2012 in photos

Another year, another slew of exhibitions, gigs and chance encounters caught on camera; scroll down to the gallery to see what our year looked like in 2012. Here’s to a 2013 that’s just as colourful.

1. An early favourite of this year, Kindness’ intimate performance at Dalston’s Arcola Tent in February – prior to the release of ‘World, You Need A Change of Mind’ – was slightly formalist, but an easy-going disco-infused extravaganza nonetheless.
2. With spring came SXSW and Dummy XO – our official showcase featuring faves like Nguzunguzu, d’Eon and CFCF. Erez Avissar stopped by to catch the action, with Blondes’ impromptu on-floor performance providing one of the showcase’s loveliest surprises.
3. If ‘R.I.P.’ was Actress really blending his broad aesthetic palette and creating his most original and contemplative work, then the move was pre-figured in his first Werkhaus Exhibition at the end of last year. With block sculptures of the angular figure that adorned his latest album, metal, industrial light and rows of blank televisions – it was a novel glimpse into the mind of the mystery man.
4. The spooky Canadian electro-pop duo Purity Ring stopped by before the release of their July debut to discuss their evocative sound with us. Mikael Gregorsky’s dark, cracking photographs genuinely look like they were from another other time and place.
5. Digital Mystikz producer and dubstep pioneer Mala released his continent-stepping ‘Mala in Cuba’ project this year on Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood Recordings label. Illias Terlinck caught up with him taking some downtime in Antwerp before his European tour.
6. Aoise Tutty had the enviable job of documenting the festival season for Dummy this year, attending the Secret Garden Party, Dimensions in Croatia and the Notting Hill Carnival. There were plenty of the usual goings-on, and some thankfully good weather, but this quieter take of huddled crowds under a larger-than-life prop captures the spirit of the long summer weekends charmingly.
7. We were more than a little excited when we saw the photos Grace Villamil took of ex-Battles frontman Tyondai Braxton and the legendary Phillip Glass in preparation for a run of shows at the Southbank Centre. A great glimpse of a brilliant pair of American avant-garde composers, whether practicing at home or backstage and wowing at the front.
8. When ice cold LA singer Nite Jewel stopped off to perform at London’s XOYO this summer, Amelia King got to spend some time hanging around Hoxton with the star before the show.
9. Unicorn Kid’s big, exuberant sound is as much a product of the upper reaches of the Top 10 as it is of ‘future-conceptualist’ experiments or the homegrown chiptone he made when a teenager, a blurred aesthetic perfectly encapsulated in Laura Coulson’s part-psychedelic, light washed portraits.
10. October saw a wealth of left-field talent head to Brum for the 10th Supersonic Festival. Mikael Gregorsky was on hand to snap some of the adventurous line-up – including Tim Hecker, Hype Williams, Jarboe of Swans and Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe.
11. Gauzy R&B maestro How to Dress Well has long been a Dummy favourite and, lucky for us, we were able to take some photos of the man himself when he dropped by our office. In soft focus and comfy sweats, naturally.
12. Earlier this month, Dummy spoke to Montreal-based musician Majical Cloudz about his shift from freaky electro to the bare soul-infused ballads on the EP ‘Turns, Turns, Turns’. To coincide, Sarah O’Driscoll shot a simple and intimate set of photographs of frontman Welsh and live-band member in their hometown.