There’s an essential library of well-known books that you’ll find more often than not in a sound man’s house. All Crews by Brian Belle-Fortune, Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop by Jeff Chang and Bass Culture by Lloyd Bradley on the narrative tip, then Behind The Beat by Raph, Dust & Grooves from Eilon Paz and Joe Mansfield’s Beat Box for record collection and gear porn. You’re likely going to find at least one of them if not all.
Every bookshelf seems to have Banksy’s Wall and Piece as well, though that’s a topic for a different time.
Officially out last week, 313ONELOVE is a book we’ve been waiting for. Put together by Berlin based photographer Marie Staggat, it’s a collection of images capturing the Motor City’s electronic musical pioneers up close and personal.
320 pages deep and consisting of over 170 portraits of Detroit’s musical pillars, the photography is likely not what you’re expecting. Instead of studio and rave shots, producers in chairs in front of mixing desks or DJs on the decks, Staggat has focussed on the tools that develop the music’s personality; the ears and hands of the creators.
Appropriately dropping last week on 31.3, the book is released in collaboration with Carhartt, available exclusively through their Carhartt WIP stores and at the various launch events, the first one of which was in Berlin on the day with Underground Resistance band Timeline playing and the next of which will be during Movement in Detroit in May.
While we’re on topic, let’s change tact quickly, and talk about the business behind the book. Detroit continues to have it’s name snuck in to reviews and release info from labels looking to describe a sound and style of electronic music. Which could actually be seen as a worthwhile legacy for the D, despite it’s overuse.
And some have questioned Carhartt’s involvement in this project designed as a love letter to the city. Firstly, without their involvement this wouldn’t have happened. Secondly, and most importantly, Carhartt is a Detroit success story. Founded in 1889, the headquarters are still in Michigan. When others moved out, Carhartt stayed true to it’s roots, and 313ONELOVE is a legitimate project.
I can’t big up the London crew enough, sending themselves over to Notting Hill to grab a copy of this for me. If they allowed their presence to be 
felt online there’d be maximum kudos and praising going on here.
313ONELOVE is a book project by Berlin based photographer Marie Staggat.
The pages within this book capture some of the most influential techno and house artists from Detroit. It captures an array of interviews and some of their fondest memories of the time spent up close and very personal through the lens of her camera.
This book is not only a dedication through the clicks of her shutter, but is a charity project to support children of all ages who also share the same passion and love for music. With at least 120 artists captured in the most eloquent style as only Marie has captured at best. The close-ups and the definitive portraits of these artist’s hands and ears, that represent the “tools” necessary to create the music of these artists. Yes, It would have been simple to do full body shots or photos of them in front of the machines they work from, but capturing the foundation where music is mastered, “hands and ears,” is what makes this book more profound than others before this one. Detroit has been an inspiration for many music industries. House and Techno would not exist the way it does today had it not been for the artists portrayed within her book. Marie hopes that you too will enjoy the experience as you read the interviews, share in the memories, recite the poems, delight in the drawings and be inspired by the hand written “wise” saying as she was and still is.
Enjoy and thank you for supporting this project.
Love and respect
And just because it’s a beautifully structured list, here’s a list of artists featured. Grab one as soon as you can.
Ann Saunderson / Aux88 / Alan Oldham / A Number of Names / Archer Mike / Andy Toth / Angie Linder / Alan Ester / Art Payne / Amp Fiddler / Andy Garcia / Blake Baxter / Buzz Goree / Bruce Baily / Bone Subject / Bill Beaver / Carl Craig / Claude Young Craig Huckaby / Clark Drive
