Anton Coene is a notorious photographer who resides in the picture-perfect town of Ghent, Belgium. For some time now he has been working with numerous bands. He describes himself as a hawk circling above its prey as he follows these bands, these people and gives an insight of what being in a band is all about. He tries to capture the moment as it is and his landscapes are as impressive as his portraits.
KALTBLUT: How did you get into photography?
Anton: Thinking back about it makes me realize it might ‘ve been around all the time. My mom was born and lived for a few years in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Unfortunately, her parents died when I was really young, leaving a whole lot of stories and views of the world behind. Their incredibly interesting life only existed for me through some photo and sketch books we still have. Because everything in the books is based on Congo, it enlarged my fantasy enormously. My dad has a huge collection of slides and 8mm film from back in the days. I remember going through them a lot too. When I was a kid I thought the world used to be in black and white. I used to ask my dad a lot how the world was when it was still colorless and how he felt when it changed to color.
There were always cameras laying around the house but the biggest influence for getting into photography was probably my cousin. He got into art school at a pretty young age and talked me into it subconsciously. It was the best decision ever. I connected the dots between music and photography rather soon once I got in there. A lot of my new friends were also into playing music and formed bands. I couldn’t hit a single note on any instrument so the camera was at the same time kinda my way of being part of it all.
KALTBLUT: How is life on the road inspiring for you?
Anton: It is in many ways. Being able to see a large chunk of the world with some people who inspire me a lot and who’re also digging deep for their creativity, sometimes feels like a blessing. Not always though. Because I mainly don’t tour with big ass artists, being on the road is often associated with having no money and combining awesome days with shitty ones. You live with a bunch of people in small spaces for weeks, having barely any privacy or alone time. Sometimes you sleep on hard floors or in bad reeking cellars. Or just that same small bus bunk for weeks. It can be rough. But at the same time there’s something poetic and beautiful about it. I love it. The freedom of leaving things behind feels so liberating.
And, you know, I learned it’s something luxurious as well. My sense of reality is probably not very accurate anymore, but I don’t care much about it. Living in a world where money, governments and soap stories aren’t really part of, well, that’s pretty cool.
KALTBLUT: What’s the importance of music in your life?
Anton: It defines kinda everything. All I did in the latest few years, was working in the shadow of some musical matters. There’s always music around and if it isn’t the band playing, it’s someone spinning some records. Whilst on tour, I barely put on some of the tunes I’m carrying around, neither do I put on headphones very often. I like participating in someone else’s musical choices. You get to learn a lot of cool stuff if you’re just open enough for everything around you.
So yea, my work has an undeniable connection with music. No photos without it. But at the same time it’s really important to preserve that connection. I don’t really relate with a lot of the bands around these days, and I know if I’d tour or work with stuff I don’t dig, I’d soon get tired of it all.
But also emotionally music has always been of great importance. Music can bring me to places for a certain amount of time, in some sort of zone, out of this world, but without it being like running away. It creates a mood set I really like and need, or it gives me an answer or some better insights on whatever’s going on.
Maybe it isn’t too much to say that music kinda keeps me alive. It also feeds my stomach and fills the car with fuel. For the last few years, you could say I dedicated my life to music, but it also gave me a lot in return.
KALTBLUT: Is there an experience that has shaped you more than others?
Anton: I never really thought about that. And I guess my answer would be no. I believe you can learn a lot from both good and bad experiences, but for life lessons, I tend to think the bad ones are the biggest game changers. And I wonder, would there be anyone left these days who didn’t have to deal with any shit in the past? Probably not. So in that way, I’m no different to anyone else. We all got our demons.
I had a very confusing year around my 16th birthday and maybe that has shaped me the most. I was glad discovering both music and photography around that time, because it gave me back directions. And, you know, maybe I knew a little earlier than others what I’d like to achieve emotionally. There was no way I’d settle with life as they taught it in school. Life isn’t fair, and mostly too short. Money doesn’t make you rich, but walking many roads in life does. And honestly, what I’d love to do is just walk and keep on walking those roads.
Interview by Amanda M. Jansson
