Adrian Younge Captures Bandmate Jack Waterson on Leica Film
Adrian Younge captures candid Leica film portraits of guitarist Jack Waterson live on tour
Reshmi Das has over four years of experience as a content writer, covering parenting and films. She writes for Hollywoodjunction and Momjunction. Her interest in journaling and writing made this biotechnology postgraduate to take up content as her full-time profession.
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On his current tour, composer-producer Adrian Younge is swapping studio lights for natural stage backdrops—armed with a vintage Leica M3. Over the past weeks, Younge has been sharing black-and-white film stills of his band’s guitarist, Jack R. Waterson, revealing the raw energy of live performance and the quiet moments in between.
On The Road With Leica M3
From sweaty club basements to sold-out theaters, Younge’s Leica M3 has been a constant companion. Each frame captures Waterson’s flawless timing and expressive stage presence: fingers flying across the fretboard, sweat glistening under spotlights, and candid smiles caught mid-riff. The grainy texture of Kodak film adds an analog warmth, humbling the over-produced visuals of modern rock photography.
A Photographer’s Touch
Younge explains the project in his Instagram caption: “Some amazing shots of my dear friend and bandmate @jackrwaterson (guitarist) on our current tour with my Leica M3. I love taking shots of him when he least expects it because of how naturally photogenic this guy is and what an incredible player as well. And by the way, have you heard our album together? Vinyl: linearlabsmusic.com #leicam3 #film #kodak.”
The authenticity of these images comes from their spontaneity. Younge often waits until Waterson is lost in a solo, then clicks the shutter without warning—resulting in candid expressions that feel more like private snapshots than staged promo shots.
Album Release: Vinyl And More
While the tour has been the backdrop for Younge’s film series, it’s also supporting the duo’s latest record. Fans can pick up the vinyl at linearlabsmusic.com. Earlier this year, Younge teased his Something About April trilogy on vinyl, writing on Instagram: “The Something About April trilogy: vinyl at linearlabsmusic.com.” This ongoing love for analog media ties back to his passion for film photography and vinyl pressing.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ1yrVoJn-K/
That post marked the first of three installments—each blending Younge’s signature psychedelic soul with lush orchestration. Most recently, he completed the trilogy with Something About April III, an all-Portuguese vocals project that he describes as “the album I’ve been diggin’ for in the deepest crates of my soul.”
Behind The Scenes With Adrian Younge
Adrian Younge, 45, is an American composer, multi-instrumentalist and record producer based in Los Angeles. He co-founded the Jazz Is Dead label and has scored films like Black Dynamite (2009) and Netflix’s Luke Cage series. His work often weaves vintage instrumentation with modern beats, earning critical praise and a dedicated following.
On tour, Younge switches roles seamlessly: one moment he’s conducting his 10-piece orchestra, the next he’s crouched in the wings composing a setlist or framing a photo. His Leica M3 captures more than performance—it documents friendship, craft and the tactile world of analog art in a digital age.
Future dates include city stops in New York, Chicago and São Paulo, with ticket info on jazzisdead.com. Meanwhile, these film portraits offer fans a fresh viewpoint on Waterson’s talent and Younge’s eye for detail.
Whether you come for the soundtrack or stay for the visuals, the tour proves that music and photography remain inseparable companions in Younge’s creative journey. The tactile hiss of film and vinyl crackle remind us that some stories are best told one frame at a time, one groove at a time.
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