James Murphy in DFA’s Studio
“I really liked that environment,” Soter says of DFA’s studio space, which was located in the basement of their office. “I liked the fact that he is wearing his Can T-shirt there, which I think he was proud of. Can, I think, gets a mention in [LCD Soundsystem’s] ‘Losing My Edge.’ And I like his digital looking watch; I like his aesthetic. I don’t think his aesthetic is the same now, nor am I wearing the same clothes I wear 20 years ago.
“He only gave me that blank expression,” Soter continues. “It was very difficult. Normally, I like for people to laugh. I think when you laugh, that’s when you’re truly yourself, like, that’s really when your personality comes through. But I didn’t try with James. I just documented what he wanted to be perceived as.”