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Nick Helderman is a young photographer to whom the term ‘upcoming’ does not apply. When one sees his work it’s like he has always been there, with an all-seeing, non-judging eye. In 2005 Helderman, at the time a Graphic Design student, started taking pictures of Dutch bands, like Bettie Serveert and Voicst, performing in a small venue in his hometown. Soon, he followed the bands on their journey throughout Holland, and five years later he has travelled the globe with bands like Women, The Ex and Sleepy Sun, and visited independent music festivals from Poland to Mexico. His travels have resulted in intimate documentation of the musicians behind Pissed Jeans, Les Savy Fav, Bowerbirds, Health and Megafaun, to name a few.

In his work, Helderman has quickly shifted from being a distant observer to being part of the entourage. But his attention never wanes: he is the photographer, not the subject. His camera serves as a framework around reality, highlighting the extraordinary in the ordinary. His pictures exhume sincerity without the sloganesque emptiness that often comes with the term. He captures people without the guards and inhibitions they usually adorn themselves with when being photographed, giving new meaning to the term ‘up close and personal’. He captures music without the music: the backstage, the tour van, the exhaustion and the dirt, and the people who immerse themselves in it.

The theme for Incubate 2011, ‘We are Incubate’, revolves around artistic practice and the role of the public in creative collaborations within independent culture. During this year’s festival, Nick Helderman will show a selection of his music photographs. His artistic approach and ideology fit the spirit of Incubate. His work is documentary; Helderman avoids the glitter of the rock cliché’s and prefers to focus on the beauty of the grim. His view on contemporary independent music is as exciting as it is indispensable.