It started with a video I had recently directed — gritty, New York, and visually bold. After seeing it, a friend said, “This feels very Scar Lip. She would love this style.” That led me to take a closer look at her work, and I agreed, her energy, her voice, and the way she carries herself matched the kind of raw visual storytelling I had been exploring.
I knew I wanted to reach out not just to photograph her, but to highlight her through a creative lens and get an interview about her recent work. I brought the idea to OJ Williams at The Knockturnal, and he helped make the connection. Not long after, I attended her listening party and got a deeper sense of her new music and presence in the room.
ScarLip’s latest project, which dropped on June 20th, 2025, “Scarred B4 Fame,” reflects everything I felt creatively drawn to: unfiltered expression, pain turned into power, and the strength it takes to survive before being seen. That spirit became the foundation for our shoot.
We pulled it together for an exclusive feature with The Knockturnal, and I knew from the beginning I didn’t want it to feel like just another editorial. I wanted the vibe to be honest, elevated, and real, giving Scar space to be exactly who she is. For the interview portion, I called on Diandra Forrest, whom I thought would be perfect to sit down with Scar and ask the right questions. Diandra brings grace, strength, and authenticity, all qualities I felt would complement Scar’s energy in a meaningful way.
Scar came through with no gimmicks, just powerful, grounded, and present. What we captured was more than a shoot. It was a portrait of a moment, of an artist in her truth, one who’s been scarred before fame, but not broken by it.
