The music and character of Alex Roeka is intense and unpolished. Which could sound like getting some great shots would be easy. But nothing is as simple as it seems. We walked for many hours, even days, through the cobblestone streets of Antwerp, Belgium and immersed ourselves in the nature of The Netherlands. We had hours of long conversations and from time to time an unexpected magic moment would appear. And afterwards, of course, the never-ending discussion while we were going through the pictures together.
Alex once asked the famous Dutch writer Arno Grunberg for his opinion about the cover photo for abum ‘Gegroefd’. Grunberg pointed at the honey jar photo and said we should go with that one. “Good choice,” I said – Alex looks great in that photo, but it’s not the cover.” The photo with his hand resting on his chin was the cover. Alex Roeka won an Edison Award and the album has been reissued. People were waiting in line at Alex’s signing sessions with 2, sometimes 3 albums in their hands. Afterwards, we went back to different photo locations to use it for the videos.
For the album Voort! I had to convince Alex to take his shirt off, and 50 metres before we started to climb that hill he adamantly refused. But once he reached the top he lost his shame and there was the album cover. I not only shot an album cover then but also three single covers.
