Jim Newberry, author of Chicago Music, Seen: 100 Portraits, answers questions about his new book.

Q: Why did you decide to write this book?

I had been photographing people in the Chicago music community for almost 40 years, and realized there was great raw material for a photography book on that topic.

Q: What is the most interesting discovery you made while researching and writing your book?

Time flew by quickly since I shot the earliest photograph in the book; Brian Belknap, 1987. After finishing an assignment, I’d rarely revisit the photos, I’d just move on to the next gig. It was fascinating to look back at photographs from so long ago, some I had forgotten about.

Q: What myths do you hope your book will dispel or what do you hope your book will help readers unlearn?

I hope people who see this book will understand how incredibly diverse the Chicago music scene was and continues to be. My book features not only musicians playing blues, rock, and hip hop, but also no wave, improvisation, country, post-rock, house, and more.

Q: Which part of the publishing process did you find the most interesting?

A big challenge in making the book was deciding which photos to include, which meant excluding many, many artists, including good friends. I decided on 100 portraits, choosing images that I found to be the strongest, and that would work well together, to form a cohesive series. I felt quite fortunate to have hundreds of subjects to choose from, but it was painful to have to leave out so many outstanding musicians.

Q: What is your advice to scholars/authors who want to take on a similar project?

My advice to photographers who want to do something similar; find a unique niche, and cover it extensively. Try to find a scene or corner of the world that is important or otherwise compelling to you, that is not being widely covered. Stay away from subjects that are cliches, obvious, or that you aren’t deeply interested in.

Q: What do you like to read/watch/or listen to for fun?

I love listening to independent, commercial-free radio stations like WFMU, KXLU, WNUR, WLPN, etc. I’m grateful that in these days of media conglomeration and Spotify, you can still tune in to college kids playing tracks they’re excited about, without any corporate or other interference.

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