Backstage Pass

Ad-Rock, the Beastie Boys

Montréal

“He looks like Robert De Niro. It was after a show at the Métropolis in the outdoor backstage. After that pose, I asked him to give me a more natural stance; I was curious to see what he’d look like without playing it up. But he said, ‘Oh, but I always pose!’”

Julien Mineau, Malajube

Austin

“I played on both of Malajube’s albums, so we go way back. We were together at SXSW in Texas, and it was so hot, and yet Julien was still wearing his toque. Talk about a fetish! Like Courtney Taylor, he’s got a real aura. It’s intangible.”

Eleni Mandell

Montréal

“Isn’t she pretty? And she’s so nice. I got there late, literally 30 seconds before she went onstage. She understood the project right way. Within moments, she gave me the shot: a quick last glance at herself in the mirror. Presto! Instant glam.”

For more of Valérie's photos, go to vjkphotos.com.