somehow.
Yeah definitely. They've been touring in Japan the last few weeks and their latest outfits are the craziest I've seen. It's a shame I can't be there for it. But yeah, any kind of interesting creative idea deserves to be documented.And how do you go about documenting Trippple Nippples?
This band is a little different. I've always tried to approach my "documentary" work on a more conceptual level; sometimes I photograph what I see, but to capture and convey the broader world that they inhabit, there are also a lot of directed, staged images. They're really so much more than their music, which I think you can see in their costumes, attitudes, performance art pieces, and so on. Having the opportunity to explore that distorted reality is what really interests me. Exploring what's inside the band's hive mind.
http://alexsingh.com/
ΔΙΑΦΗΜΙΣΗ
Alex: Well these were taken when the band played in Paris, a few smaller towns in France, Amsterdam, London, and Madrid.Did you just happen to be there by coincidence or were you traveling with them?
I was traveling with them. We first toured together in China in 2010. I'm going with them to Europe again this August.What’s touring with Trippple Nippples like?
At this point we're like a middle American family with a motor home; every time we meet up it’s like a mini reunion. A lot of in-jokes and little sleep.That's a great image.
Yeah, but you're probably imagining a top of the line RV. I'm talking about a couple of push bikes held together by Duct tape with a microwave in the flower basket. There's probably tassels somewhere.
When we were in Grenoble, the manager of the venue asked who their tour manager was and they spontaneously nominated me. From that point on I took the role of the irate grandfather with a wooden walking cane, modest gray beard, Birkenstock sandals, and bladder problems.And the others?
It's like a lost tribe of kids… a sort of Neverland rip off. Except with us, disputes are resolved with a thumb war.Generally smooth sailing, then?
Well, there was the time we got ambushed and beaten up by the Dolphins. They're a bunch of vigilantes who roam Amsterdam on bikes, dolling out punishment to stoned tourists and troublemakers. We had a run in with one of them the first day we were there but didn't think anything of it.
ΔΙΑΦΗΜΙΣΗ
We literally ran into him with our bikes. He had some friends nearby who perked up and tried to instigate something. There was a momentary stand off, but the situation was diffused and we cycled off. Then, after the show, we headed out to explore the city. Next thing we knew two dozen of the guys converged on us. We had to scatter.You got away?
Well Elliot (drums) took a pretty good beating, but he's used to it. He forces us to hit him with his sticks before each gig. It’s his normal preparation ritual.Did they do much damage?
Nothing that a lot of tape, a chiropractor, and some weed couldn't fix.Sheesh. How did you come to be their resident photographer anyway?
I met them when they played at an event in Sydney.And you just hit it off?
Well I only met them that night, and only the girls, but we kept in touch and I said "Let me be a part of your insanity," and they agreed. I knew I wanted to work with them as a long-term project.
I am egotistical enough to concur with your statement.I just mean it’d be a shame if the visual aspects of their shows—the outfits, makeup, etc.—weren't captured somehow.
Yeah definitely. They've been touring in Japan the last few weeks and their latest outfits are the craziest I've seen. It's a shame I can't be there for it. But yeah, any kind of interesting creative idea deserves to be documented.
ΔΙΑΦΗΜΙΣΗ
This band is a little different. I've always tried to approach my "documentary" work on a more conceptual level; sometimes I photograph what I see, but to capture and convey the broader world that they inhabit, there are also a lot of directed, staged images. They're really so much more than their music, which I think you can see in their costumes, attitudes, performance art pieces, and so on. Having the opportunity to explore that distorted reality is what really interests me. Exploring what's inside the band's hive mind.
ROYCE AKERSPHOTOS BY ALEXANDER SINGH
http://alexsingh.com/