Electronic producer Gold Panda is set to release a new book of photography with London-based photographer Laura Lewis next month, Good Luck and Do Your Best. The hardback is the counterpart to Gold Panda’s recent album of the same name and sets out to capture the rich sounds, moods and colours of suburban Japan. When in Hirsoshima, the pair were told “ganbatte, kudasa,” which roughly translates to the album’s title, which has now been added to the book as well.
Some of the artwork has already been used as part of Gold Panda’s artwork, and is currently nominated for the prestigious AOP Photography Awards. The book’s designer – Zoe Anspach – is also nominated at the minute for an award at the British Book Design and Production Awards.
Lewis commented: “Derwin (Gold Panda) and I met in early 2014 after Gareth Dobson at Wichita Recordings had given him a copy of my book ‘People. Places. Things.’ Derwin had some rough ideas for a project – which would eventually become his third album – and asked if I’d like to accompany him on a trip to Japan to take photographs. We spent two weeks travelling and adventuring in various places throughout Japan. I really fell in love with Japan – the country and the people, their hard-working demeanour and the ever-present concept of doing one’s best.”
Gold Panda said: “Making and performing music has led to me travelling to many countries but Japan is one of the few places in the world where I feel at home. It’s a place I am happy to travel to and I spend my time there free from anxiety. When I travel for work, as I am whizzed by train, plane or car past cities, towns, villages and houses, I wonder what it is like there, what people are doing. I want to get off the train and look around. Is it the same as Chelmsford, UK? My self-confidence and fear of the unknown gets the better of me and I never do.”
Good Luck and Do Your Best is available to pre-order now.
