nyc with the Cinelli Brothers!

There are perks, and then there are perks!

I’ve dreamt of seeing NYC since I was a little boy, imagining what it would feel like to walk the streets and feel the buzz of this incredible place. The dream came true with the opportunity to travel with The Cinelli Brothers in January 2024 and document their first headline show at NYC’s famous ‘The Cutting Room’. It was a packed trip, 4 days of shows, recording sessions and parties to the live soundtrack of The Cinelli Brothers infectious brand of Blues & Soul!

This was actually my second trip to the US with the Cinelli Brothers. The first trip was to Woodstock in March 2023 to film them recording their latest album ‘Almost Exactly’, but this second trip was all about the big lights of NYC! And it didn’t disappoint.

“The highlight of the trip was filming the guys at a live to vinyl recording session in a Brooklyn studio. They came alive, everything was cut in real time to vinyl as they played, no overdubs, no edits. Just raw musicianship. It was amazing to watch.”

I travelled with a compact setup. A handheld Sony FX3, a 24mm lens and a vintage Russian lens to capture the mood of this relentless city that really doesn’t ever sleep! I love filming like this. You’re not distracted by kit, lighting, shooting schedules etc - you can just be fully immersed in the surroundings and try things out. That’s when the best things happen (plus it means I can dodge the headache of planning and pre-production!).

This was a truly unforgettable trip. Check out the short documentary below which gives a bit of a flavour of the trip!

Tom x