The Analog Mix, Jason Momoa
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[00:00:00]
Scott Wyden Kivowitz: There's a man who truly embodies the multi-genre creative. you know him as Aquaman or Khal Drogo. But Jason Momoa is far more than a face on the cinema screen. He is a bassist, a Leica-toting photographer, a man who treats every craft with the same rugged, unpolished intensity. some people see the muscles, but Momoa sees the light. He is a [00:01:00] dedicated Leica collector and photographer. This isn't just a celebrity with an expensive toy. He has been spotted with everything from a vintage 1958 M2 to the modern M10-D. He often works with Leica and Red Digital on his film projects, blending his professional acting world with his passion for stills.
For Jason, photography seems to be about the tactile experience. He once said that Leica whispers to him. It is about capturing the frontier spirit, raw, real, and often shot through the some of the finest glass in the world. Think about that for a second. Between takes of a massive blockbuster, he is often the one behind a rangefinder documenting the soul on the set.
He isn't looking for perfection. He is looking for the story. If the camera is his [00:02:00] eye, the bass guitar is his heartbeat. Jason's love for music is rooted in heavy metal: Tool, Metallica, Black Sabbath. He actually picked up the bass after hearing "Sober" by Tool. Lately, he has taken this passion to the stage with his band, ÖOF TATATÁ The name is Māori, ÖOF, almost, which tells you everything you need to know about Jason's ego. It is his power trio with his longtime friends Mike Hayes and Kenny Dale. When you watch him play his Gibson Thunderbird or his Silver Fender, you don't see a movie star. You see a guy who is genuinely terrified and thrilled to be there.
He has admitted that playing live is rejuvenating because there are no retakes. It is immediate, exposed, and loud. [00:03:00] Whether he's jamming with Jack Black or playing a sold-out show at Blue Note Hawaii The music is a way for him to recharge the creative battery. What can we, as photographers and musicians, learn from Jason Momoa?
It is the idea that these genres aren't separate. His acting is fueled by the rhythm of the music he listens to on set. his photography captures a stillness between the loud moments of his life. reminds us that being a multi-hyphenate isn't about being the best in the world at three different things.
It's about the bravery to be a beginner, even when the world expects you to be a master. It is about facing the fear of a live audience or the precision of a manual focus lens and saying, " Let's see what happens." Thanks for listening to this episode of Lenses & Lyrics. Go out, grab your gear, and [00:04:00] find your own rhythm.