Photographer Niña Sandejas To Launch Photo Book On Greyhoundz

Seasoned Filipino music photographer Niña Sandejas has entered the field of publishing with the launch of her new imprint, alt164 Press and its debut title — a photo book on Pinoy nu metal icons Greyhoundz, simply titled Greyhoundz.

For over two decades now, Sandejas’ subjects have comprised a who’s who of Filipino rock and alternative, including Rivermaya, Eraserheads, Urbandub, Slapshock, Kitchie Nadal, Kamikazee, Sponge Cola, and more, but it is with Greyhoundz that she has had the most in-depth and long-term relationship with — and not only because she is married to the band’s bassist, Niño Avenido. “What started out as an assignment, ended up as one of the most important parts of her life’s work,” says a press release shared by the publishing imprint. “It is the product of two decades of shared life.”

“Sandejas began photographing the band in the early years of her career and has maintained access to them across the highs and lows, peak years, periods of hiatus, and ongoing return,” continues the press release. “The book draws from that archive in full: formation through renaissance, the full arc of a band that never entirely went away.”

The photographer herself adds, “I was photographing Greyhoundz for years, and when I finally sat with all of the photographs, it became clear I was actually documenting something about survival. Theirs. Mine. The way music holds people together when nothing else does.”

On the announcement video posted today (April 18) on Sandejas’ Facebook page, the veteran photographer gives a sneak peek of the book and asks for support to raise funds for its production, “so I can deliver it as it should be, made in the way you’re supposed to see it,” she says. With this, preorders for Greyhoundz have been opened via alt164 Press’ website, and it is scheduled for release in September of this year.

As figuratively heavy as Greyhoundz’ music itself, the deluxe red and gold hardcover book is set to contain 408 pages of over two decades’ worth of Sandejas’ photographs of the band — live on stage, backstage, and unguarded moments in between. According to the press release, “It is the first comprehensive visual record ever published of the band, and the first release from an imprint whose mission is to document what Philippine music history has largely left undocumented.”

With the wealth of music artists and events that Sandejas has documented (she is also currently the official photographer of FlipTop), it’s no surprise that she promises more to come from her imprint. “I started alt164 [Press] to create a space that highlights the visual history of the Filipino music scene,” she adds in the video. “This book is just the beginning. There are many more stories to tell.”

Greyhoundz is now available for pre-order at PHP4990 a copy. Click here to support the project.