When photographer Brian David Stevens moved to Ladbroke Grove he found himself at the beating heart of West London’s annual Notting hill carnival. On his way to work, at a local gallery, Stevens would see people setting up and getting ready for the event. One specific element catch his eye; the towering speaker rigs and sound systems sat on the streets like “modern monoliths”. In the summer of 2004 Stevens woke early to capture these sonic sculptures, resulting in his series Notting Hill Sound Systems.
In a reprise of this series shot twelve years ago, Stevens is releasing a new book cataloguing those original images alongside more recent photos of ‘wrapped’ or covered sound systems – further simplifying the shapes and form. Published by Cafe Royal books on 27th July, here Stevens talks us through the series and his carnival memories.
Read more at: Brian David Stevens on his Notting Hill Sound Systems collection