Photo Story: G L /\ S S M /\ P S

by | Jul 26, 2017

One of the hottest, most oppressive days in London this summer made a trip to visit Joel Stein in Brighton an even more appealing prospect. Little did I know, this visit with Joel, formerly of Howling Bells, and now performing solo as G L /\ S S M /\ P S, would be one of the silliest photo sessions I’ve had in ages.

G L / S S M / P S (Rachel lipsitz)

G L / S S M / P S (Rachel lipsitz)

Having recently relocated to Brighton, Joel and his wife Sandra, who came along were great to hang out with and allayed any fears I may have had about the dreaded ‘awkward subject’ a common species when you shoot a lot of bands. He was super relaxed and up for anything, including climbing on to beach hut roof to stand in front of a giant plastic dog that I thought looked cool.

G L / S S M / P S (Rachel lipsitz)

G L / S S M / P S (Rachel lipsitz)

G L / S S M / P S (Rachel lipsitz)

G L / S S M / P S (Rachel lipsitz)
Doing the touristy Pier trip took on a new dimension when trying to shoot among old arcade games and dodgems lights whose retro style make for great settings. Between this and a walk up to some chip shops and bars for more photos, my respite from the stagnant heat of London was as productive as it was necessary.
G L / S S M / P S (Rachel Lipsitz)
G L / S S M / P S (Rachel lipsitz)
Any photographer knows that  it’s always good to have some ideas and locations in mind for any shoot but that it’s equally important to be open to incorporating ideas that crop up spontaneously. To this point, Joel had some great suggestions that never would have occurred to me and that worked really well. I was eager to shoot in the arcade but didn’t even think of shooting wide to include the whole scene around him which such a different feel to shooting up close which I would have done. What a great way to see a new city, especially when it’s full of breezy sea air on this hottest of summer days.
G L / S S M / P S (Rachel Lipsitz)
Photo Story by Rachel Lipsitz
The single Summer Rain is out now:

 

Jeff Lynne Cancels Final ELO Show At BST Hyde Park 2025 Following Illness

In a heartbreaking development for fans, Jeff Lynne’s Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) have cancelled what was set to be their final ever UK performance at BST Hyde Park on Sunday 13 July 2025. The decision follows Lynne’s continued ill health and comes just days after the group’s second show at Manchester’s Co-op Live on 10th July was pulled moments before showtime, after the venue had already filled with fans. Lynne, 77, has been battling a systemic infection and is now under close medical supervision.

Olivia Dean @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Kalpesh Patel)

Olivia Dean Warms A Damp Hyde Park With Soulful Resilience At BST Hyde Park 2025

Though clouds still loomed and the ground remained squelchy underfoot, Olivia Dean brought a welcome calm and undeniable warmth to BST Hyde Park’s Great Oak Stage on Sunday afternoon. Following a weather-disrupted opening set by Amber Mark — whose performance was cut short by a torrential downpour — Dean arrived as the skies cleared, bringing poise, polish, and powerful vocals to a crowd that refused to let a bit of British summer rain dampen their spirits.

Clairo @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Kalpesh Patel)

Clairo Brings Soft Focus And Dreamy Intimacy To The Great Oak Stage At BST Hyde Park 2025

In the golden lull between a dramatic afternoon downpour and Sabrina Carpenter’s headline pop spectacle, Clairo turned London’s Great Oak Stage into a sanctuary of softness and reflection. Her early evening performance at BST Hyde Park on Sunday 6th July offered a tender contrast to the festival’s typically high-energy crescendo, inviting the crowd into a quieter, more introspective space.

Jessie Murph (Press)

Jessie Murph Announces Bold New Album ‘Sex Hysteria’, Shares Vulnerable New Single ‘Bad As The Rest’

Boundary-breaking rising star Jessie Murph has unveiled her latest single Bad As The Rest, offering a raw and emotionally charged glimpse into her upcoming sophomore album Sex Hysteria, due out on 18th July via Columbia Records.

The Jacques (Nick Sayers)

The Jacques Announce Riotous New Single ‘All The Other Sinners’ Ahead of Second Album ‘Make Repetition!’

London/Bristol alt-rock trio The Jacques are ramping up momentum ahead of their second album Make Repetition! with the release of their blistering new single All The Other Sinners — a searing, melody-drenched slice of chaos and catharsis out now.

Cam @ The Tabernacle (Henry Finnegan / @finneganfoto)

Cam Captivates London With A Night Of Raw Vocals And Real Stories At The Tabernacle

In a sweltering Tabernacle, a somehow both vast and intimate venue, a sweat-soaked audience filled every seat for...
J.Fla (Press)

J.Fla Redefines Herself With Empowering New Single ‘Stellar Paradox’

South Korean singer-songwriter and YouTube sensation J.Fla has taken a giant leap into the cosmos with her newest release, Stellar Paradox, marking the start of a bold new chapter in her musical journey. Known to millions for her viral YouTube covers, J.Fla now turns the spotlight firmly onto her own voice with a genre-blending, emotionally charged original that paves the way for her highly anticipated upcoming EP, due in late summer 2025.

Chloe Qisha @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Kalpesh Patel)

Chloe Qisha Closes The Rainbow Stage In Style At BST Hyde Park 2025

After a tempestuous afternoon that saw Hyde Park lashed by torrential rain and set times thrown into flux, it was Chloe Qisha who restored the calm — and then brought the fire — as she closed the Rainbow Stage on Sunday evening with a confident, emotionally astute set that proved worth the wait.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing