Alexi Hobbs
Where are you from/based now?
I am both from and currently based in Montreal, Quebec
What is your background in photography, what got you into it?
I discovered real photography and became obsessed after traveling for a year around Australia. Since then, it has never let me down.
What equipment do you use?
Mainly a Mamiya 7 and an RZ67, but I have also used a bunch of other cameras.
What is your working process? Do you plan a lot or is it more spontaneous?
Mostly spontaneous, but I do some spontaneous planning as well. But I am not the kind of photographer who sorts out every last detail of the finished photograph before shooting. I like having surprises as they usually end up being good ones.
How did your project 'Along the St-Maurice River' come about? Any plan to do a similar study on a different place?
This project came about after I drove up the river, on my way to my family's hunting cabin in the woods to shoot my previous series, Hunters and heirs. It was a glorious morning, with this crazy soft pink light, I'd never seen anything like it. So i shot a little on the way and suddenly became really interested in the region and ended up visiting it once a year since then.
As far as shooting another region, I've got on ongoing project in the Eastern Townships, and in May I'll be unveiling another part of Quebec I shot as part of a commission last fall...but I can say no more for the time being!
Who or what inspires you and your work? Is there anyone you think we should check out?
I'm inspired by all sorts of stuff. My moods, who tend to go up and down fairly often, are one thing. The people who are near and dear to me, including Isabelle and my roomate Maxyme, who is also a photographer are another. Then there's the Montreal photography community, including people like Jessica Auer, Guillaume Simoneau and way too many others to name here. I also love looking at work from people I've met online, people like Ryan Pfluger, Daniel Shea , Grant Harder and Andrew Querner . I mean it's so crazy how many great photographers there are out there and I feel like we're all seeing everyone's work and it is pushing us all to constantly make the best work we can. Having a community is so so important and it's so just too easy these days to reach out and just say hey dude, I love your work. Cinema is a big source of inspiration too.
Are you working on a project at the moment?
I've started shooting again for myself in the past couple of months, and although there is no concrete project yet, it's yielding some results that I am happy with. For the time being.
I'm also sitting on a bunch of commissioned work that I am just dying to share but have to wait for publication to do so...
Other than that, I've got a show with a couple of my Montreal buddies, Jasmin D'Aigle and Steve Veilleux , coming up in May which I'm stoked about! Finally, I've got a couple of pieces in a group show opening next week at the Jennifer Schwartz Gallery in Atlanta.
CHILL MEGA CHILL RECORDS
So first of who the hell are you guys? how did chill mega chill get started?
We're chill mega chill records. CMC is actually two guys. Me (Tripp) and Ian we both had a desire to help bands we felt deserved attention but were struggling to get their music heard by the masses but we also wanted to create a brand that felt unique on to itself something that represented how we wanted to accomplish things.
So you feel that the design side of the label is just as important as the music you release?
Of course, we obviously don't supply the music, but we create a product that simultaneously acts as an extension of musical taste and represents a tangible product for the user to consume
So how much say do you guys have over the design of the tapes you release?
A lot... we basically ask the artist if they have anything in mind (or pre-made)... if not, then we typically get full creative control, on the design that is.
Being so involved in the design side of things do you have any plans to branch out into other forms of media?
As opposed to tapes?
Like the chiller video for example?
Well, we are currently preparing/finalizing our first vinyl project which we're really excited about
Is it a new artist or one you have already released?
:)
secret
(Fingers crossed its a repress of the ricky eat acid tape!)
haha
I think we are in a place to start doing some represses, we originally did all the dubbing ourselves but this became way too labor intensive and starting getting them done by a professional production co.
So would that be the reason behind the limited numbers or was that already the plan for the label?
Yes, dubbing 50 tapes is hard! time-consuming and unfortunately i'm starting med school in the fall and won't have that kind of time to devote to dubbing tapes :) well fortunately for me, unfortunate for the label but no worries, we plan on running strong :) another reason to stream line the process
You seem to have started off with a strong group of artists, how did you go about getting stuff to release?
Well, when I talked with ian initially, we both presented artists that we were wanting to work with, me: galapagos and ian: ricky eat acid
Working with someone else must lead to the odd argument about what to release, or are you pretty similar in tastes?
No arguments at all! we totally vibe off eachother
Do you try and vary the type of artists you release, or just relese what ever the hell you like?
No need to vary... we just ask whoever we love. The music we listen to just happens to be pretty varied.
Is there any profit in this or is it a straight up for the love of it type label? as you guys seem to have a pretty steady flow of releases
So one might think we get profit but actually we tune or expenses and profit just right as to keep a steady release flow, while looking ahead for bigger and better creative projects to tackle. so yes we do see a slight profit from our releases however it all goes to the next release and stickers, button.
soon: tshirts
Good to see people are there for the music first
:)
With such heavy involvement in the design do you have any plans to branch out into designing for other artists/labels?
Hmmmmm no plans
I mean we do things to help out other friends but merely small website stuff, like an image here or there but nothing big. ian probably does a bit more.
Do you guys have a background in art or design or just something you enjoy doing?
No background for me, just enjoy it, kind of picked it up. always been a creative person really.
Either you or ian make music? and if so will we ever hear any of it on chill mega?
haha I used to play a lot of instruments back in the day. Drums, saxophone, guitar however, once I graduated and started real life all those things sort of faded. so in short, I couldn't see putting out any music on cmc, not sure bout Ian
So no soft rock/smooth jazz project from you then?
Haha no
Any other labels or artists you hyping at the moment?
hmmm
Anyone our readers should check out? if anyone reads this that is
I'm really really really into sloslylove right now and their recent v-day release secret dreams we'd love to work with them, at least I would.
Any upcoming releases you can tell us about?
Yeah, we're gearing up for our next two releases
hips and houndsds, those will be ready real soon
Limited numbers again or have theses been dubbed by a company?
Professionally done :) only 50 though
Whats your personal favourite tape released by yourselves?
Haha they're all great! every release has been a unique experience and it's been fun to learn and grow with each tape. They're all of equal importance in my book and thus equal love
Very diplomatic answer
How about you? What's been your favorite?
Ricky Eat Acid is the first I heard from you guys and my favourite
Haha most excellent, well let's just say that there's more fun stuff for you
Now that you have a good roster of artists any plans to do some live events? Maybe a chill mega chill mini fest?
Hmmm hadn't thought about that, but yeah!
Bandcamp
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